Frequently Asked Questions

De Zaanse Schans

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De Zaanse Schans is open every day. Not all our participating museums, mills and heritage sites are open every day, but most of them are open between 9AM and 5PM. Click here for the opening hours.

In general, you can only pay with your debit or credit card. At some locations, you can pay with cash (euros only). You can only buy a Ticket Zaanse Schans and parketing ticket with a debit or credit card.

With Ticket Zaanse Schans you can visit the Zaans Museum, the Verkade Experiance, the World of Windmills Museum, the Weavers’ House, Tiemstra’s Coopery, Heritage Chambres Kalverringdijk, all mills (which are open at that moment) and the Zaan Time Museum. Access to other locations and the area remains free of charge.

The houses are not publicly accessible. For reasons of privacy, we ask visitors not to enter the gardens and/or houses.

There are public toilets at two locations: at the East Entrance, in the ‘De Bezem’ building on Schipperplein, and near the jetty on Kalverringdijk. A disabled toilet and a baby changing station can be found near the ‘De Bezem’ building and on Kalverringdijk. The ‘De Bezem’ building has a shower. You need to pay to use these toilets. However, if you have a Zaanse Schans Ticket, you have free access to the toilets.

Dogs are allowed on the Zaanse Schans, provided they are kept on a leash. Whether dogs are allowed to enter the premises varies per entrepreneur and participating museums, mills and heritage sites. For the museums and mills, dogs are not allowed to enter, provided they are SOS dogs.

It is forbidden to make indoor and outdoor recordings for commercial purposes without permission from the Zaanse Schans. Photographers and film crews should send a request in advance via communicatie@dezaanseschans.nl. Your request will be answered on working days.

Drones are not allowed on the Zaanse Schans or in the Kalverpolder due to nuisance for residents, entrepreneurs, visitors and animals. Flying drones are not allowed on the Zaanse Schans for commercial or private purposes. You can request permission from Stichting de Zaanse Schans (communicatie@dezaanseschans.nl) in exceptional cases and only if the operator is in the possession of an ROC (RPAS Operator Certificate), after which the legal rules will be observed.  You can send your application to communicatie@dezaanseschans.nl. Your request will be answered on working days.

You are welcome to take wedding pictures at the Zaanse Schans. You do not need to ask permission for this unless you are coming with a professional film and camera crew. If you wish to take photos in a mill, museum or handicraft shop, please send a request to communicatie@dezaanseschans.nl and your request will be answered as soon as possible. We would also love to receive and use the result. Your request will be answered on working days.

There are two information desks at the Zaanse Schans. These can be found at the East Entrance on the Schansend and on the Kalverringdijk. This is where most lost items are handed in and collected.

Yes, you are allowed to bring drinks and food. It is, however, forbidden to eat and drink your own food and drinks in restaurants, museums, mills and heritage sites.

In case of emergencies, visitors and drivers must follow the instructions of the Zaanse Schans Foundation staff, the police and/or the fire brigade.

Bicycles must be parked in the designated bicycle racks. Cycling or parking bicycles on the Zaanse Schans is not permitted. Cycling is allowed on the Kalverringdijk. Please be mindful of crossing visitors, who are not aware that it is also a bicycle path. Please follow the instructions of the traffic controller or host.

The shops at the Zaanse Schans have different opening hours depending on whether it is high season or low season. Click here for the current opening hours.

It is possible to visit the Zaanse Schans during the holidays. The opening hours will only change during Christmas and on New Year’s Day. Click here for an overview.

The Zaanse Schans portrays the Zaan region in the 17th and 18th centuries. This means – unfortunately – that the accessibility has been adjusted accordingly and is from a different era. This is to maintain the nostalgic and historical image. As a result, wheelchair/rollator users will not be able to access all places.

However, Zaanse Schans does have accessible bridges and disabled toilets. These can be found in the toilet groups on Schipperplein and Kalverringdijk and in the Zaans Museum.

The Mill Museum and the Zaans Museum are wheelchair accessible. Of all the mills, only The Young Sheep is wheelchair accessible.

The Zaan Time Museum has two ‘wheelchair boards’, making the ground floor accessible for wheelchairs.

No, the Zaanse Schans unfortunately does not have lockers or other facilities to store your luggage during visits.