Zaandam, Zaanse Schans, Alkmaar, and Amsterdam
I had one reason why I wanted to visit Zaandam on our last day stay in the Netherlands. Around a year ago, I saw an Instagram post about the InnHotel, a hotel that looked very uniquely Dutch. It looked really lovely and I wanted to see it for myself. Sure enough, when Marc and I arrived in Zaandam, there were many other tourists taking pictures of the now famous building.
Our original plan was to visit Zaandam, Zaanse Schans and then head on to Amsterdam. At the last minute, Marc suggested we pass by Alkmaar, even for a very quick stop. I had been there before but I couldn't resist visiting it again. It was ages ago afterall when I went there for the very first time. So off to Alkmaar we went too. The disadvantage to doing what we did was that we were left with very little time in Amsterdam. Granted, we both had been to Amsteram back in the 90s and we likewise spent our entire winter vacation there last 2018. So, we didn't feel so bad not being able to sightsee and tour Amsterdam as much.
I did notice the overwhelming number of people in Amsterdam the afternoon we arrived. I remember it being busy at Christmas time before the pandemic, but I just don't think it had become overrun by tourists as it has now.
This was the reason why we went to Zaandam. By the time we came out of the train station, there were already lots of tourists taking a picture of the building too. It was really easy to find. It was right along the pedestrian shopping street of Zaandam next to city hall.
Given that Zaandam was not that far from Zaanse Schans, a village like Volendam and Maarken which I visited during my very first trip to the Netherlands decades ago, we decided to go and we took the bus right in the city center.
Entrance to Zaanse Schans was free to the public. The morning we arrived, the village was packed with tourists. You can say that the entire area was very touristy. True, it was. But, it was very nice. I enjoyed myself here a lot doing cheese tours and visiting souvenir shops and windmills.
Many people used this backdrop for a souvenir photo from Zaanse Schans.
Marc had a fun time taking pictures of this duck. There was a lot of them in the Zaanse Schans.
There were a number of stores selling cheese in Zaanse Schans. I have to say, I enjoyed the free tasting in one. We tasted tons! Here's Marc posing for a souvenir shot.
Just as there were lots of cheese for sale, there were lots of wooden shoes too. Just to show how global the world has become, there was one shop where tourists were shown how the clogs were made and the presentation was done by an Indian national not Dutch!
There was a path where visitors could walk on to reach many of the windmills. Marc and I walked all the way to its end and we saw many of the windmills, big and small, close up.
We saw this boat take locals and tourists alike to the neighboring neighborhoods of Zaanse Schans.
I heard a number of tourists express their delight upon seeing typical Dutch houses in such wonderful settings like this one.
I loved this scene in Zaanse Schans!
Back in Amsterdam! I shall return!
I really love Amsterdam. The city was just grand! I'll have to save for a fourth visit. The country is expensive!
Right outside the cathedral in Alkmaar
This was De Waag in Alkmaar. The Waag building is a national Dutch monument and on the adjacent square the Cheese Market is held every Friday from April to September. There is also a Cheese Museum and a tourist office in the building. I remember coming here for the cheese market decades ago. How time flies!
Marc in front of De Waag in Alkmaar
Lovely detail on a building in Alkmaar
We caught a glimpse of the IBIS Hotel we stayed at in Amsterdam last December 2018. It was my Christmas break from school when decided to go there right after Christmas Day.
A view of the square where the Royal Palace is located
In Amsterdam
For our last night in the Netherlands, we had dinner in the restaurant inside the De Bijenkorf in Amsterdam. As is always the case on the eve of my departure from any place I visit, I was a bit sad. Hopefully I get to return to the Netherlands soon and very soon.