The Windmills of Zaanse Schans

 

A twenty-minute train ride north of is Zaanse Schans, a village that was the industrial heart of the Netherlands in the18th and 19th-century.

"During the region's peak around 1700, over 600 windmills dotted the landscape. This incredible proliferation was largely thanks to the invention of the crankshaft by Cornelis Corneliszoon van Uitgeest in 1594. This innovation allowed windmills to convert horizontal wind direction into a vertical sawing motion, revolutionizing timber processing and fueling a booming shipbuilding industry. The Zaanstreek became a global hub for shipbuilding, launching 100-150 vessels annually and playing a significant role in whaling until the mid-19th century." (Google Gemini)

The windmills are the original ones that were built in the 17th century. The mills had different purposes. According go Gemini:

• Sawmills: Mills like "Het Jonge Schaap" (The Young Sheep) and "De Gekroonde Poelenburg" (The Crowned Poelenburg) were crucial for processing the vast quantities of timber needed for shipbuilding and housing.
• Oil Mills: "De Os" (The Ox), "De Zoeker" (The Seeker), and "De Bonte Hen" (The Spotted Hen) pressed oil from seeds like rapeseed, poppy, and flax, vital for both food and paint production.
• Dye Mills: "De Kat" (The Cat) is the only remaining working dye mill in the world, producing pigments and paints that were exported globally.
• Spice Mills: "De Huisman" (The Houseman) ground spices, filling the air with aromatic scents.
• Flour Mills: "De Bleeke Dood" (The Pale Death) is the oldest smock mill in the Netherlands, used for grinding flour.

Click on a photo to see the larger image and a slideshow.

Planning Your Visit:

Zaanse Schans is an easy 20-minute train ride from Amsterdam Centraal. Many tour operators combine a visit to Zaanse Schans with a visit to the fishing village of Volendam. The train tickets for the four of us were about the same price as a day tour to both villages for one person.

While we didn't visit any of the museums, it was a great day to get out, walk around, and see the windmills.