We decided to spend our last full day in Amsterdam visiting Zaanse Schanz, a historic town with all of the tourist things in one place. We started with a bike ride to the train station. We’re really getting the hang of it now.
We thought the WiFi network on the train was hilariously named. It didn’t work reliably, but we always laughed when we tried.
The walk from the train station to Zaanse Schans was soooo pretty! There were beautiful views of water, windmills, and old houses with dogs sleeping in the window.
As we approached the tiny central tourist town, we passed through a craft fair. Local artisans were making things to sell on the spot.
The adorable wooden houses behind the craft tables were so enticing. The idea of living in a little house on the water with a view of the windmills felt like a dream.
The windmills were a main attraction, and they were still operating. One famously grinds pigments for paint.
It felt like stepping back in time, and we got to see people carving traditional Dutch wooden clogs in the same way they did it long ago, weaving fabric, and making stained glass.
We enjoyed just wandering around. The kids worked together to use an old fashioned pump for a fire hose, fed swans, and checked out the cheese and the wooden clog museums.
Of course, we got some Poffertjes!
We took the train back to Amsterdam and went to Albert Cuyp market for lunch and shopping. They had a lot of stands selling food and artisan products.
From the market, we took the train to a little suburb of Amsterdam to the home of Bill’s friend from high school, Lori. The neighborhood was so cute, and it felt very suburban while being just a very short train ride from central Amsterdam. They were very warm and welcoming, making us dinner and inviting us into their lives as if we had known them for a long time.
The kids hit it off immediately, and had a ton of fun playing in the back yard and in the park across the street. Willow really clicked with the twins, and they all agreed that the next time we come to Amsterdam, they’ll have a sleepover.
We went back to our rental to pack for our early flight home the next morning.