This industrial Dutch town near Amsterdam has preserved 17th-century windmills and wooden architecture, with a unique hotel designed to look like traditional green houses stacked together.
Just 12 minutes by train from Amsterdam, Zaandam sits along the Zaan River where working windmills still grind pigments and press oil. You can walk through the exact spots where Claude Monet painted in 1871, visit Europe's last wind-powered paper mill, and see the green wooden houses that inspired the city's unique architecture.
Getting to Zaandam from Amsterdam
Trains depart every 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaandam. Two railway stations serve the city: Zaandam central and Zaandam Kogerveld. Your Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket works for all trains and buses in the area. The station sits within walking distance of the main attractions, and rental bikes are available at the station.
Exploring Zaanse Schans
A 15-minute walk from Zaandam station brings you to the Zaanse Schans neighborhood. Here, you can watch six active windmills at work: De Kat grinds colored pigments for paint production, while De Zoeker presses oil from seeds. Visit the clog workshop to see craftspeople carve wooden shoes using centuries-old techniques. At the cheese farm, you can taste fresh Gouda and Edam cheese, and the CacaoLab demonstrates how Dutch chocolate makers process their cocoa beans.
Art and Architecture in Zaandam
The Monet House displays reproductions of 25 paintings created during the artist's 1871 stay, including "The Windmill at Zaandam" and "Houses on the Achterzaan." The Inntel Hotel stands out in the city center with its stacked design of 70 small house facades, painted in four different shades of Zaan green - each representing local architectural styles from different periods.
Walking Through Downtown
The restored Gedempte Gracht canal flows through downtown Zaandam, lined with 19th-century warehouses and contemporary buildings. Follow the Monet Route to six locations where the artist painted, marked by information panels showing his works alongside present-day views. The Zaan Store sells local products including Dutch candy, regional craft beer, and textiles made by local artisans.
Historical Sites and Museums
The Czar Peter House, a wooden building from 1632, contains the living quarters where Peter the Great stayed while learning Dutch shipbuilding in 1697. Inside, you'll find his personal belongings and shipbuilding tools from the 17th century. At Papiermolen De Schoolmeester, watch the centuries-old process of papermaking, where wind power still drives the machinery that turns raw materials into paper.
