Discovering unique places in Zaandam en Laag Holland? Find the best spots here!
- Destination Explorer
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
Did you know that the Amsterdam area also has a lot to offer?
Those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the capital for a while will find surprising tranquility, authentic charm and a wealth of culture and nature in Zaandam, the Zaanstreek and Laag Holland.
The Zaanstreek offers a glimpse into the past where the characteristic atmosphere of old Dutch villages and towns has been preserved. Discover the rich history of this region's industrial past, surrounded by water and meadows. Zaandam is the vibrant heart of this region, with iconic architecture and cultural gems.
Laag Holland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks in part to the reclamation of the Beemster. This region has a lot to offer with its impressive geometric pattern of meadows, fields and historic towns. From charming villages to unique nature experiences - Laag Holland is a discovery in itself.
You can perfectly combine both regions in about 3 days for a surprising and varied trip full of culture, nature and gastronomy.
Day 1: Zaandam: colorful architecture and a lively atmosphere
When I get off the train in the center of Zaandam, I am immediately charmed by the inviting sight of the typical Zaanse facades, including that of the Town Hall.
We will be staying at the iconic Inntel Hotel with its stacked houses in traditional style, one of which is blue, after the painting “The Blue House” that Claude Monet painted here in 1871.
Not only the exterior façade reflects the rich past of Zaandam but also the rooms are inspired around 4 themes that highlight the industrial history:
- Flavors of Zaandam: cheese, mustard, chocolate and cookies
- Crafts of Zaandam: about the people who worked in the various factories, such as the famous ‘Verkade’ girls from the cookie factory
- Factories of Zaandam: such as Duyvis, Cacao Groote, Verkade, etc.
- Founders of Zaandam: such as the Ericus Gerhardus room suite, the founder of the Verkade cookie factory.
The hotel also features a gym, sauna, hammam and indoor pool! Read more about it in this blog.
Sightseeing in Zaandam
Zaandam is a nice city for a walking tour. At the tourist office, you can also request a guided walking tour where you pass as many as 40 points of interest.
These are my favorites:
Czaar Petershouse
One of the oldest houses in Zaandam is the Czaar Petershuisje, built in 1632. This small wooden house, nestled into the stone house built around it to protect the original house, offers a unique glimpse into domestic life at the time. It lends its name to the fact that Czar Peter stayed here to learn more about Dutch shipbuilding. Zaandam was once the heart of Europe's oldest industrial area. Even in Russia, people knew that the ships built in Zaandam, were the best at the time of the 17th century.
You can still visit it:
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Entrance fee: adults: 7 € and kids from 4-17 years: 3,5 €
Atelier Monet
The famous impressionist painter Claude Monet was also, like me, particularly charmed by the beauty of Zaandam in the 19th century. He lived here with his family for 4 months and made no less than 25 paintings. The replicas of these can be admired in Atelier Monet.
The paintings give a nice impression of what the city looked like in the period before the factories were built.
One of Monet's most famous paintings from this era is “The Blue House,” whose facade you can still admire in the city.
Practical:
- Opening hours: Friday to Sunday: 12 to 5 p.m.
- Price: 5 €, children under 12 free
Insider Tip: stroll along the Gedempte Gracht and enjoy the mix between water, greenery and urban life. You will also find numerous coffee houses here.
Dining out in Zaandam?
On Dam Square you will find the best restaurants such as The Mail Company. This restaurant also has a spacious terrace where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. I chose the following dishes: a delicious carpaccio, a salmon fillet with grilled vegetables and a dame blanche for dessert.
Day 2: The Zaan region: industrial history and windmills
After a delicious breakfast at Inntel Hotel Zaandam, it's time to explore the Zaan region. For this we use electric bicycles, which you can rent at the Fietsenpakhuis in Zaandam. The bicycle is still the most widely used means of transportation in the Netherlands to explore the area. The bike paths and facilities for cyclists are therefore excellent.
In the Zaanstreek you travel back in time. This region was once the beating heart of the industrial revolution in the Netherlands, the remains of which you can still find today.
Stop 1: Hembrugterrein: from arms to art
The mysterious Hembrug site was once home to a munitions factory where weapons such as shells and shell casings were made for the war. In 2003, the last company located there closed its doors for good and the site fell into disrepair.
In 2014, the gates opened to the public for the first time, and since then the site has been home to a few art galleries and opened to creative entrepreneurs.
Nearby, construction is in full swing to build housing for as many as 1,400 families.
In the fall, ZAMU (the Zaanstad Amsterdam Museum) will open here, which will cover as much as 35,000 square meters, with several spaces for well-known artists.
Currently, you can already visit some museums there, such as:
Art Zaanstad: here you can buy art, as well as rent it. Every two months the gallery changes and new artworks are displayed. I enjoyed the exhibition here of the colorful works of Bas Kosters, a former fashion designer.
Admission is free, open: Wednesday to Saturday from 10-17h, Sunday from 12-17h
Museum of Humanity: a museum with photographs of people around the world. Pictured by photographer and founder of the museum, Ruben Timman. His dream is to connect people and show that everyone is equal and unique.
Open: from Friday to Sunday between 11am-17pm, price: 7.5€ for adults, 5€ for young people under 18 and under 12 free.
Stop 2: Oud Zaandijk: a step back into the past
Old Zaandijk is said to have originated in 1494, when Heyndrick Pieterz (known as “oudt Heyn”) asked permission to build a house on the low dike. More and more cottages were built and thus Zaandijk came into existence.
The oldest part of the village lies along the Zaan on the Lagedijk, where the wealthy Zaan families lived. You can therefore still find beautiful old houses here with their typical green, curly gables and white window frames.
Fun fact: the darker green the house was painted, the wealthier the occupant. In fact, copper was mixed into the paint to make it stronger.
Walking through this town is a stark contrast to visiting the nearby Zaanse Schans, where it can be quite crowded. In Zaandijk, enjoy the tranquility while admiring the beautiful old houses.
The Zaanse Schans is also definitely worth a visit, admission is free. However, if you also want to visit the windmills and museums you will need a ticket.
Special in Zaandijk is the Zaandijkerkerk. After a long period of decay, it has been given a new purpose. When the demolition hammer was ready, Stadsherstel decided to buy the church and restore it. Meanwhile, mobile homes were placed in it for young people with ASD and the area around the church was also refurbished.
Lunch at Cafe the Butcher
Café de Slager is located in a building from the 17th century, which then housed a butcher shop. The beautiful interior of the old living room has retained much of its charm. Typical of the Zaan region is the spuiger that stands here in the middle of the room, this fireplace with an inward bending top still has the original tiles of 300 years old.
En route to the Beemster region: discover UNESCO heritage and nature
After lunch, we head to Laag Holland, where we will explore the Beemster region.
There are 2 more fun activities on the program today:
a delicious dinner at Bella Brasa
a canoe trip at sunset
But first we install ourselves in the stately old town hall of Middenbeemster which now houses the charming Boutique Hotel Brasa.
Looking for a nice place to eat? Then you're in the right place at Bella Brasa. The beautiful building dates back to 1882 and was renovated by the current owners. The interior is particularly stylish.
The restaurant serves delicious Italian cuisine
To end the day, I go on a canoe trip during sunset guided by Majel from Wetland Safari. You cruise between the small water channels to the lake while admiring the surrounding meadows and nature reserve. If you do this trip in May, you will also see numerous small ducks and waterfowl as the nesting season has started then. The grazing cows in the meadows complete the typical Dutch landscape. As the canoe slowly glides through the water, I enjoy the nature and beauty of this region. Online tickets can be booked here.
Practical:
- Canoe evening tour: possible from May to August, on Thursdays and Sundays, departure 5pm,
price: 65 € including drinks picnic, bus from Amsterdam and guide.
- Canoe fresh nose tour: short tour of 2 hours, on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, departure: 11 am, price: 33 € including canoe and guide
- Canoe day tour: duration 5 hours, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, departure 10am. Price: 82,5 € including transport, guide, canoe, bus from Amsterdam, picnic
Day 3: visit to De Keyserskerk, Fort bij Spijkerboor and fruit farm Kuijk
After a nice breakfast at Hotel Brasa, with delicious regional products, such as the yogurt, it is time to explore the surroundings of the Beemster.
The Keyser Church: a climb to the top and stunning views
A very short distance from the hotel is the Keysers Church. Here a completely new staircase was built to climb to the top of the church tower, christened the Keyser Climb. I courageously start up the 166 steps that lead to the top. The higher I climb, the narrower and steeper the stairs become. But the effort is rewarded at 32 meters high with a magnificent view of the Beemster polder and its unique geometric pattern.
To explore the surroundings of the Beemster, you can choose, like the Dutch, either a bicycle or an e-step. We chose the latter option and rented e-steps at het Ouweland. A fun way to explore the region. After a little practice, I manage to keep the e-step under control and whiz along the beautiful landscape of Laag Holland.
Fort bij Spijkerboor: a military heritage
The fort was built between 1886-1913 as part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam, it is one of the largest forts in the defense of Amsterdam. It was therefore just finished at the outbreak of WWI, since the Netherlands remained neutral during this war it was only used as a prison. As I walk through the corridors, I see on the walls beautiful paintings made by the prisoners. Most of them were Dutch who refused to fight in the Indonesian war of independence. We are shown around by an enthusiastic guide, who reveals to us the fort's secrets. One of the fort's most striking assets is its armored turret artillery. We get to take a look at this ingenious weapon.
Visit Fort bij Spijkerboor? Find here more information about pricing and opening hours.
Local products from the Beemster: from cheese to forgotten fruits and vegetables
With the e-step we continue riding through the beautiful flat landscape of Low Holland. The next stop is a visit to the Kuijk fruit farm.
The current owner talks enthusiastically about the fruit grown here. In the greenhouse hang tasty cherries that are not yet fully ripe, yet I can already taste one.
The company also grows delicious apples, pears, plums and vegetables. They also supply strawberries and red beets to the famous restaurant ‘De Kas’ in Amsterdam, where you can have a ‘farm to table’ experience. Due to its rich soil, the Beemster is particularly suitable for growing fruits and vegetables.
We end our day in Purmerend, the largest city in the Beemster region. Here we enjoy a delicious lunch at Restaurant De Stallen on the Oude Koemarkt. Here you can still find the remains of the old stables where people used to line up the cows for sale at the cow market. For example, there are still the old feeding troughs that were beautifully incorporated into the renovation of the building. I enjoy a delicious sharing lunch paired with a local beer from brewery 't IJ.
How to get to Zaandam and Laag Holland?
From Amsterdam Central, you can take a Sprinter train to Zaandam; the ride takes only 15 minutes. You get off in the center of Zaandam.
From Zaandam, you can explore the rest of the region by bike or car. There are also organized day tours from Amsterdam.
Best travel time.
From spring to fall, when nature is in full bloom and the windmills are often turning. In autumn you will enjoy beautiful colors in the polders, in spring blossoms and lambs.
Why choose this region next to Amsterdam?
Those who have already visited Amsterdam will find that the surrounding region is at least as fascinating - and much quieter. In Zaandam, the Zaanstreek and Laag Holland you will discover the real Dutch landscape, with its polders, windmills, historic buildings and warm hospitality.
Moreover, distances are small and all locations are easily accessible. Ideal for a slow travel experience full of culture and nature. Whether you love heritage, outdoor activities or culinary discoveries, this region offers a rich program in a relaxed atmosphere.
Combine your visit to Amsterdam with this three-day exploration of the region around it, and be surprised by all that Zaandam and Laag Holland have to offer.
Would you like to combine Amsterdam with the Zaanstreek and/or Laag Holland?
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