Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory

If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam and have been searching for a unique experience, the Zaanse Schans Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory is the perfect idea. Located just north of Amsterdam, it’s an area steeped in Dutch history that offers many activities and experiences that can’t be found anywhere else. This guide will discuss the various options available at the Zaanse Schans and the activities that can be enjoyed during your visit.

What Is the Zaanse Schans?

The Zaanse Schans is an area near Zaandam in the Netherlands and is a preserved industrial landscape with a collection of well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century green wooden houses, windmills, and workshops. Inside these buildings, visitors may find cheese tasting, clog making, museums, and more interactive activities.

What Can You Do at the Zaanse Schans?

When it comes to activities at the Zaanse Schans, there are many to choose from. Visitors have the option to follow a guided tour or explore on their own. Some of the activities available include visiting traditional Dutch windmills, learning about clog making at the clog factory and saw mill, sampling cheese making at the cheese farmer’s house, watching Dutch traditional craftspeople, visiting museums about the area’s history and culture, or spending some time admiring the Dutch art exhibitions. Additionally, visitors can head to the souvenir shops for traditional Dutch memorabilia from handicrafts to wooden clogs.

What’s Included When You Visit Zaanse Schans Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory?

Visitors can explore the Zaanse Schans on their own or take a day trip with a tour operator. Day trips usually include a visit to the cheese farm and museum where you can learn about traditional cheese production in the Netherlands and in other parts of the world. This is usually followed by a visit to the clog factory and saw mill where you’ll learn how Dutch clogs are made, which is an interesting and unusual activity. Additionally, you will get to watch craftspeople at work creating windmills and paintings as well as demonstrations of how traditional Dutch wooden shoes are made.

Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory Tours in Amsterdam

Visitors looking for a unique day tour to the Zaanse Schans Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory can find a variety of tours online as well as from Amsterdam-based tour operators. Some companies offer private tours that follow an itinerary tailored to your interests.

If you’re after an ideal day trip for sightseeing, culture, traditional food and crafts, then investing in an organised tour to the Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory is the best option. Tour operators usually will pick up travellers at centrally located Amsterdam hotels and provide round-trip transportation to and from Zaanse Schans with detailed descriptions of locations and attractions you’ll see along the way. Once you arrive at Zaanse Schans, you can explore local attractions and learn about cheese production as well as attend a clog demonstration.

Popular companies offering day trips to Zaanse Schans Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory include:

• Viator
• TiqTaq Travel
• GetYourGuide

guided tour prices usually start around €35 to €45 per person depending on the package you choose and the tour operator providing it.

How to Get to the Zaanse Schans From Amsterdam?

There is no direct public transport from Amsterdam city centre to Zaanse Schans; however, visitors can easily get there using public transport from Amsterdam’s Central Station. Firstly, you need to take a train from Amsterdam Central Station to Koog-Zaandijk Station which will take about 18 minutes (trains leave every 20 minutes). From Koog-Zaandijk Station, you can take a bus for about 10 minutes (every 15 minutes) until you arrive at Zaanse Schans Memorial Park from where you can walk to reach the Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory in about 10 minutes.

Alternatively, visitors may drive from Amsterdam city centre in about 40 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

Final Thoughts

The Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory at Zaanse Schans makes for a great daytrip away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam’s city center and offers a fascinating insight into traditional Dutch history and culture. From learning how clogs are traditionally made by hand to watching artisans hand paint windmills, there is plenty to see and do as well as plenty of souvenirs to buy in the various shops throughout the area. Make sure to book your organised day trip ahead of time or prepare for your own journey separately in order to make sure you don’t miss out on this unique experience!

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience at the Zaanse Schans Cheese Tasting & Clog Factory, book your activity through GetYourGuide so you can create long-lasting memories of your trip to Amsterdam today!