Planning a trip to The Zaanstreek

Getting There -- Daily 25-minute river cruises on the Zaan River take place aboard Windmill Cruises (https://windmillcruises.nl; tel. 075/3030-020) and depart every half hour weekdays from noon to 3pm and weekends from 11am to 4pm. Trips are 9.50€ for adults, 5€ for ages 4 to 12.

Trains depart around every 15 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station via Zaandam to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station, from where it’s a 1km (2/3-mile) walk, across the Zaan River, to Zaanse Schans. The train ride takes 20 minutes, and a round-trip ticket is 6.60€. Or take Connexxion bus no. 391 (www.bus391.nl) from bus platform E at Amsterdam Centraal Station for the 40-minute ride. Fares are 6.50€ one way or 11.50€ for an unlimited day ticket for all buses in the region. By car from Amsterdam, take A8 north and then switch to A7/E22 north to exit 2, from where you follow the signs to Zaanse Schans. Parking is 10€ per day.