Windmills in Zaanse Schans

Our first full day in Amsterdam and already we were leaving the city.  One of Aidan's classmates has a dad from the Netherlands and had given me a list of things we could do with the kids that would be fun.  A trip to Zaanse Schans was at the top of that list.  

Liam getting ready to take pictures!

Aidan brought his camera along too!

We've seen a lot of buildings in Amsterdam that are leaning quite a bit...apparently it doesn't just happen in Pisa!

Bike parking at the Centraal parking - holy bikes!!

A cute town just north of the city and only 4 stops on the train, this was a great opportunity to do a little sightseeing outside of Amsterdam. I often find that although we love going to new cities to explore, we don't get out to the countryside much which is a shame because it's a whole different world in the towns!

The info I had from the website stated that from the train station there would be plenty of signs telling us where we needed to go for our 10 minute walk into town. And yes, they were right! That and we followed all of the other tourists that were getting off the train. At first I can't say there was much to look at near the station. Yes, some cute homes but also a bit of industry that was an aesthetic eyesore.

But that being said, after stopping at a bakery for a few pastries, we rounded a corner and saw the first windmill of several that day. As the local website states, "With its traditional green painted houses, warehouses and windmills the Zaanse Schans gives the feeling of having stepped back into the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries." And yes for a moment as you round the corner into the Zaanse Schans, it does feel a bit like that. 

As we walked thru the neighborhood, we saw several windmills all along a row. A few were open for tours and we chose the Paint mill De Kat which is used to process raw materials to make pigments. The original windmill was built around 1646 but was destroyed by fire. And again in the 1900s there was severe damage requiring reconstruction. This mill still continues to produce pigments for paints in the traditional way that was done hundreds of years ago!

This is the mill we went inside of

Aidan and Liam in a wheelbarrow

Inside the mill

More of the inside

Liam trying to work the mill

View from on top of the windmill - beautiful!!!

Yes, another windmill

Believe it or not there were only 6 windmills here - you're just seeing them from many angles!

Picturesque!

Liam checking out the sheep

Yet another picturesque view - with the sun starting to come out!

Why does the sun always come out when we are leaving?  Same thing happened in Collioure!

We wandered around Zaanse Schans for a few hours and finished up with lunch at a little bistro before heading back to Amsterdam for the rest of the afternoon and evening. Tomorrow - the tulips!!

Amsterdam Centraal Station

They "almost" fit, Aidan!

Julie

Amsterdam by the Numbers

Time since we were last on the road:  4 weeks since Lisbon, Portugal; 2 weeks since our daytrip to Collioure, France.  I know, we are travelling fools this year and you ain't seen nothin' yet!!  This time we were off to Amsterdam in the Nethlerlands - just in time for tulip season!!!

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands is a unique city for so many reasons.  Aside from the aesthetic beauty of the buildings that range in date from the 16th century thru recent times, you have the canals which give the city the nickname "Venice of the North" and while I haven't been to Venice yet (but will be at the end of May!), I can understand how it gets that name. 

And speaking of canals, here is our next batch of numbers. There are an amazing 165 canals with 1281 bridges that span thru the city. The canal that we stayed on, which was by the intersection of Nassaukade and Rozengracht was in a great area. Close to things that were happening, not overly touristy, in a residential area but easy walking distance to everything and most of all, away from the hustle and bustle of the main streets of the Red Light District and many of the "coffee" shops (coffee shops were everywhere but clustered quite a bit in the center of the city).

Some of the many canals we saw (and you will see MANY more pics as well!)

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to stay on a houseboat that we found while searching http://www.homelidays.com/.  I'm sure you guessed it, but here are some more numbers.  Did you know that there are 2500 houseboats in Amsterdam?  Given that there are 165 canals, that's a lot of boats lining the canals' edge!

Outside of our houseboat

Aidan watching a movie by the windows

Living area

But I have to say, the most astonishing numbers that I found actually did not surprise me in the end.  It was the bicycles.  There are 600,000 bicycles for the 750,000 residents that are from 175 different countries.   I have never in my life seen so many bicycles a part of every day life.  I loved it!!  I think it's so wonderful how the Dutch ride their bikes everywhere - not only is it good for you, but it's great for the environment.  There were still a ton of cars on the road but the bicycles absolutely are a primary source of transport.  There were bicycle lanes on every street and the people rode their bikes like it took no effort at all.  I actually was more afraid of getting hit by a bike than I am about getting hit by a moped in Barcelona (the largest population of mopeds in the world are here)! 

Some pics of day 1:

Liam LOVES flying and is always fascinated with what is going on outside... I think he's all Josh here!

Speaking of by the numbers...how many countries can we eat McDonalds or Burger King in??  Answer - too many!

Home of Amstel Beer (not this particular bar, but the city)

Westerkerk Church near the Anne Frank House - this is the tallest church in Amsterdam and was built in the 1630s.

Yumm.... herring... (insert sarcasm here)

Yummy pancakes / crepes here that a friend recommended

Liam has not been visiting the smoke shops - this is just his natural reaction to chocolate milk!

Josh and Liam at Sara's Pancake House

Yes, this is the "pancake" - huge!!!  And delish!

Pretty view

Must have sunglasses!

The "Dam" which is also in the city center

One of many "coffee" shops in the city

One of many flower booths

And of course pot seed booths!

The Royal Palace

This was the coolest thing and you could only find it in a city like Amsterdam - literally a bar on wheels.  You drink and you pedal along the streets.  Josh and I were trying to figure out how in even a super liberal city like Amsterdam that they were able to get this thing on the road, but all I can say is wow!  I've checked out the website and for those in need, there is also a karaoke beer bike!!!

We had a great time both in and out of the city so keep an eye out for the next few entries with windmills, tulips and more!!!

Julie