A Calm Day in Zaandam: A City Trip North of Amsterdam

🏨 First Impressions & Where to Stay

When you step out of the train station in Zaandam, there’s no slow build-up. You’re met — immediately and unapologetically — by a hotel that looks like someone stacked an entire neighbourhood on top of itself.

That’s the Inntel Hotel Zaandam, a bold and slightly surreal building inspired by traditional Zaanse houses. It’s colourful, playful, and impossible to miss. Even if you’re not staying there, it’s worth a look (and a photo). Inside, it’s surprisingly calm — with dark wood, local design, and a spa that overlooks the Zaan.

And here’s something many travellers don’t realise: you can also stay in Zaandam and visit Amsterdam as a daytrip. The train takes just 12 minutes, with frequent service and fewer crowds. So if you’d rather sleep somewhere peaceful but still have the city within easy reach, Zaandam might be your sweet spot.

Looking for something smaller or a bit more personal than the Inntel?

• The Monument hotel – In the heart of the centre, stylish and quiet, with soft lighting and big beds. Great if you want to feel tucked in after a long walk.

• Joans B&B – Just outside the busy zone, with views over the water and a breakfast that feels homemade in the best possible way.

🎒 TravelGlaze Tip:

Zaandam has lockers at the train station — perfect if you arrive early or leave late. Drop your bag, explore at ease, and maybe even squeeze in one last museum.

🏛️ Culture & History: A Small City with Big Stories

Zaandam may look quirky on the outside, but just beneath that colourful surface are centuries of surprising stories. A few quiet museum visits here can take you from Russian royalty to Dutch timekeeping — with a bit of biscuit history in between.

👑 The Tsar Peter House

What is it?

This may look like a small wooden cottage, but it holds one of the most unexpected royal stories in Dutch history. In 1697, Tsar Peter the Great of Russia came to Zaandam to study Dutch shipbuilding — under a fake name, no less. His stay was short, but the impression lasted for centuries.

The house where he lived (for just 8 days!) still stands today and is now enclosed within a stone pavilion to protect it from wind, rain… and too much admiration.

What to expect:

• A preserved 17th-century wooden house, complete with low beams and creaky floorboards

• Historical panels (English-friendly) about Peter’s time in the Netherlands

• A quiet, short audio tour that gives just enough story without rushing you

• A peaceful setting — it often feels like you’re the only one there

🎧 Fun facts:

• Tsar Peter travelled incognito under the name “Peter Mikhailov” to avoid attracting attention — it didn’t work. Locals quickly recognised him and word spread fast.

• The stone building around the house was added in 1818 by Dutch King William I, to protect it as a historic monument.

• Inside the museum, you’ll find a guestbook signed by royals and world leaders who visited — including Nicolas II of Russia and Queen Beatrix.

📌 Practical info:

• 📍 Krimp 23, Zaandam – about a 10-minute walk from the train station

• 🕒 Open Tuesday to Sunday, typically 10:00–17:00

• 🎟️ Entry around €5, free with the Dutch Museumkaart

• 🧘 Usually very quiet — a nice break from busier museums

• ♿ Limited wheelchair access inside the wooden house due to the historic structure

🌾 A Stroll Through the Zaanse Schans

Yes, it’s one of the most visited attractions in the Netherlands — and yes, it has souvenir shops and tour groups. But if you come with the right mindset (and maybe not at peak hours), the Zaanse Schans still offers something rare: a slice of Dutch history that looks, smells, and sounds like it stepped out of a painting.

This open-air heritage area sits just outside Zaandam and brings together traditional Zaanse wooden houses, historic windmills, craft workshops, and yes — real working bakeries and museums. It may look like a postcard, but it’s also very much alive.

🧭 What to expect:

• Iconic green wooden houses with lace curtains and picket fences

• Windmills you can enter (from sawmills to oil presses)

• Craft demonstrations — from cheese making to wooden shoe carving

• Walking paths along the water, with plenty of photo moments

• Several small museums, including one about clocks and another about cookies

• A few tour groups, yes — but also quiet corners if you wander just a little off-route

🎒 TravelGlaze Tip:

One of the hidden comforts of the Zaanse Schans is that you can walk around the area even outside regular opening hours. The footpaths and streets are public, which means you can enjoy a peaceful stroll early in the morning or in the golden evening light — without the crowds.

But: that’s likely to change. Plans are underway to turn the Zaanse Schans into a ticketed, closed-off area by 2026. So if you love quiet, unhurried visits — now is the time.

🍫 The Verkade Experience (Zaans Museum)

What is it?

Hidden inside the Zaans Museum at the edge of the Zaanse Schans, the Verkade Experience is a joyful tribute to one of the Netherlands’ most beloved brands. Think vintage packaging, biscuit tins, working chocolate machines, and enough retro charm to make even non-sweet tooths smile.

Verkade started in 1886 in Zaandam and became a household name through its biscuits, chocolate, and iconic design — especially the colourful tins and the famous “Verkade meisjes” (the women who worked in the factory and featured in their branding). 

What to expect:

• A recreated Verkade factory floor, complete with rattling machines and scent of cocoa

• Working chocolate and biscuit machines (yes, they still move!)

• Vintage posters, product tins, and advertising from over 100 years of Dutch packaging design

• Interactive displays about production, branding and workers’ stories

• A look at how factory life once shaped daily life in Zaandam

🍪 Fun facts:

• The original Verkade factory was just across the river in Zaandam and employed mostly women — called the “Verkade meisjes”

• The brand became known for its collectible picture albums, often filled by schoolchildren across the Netherlands

• Verkade’s packaging design is considered a highlight of 20th-century Dutch graphic art

• The museum still prints chocolate wrappers on the original machines for demos

📌 Practical info:

• 📍 Zaans Museum, Schansend 7, Zaandam – right at the Zaanse Schans

• 🕒 Open daily, approx. 10:00–17:00

• 🎟️ Entry: €14.50 for adults (includes full museum)

• 🧘 Great for families, solo visitors, and rainy days — cosy and not overwhelming

• ♿ Fully accessible, including lifts and seating throughout

🥐 Bakery Museum In de Gecroonde Duyvekater

What is it?

Tucked into the heart of the Zaanse Schans, this charming little museum shows how bread and pastries were made in the Zaan region — long before supermarkets and sourdough trends. It’s part bakery, part time machine.

Named after the duyvekater, a sweet festive loaf that once marked weddings and holidays, the museum offers a peek into the life of a 19th-century baker: wooden moulds, tiled ovens, flour-dusted counters — and the warm scent of nostalgia.

What to expect:

• A fully preserved 18th-century bakery interior

• Original ovens, wooden baking tools, and hand-carved cookie moulds

• Information about traditional recipes and festive breads

• Often a live baking demo, or fresh koekjes at the counter

• A connected shop where you can buy Zaanse treats (some made on site)

🍞 Fun facts:

• The duyvekater is a regional bread made with milk, lemon zest, and sugar, traditionally served sliced and without toppings — it’s sweet enough on its own

• The building still has its original bakery tiles, featuring bakers, loaves and kitchen angels

• The name “In de Gecroonde Duyvekater” means “In the Crowned Duyvekater” — yes, even bread got royal branding here

📌 Practical info:

• 📍 Zaanse Schans, Kalverringdijk 5 – walkable from Zaandam or a short bus ride

• 🕒 Usually open daily, approx. 10:00–16:00 (hours may vary by season)

• 🎟️ Entry often free or included in Zaanse Schans access

• 🧘 Usually a short visit, and rarely crowded

• ♿ Accessibility may be limited due to narrow doorways and old floors

🕰️ The Museum of the Dutch Clock

What is it?

Tick-tock meets tradition. This small but fascinating museum, tucked away near the entrance of the Zaanse Schans, tells the story of timekeeping in the Netherlands — from elaborately carved wall clocks to industrial-era masterpieces.

It may sound like a niche topic, but the craftsmanship on display is surprisingly beautiful. From painted dials to gilded pendulums, every clock here has a personality — and most of them still work.

What to expect:

• A compact, quiet museum in a charming wooden building

• Dozens of clocks from the 17th to 20th century, including rare pieces

• A small collection of watchmaker tools and restoration work

• Friendly staff who are often happy to explain the mechanics or demonstrate a chime

• A calm, almost meditative atmosphere (except on the hour — then things get musical)

⏳ Fun facts:

• Dutch clocks from the Zaan region were once shipped all over Europe — known for their quality and hand-painted details

• The museum includes examples of Zaandam clocks, which often had moving figures or maritime themes

• Many of the clocks still run on their original mechanisms, powered by gravity, gears, and occasional care

• One piece includes a built-in calendar, moon phase, and tide indicator — not bad for 1783

📌 Practical info:

• 📍 Zaanse Schans, Kalverringdijk 3 – a few minutes’ walk from the central windmill area

• 🕒 Open most days, typically 11:00–16:00 (closed on Mondays outside high season)

• 🎟️ Entry around €4, or included in Zaanse Schans combination tickets

• 🧘 Often overlooked, so great for a quiet moment

• ♿ May have some uneven flooring but generally accessible

🧭 A Quiet World Behind the Facades

Zaandam’s museums may not scream for your attention — and that’s exactly their charm. Whether you’re standing in a Russian tsar’s bedroom, watching biscuit tins roll through a factory, or listening to a clock from 1792 chime gently on the hour, you’ll find something quietly memorable behind every doorway.

Take your time. These are places made for pausing, not rushing. And they might just surprise you more than the postcard views outside.

🗺️ Practical Info: Planning Your Day in Zaandam

🚆 Getting There

• From Amsterdam Centraal: trains to Zaandam run every 10–15 minutes

• Travel time: just 12 minutes

• No need to reserve — just hop on with your OV-chipkaart or contactless payment

🚶 Getting Around

• The city centre is compact and walkable

• From the station, most highlights are 5–15 minutes on foot

• The Zaanse Schans is about a 20-minute walk or 10 minutes by bus (bus 391 or 89)

🕒 How Much Time?

• You can see the main highlights in one full day, but staying overnight allows for more calm and flexibility

• Plan 2–3 hours for the Zaanse Schans, including museum visits

• The Verkade Experience and Tsar Peter House each take about 30–60 minutes

🍴 Where to Pause

• For a cosy lunch: De Verskade (in the old factory building) or D’Swarte Walvis at the Zaanse Schans

• For something simpler: local bakeries on Gedempte Gracht or a picnic by the Zaan (plenty of benches!)