Zaanse Schans () is a neighbourhood of

Zaandam Zaandam () is a city in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad, and received city rights in 1811. It is located on the river Zaan, just north of Amsterdam. The statistical district Zaand ...

, near Zaandijk,

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. It is best known for its collection of

windmill A windmill is a structure that converts wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, specifically to mill grain (gristmills), but the term is also extended to windpumps, wind turbines, and other applications, in some ...

s and wooden houses that were relocated here from the wider region north of Amsterdam for preservation. From 1961 to 1974, old buildings from all over the region known as the Zaanstreek were relocated using lowboy trailers to the Zaanse Schans. Two of the windmills in the Zaanse Schans are preserved in their original site where they were first constructed, and therefore don't make up part of the relocated structures. The

Zaans Museum Zaans Museum () is a museum in Zaandam, Netherlands, located at the Zaanse Schans. It opened in 1998 to preserve and protect the heritage of the Zaan area. In 2009, the museum was extended with the addition of the Verkade Experience. In 2016, t ...

, established in 1994, near the first Zaanse Schans windmill, is located south of the neighbourhood. This architectural reserve for Zaanse timber construction is a protected village scene because of its architectural-historical and landscape value. It developed into an international tourist destination with several million visitors every year: in 2016, there were 1.8 million, in 2017 – 2.2 million.

Etymology and history

Zaanse Schans derived its name from the river

Zaan The Zaan () is a small river in the province of North Holland in the northwestern Netherlands and the name of a district through which it runs. The river was originally a side arm of the IJ bay and travels 13.5 kilometers (8½ miles) through the m ...

and its original function as sconce (''schans'' in Dutch) against the Spanish troops during the Eighty Years' War of Dutch independence. Zaanse Schans Drone

Attractions

Zaanse Schans is a popular

tourist attraction A tourist attraction is a place of interest that tourists visit, typically for its inherent or an exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement. Types Places of natural ...

and an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH). The neighbourhood attracted approximately 1.6 million visitors in 2014. It is served by Zaandijk Zaanse Schans railway station, 18 minutes away from

Amsterdam Centraal station Amsterdam Centraal Station ( nl, italic=no, Station Amsterdam Centraal ; abbreviation: Asd) is the largest railway station in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. A major international railway hub, it is used by 192,000 passengers a day, m ...

. The Zaanse Schans houses seven museums — the Weavers House, the Cooperage, the Jisper House, Zaan Time Museum, Albert Heijn Museum Shop and the Bakery Museum. The whole neighbourhood is a popular tourist attraction and there is a debate in local politics on how to reduce overcrowding.''Too many tourists spoil the fun: locals call for action on overcrowding''
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List of windmills

The windmills were built after 1574. * '' De Huisman'' (The Houseman), a mustardmill * '' De Gekroonde Poelenburg'' (The Crowned Poelenburg), a sawmill * '' De Kat'' (The Cat), a dyemill * '' Het Jonge Schaap'' (The Young Sheep), a sawmill * '' De Os'' (The Ox), an oilmill * '' De Zoeker'' (The Seeker), an oilmill * '' Het Klaverblad'' (The Cloverleaf), a sawmill * '' De Bonte Hen'' (The Spotted Hen), an oilmill

References

External links

* {{Authority control Museums in North Holland Open-air museums in the Netherlands Populated places in North Holland Windmills in North Holland Zaandam

Etymology and history

Attractions

List of windmills

See also

References

External links