Take a Look at Zaanse Schans, the Netherlands' Open-Air Museum
Because Zaanse Schans , one of the iconic spots in the Netherlands , is going to charge an entrance fee beginning this year (2026), we decided to give a sneak preview of some of the areas that are within the open-air museum. We went there in 2025 twice --- one in February, and one in December. The place is not just about the old windmills that are still running today; it is also where cheese and chocolate factories and stores are. One of the attractions in Zaanse Schans is this chocolate house called Blik op Cacao . It features the quaint town as a cocoa producer , with factories in the area that process world-famous Dutch chocolates . Visit Zaanse Schans and tell us what you think.