Zaanse Schanse from Amsterdam
 

Hi all,
For those of you who have visited Zaanse Schanse from Amsterdam, roughly how long did you spend there? Any other comments?
We are planning on visiting in March. Unfortunately, the boat rides will not be running at that time.
Thank you!
Liz

Hi...I went there on a bus tour from Amsterdam with my mom. If it had been me alone, I think about 30 minutes would have done it for me. I'm sure someone could spend 3 or 4 hours though if it's the sort of thing you're interested in. I found it very touristy and pretty much set up to make $$. Wooden shoes everywhere.

If you have a car and are on your own, then you could stay as long or as little as you like. Personally, I wouldn't do the bus tour thing again....but that's just me!

Have a great trip,

Margy

Hi Margy,
Thank you for your reply. We are going to take the train there instead of a bus tour.
Liz

Hi, a few years ago we went there..If i remember correctly, we took the train and then walked for about 15 minutes or so..It was very nice..I think we were there in March also...We definately spent a couple of house there...Then went on to Alkmaar..

Going by train is very easy. Take the "stoptrain" into direction Alkmaar, check that it stops at Koog-Zaandijk, which is the 4th stop after Centraal Station, takes about 15/20 minutes.
Cross the road and walk straight ahead, within 10 minutes you will be there.
There are about 2/4 trains every hour.
Depending on the weather you might need about 1 hour. Close to it is the Zaans Museum with lots of "Zaanse" history.

Thanks TracyB and Ida101.
What were your impressions of Alkmaar? Worthwhile if the cheese market is not open (too early in the year)?
Liz

Alkmaar is a nice old city. But if the cheesemarket is not open yet(in any case always only on Friday), I would suggest to go to Haarlem.
Closer to Amsterdam (10 minutes by train), I think that is more interesting.
Visit market Square, Frans Hals Museum or Teylers Museum.

I took some teens there a few years ago and they enjoyed it. We stayed several hours. They liked watching all the demonstrations (shoe/cheese making,etc.)and sampling of cheeses. There are also windmills to tour.

we were there in Sept and enjoyed it; an hour was probably enough for us BUT then we discovered this restaurant! http://www.dinnersite.nl/restaurant/...466&lng=en spent another 2 hours having the BEST lunch of our 5 week tour of Europe, and we had eaten in some fine restaurants! expensive but worth it.