Zaandam, the Netherlands
A trip to the Netherlands isn't complete without getting up close and personal with its windmills. Historic windmills and distinctive wooden houses have been relocated to the recreational area reminiscent of an 18th century village. Due to its proximity to Amsterdam, many people choose to go to Zaanse Schans on a day trip.
Using our 2 Days Amsterdam & Region Travel Tickets, my BFF and I caught a train from Amsterdam Centraal station. The journey to Zaanse Schans station takes around 17 minutes.
From Zaanse Schans station, you have to walk for 15 minutes to reach the recreational area.
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| I wonder if that's the only sign in the world that directs people to windmills. |
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| The first windmill at sight! |
Enjoy the beautiful view as you cross the bridge.
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| There used to be around 600 windmills standing in Zaanse Schans and the surrounding areas. |
Zaanse Schans was founded in 1962, marking the start of the industrial revolution in the district.
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| There are a few eateries and souvenir shops around. |
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| Despite the crowd, I could still sense serenity. |
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| Eutrophication maxed out! :P |
I didn't expect to see such a garden typical of a mansion or a castle, which was established in 1967.
Let's wave at the various animals there.
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| Such a lovely rural landscape~ |
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| "Do you have any food for me? If not, go away!" =X |
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| What a fat cock! |
Not all attractions are open daily, but most are from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
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| Seeing those Dutch ladies instantly reminded me of that brand of milk. xD |
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| Previously a hay barn, De Haal tells the story of Henri Willig's passion for animals and cheese. |
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| We dropped by the souvenir shop next to the workshop building. |
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| Li La Lu rubber ducks are from Germany. |
Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm is replica of one of such traditional farms from Oostzaan in the North Holland province.
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| Everyone was so excited about free cheese tasting. |
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| Those aren't sausages, but smoked cheese. |
It was a pity that we only managed to catch the last part of the cheese-making demonstration by one of the staff clad in traditional clothes.
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| Stirring the curd~ |
Chocolate lovers wouldn't want to miss Cacao Lab. You may want to participate in its chocolate-making workshop.
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| Hot or cold chocolate drink, anyone? :) |
There's a small bakery museum that doesn't seem to be that popular.
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| The aroma of those freshly baked stuff was so tempting. |
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| Frankly speaking, I can't remember when was the last time I used a rolling pin. |
De Huisman is a small octagonal mill that makes mustard.
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| I used to dislike mustard when I was younger, but now I love it. <3 |
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| The milling of the mustard seeds is done in a modern (not wind-operated) way these days. |
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| How many spices can you identify from the smell? |
For the bigger windmills that require visitors to pay entrance fees, we only went to one of them. I'll reveal which one very soon.
There are many more things to see in the recreational area. While not all attractions are accessible daily, most are open from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
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