Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam: Train, Bus or Car?

The Zaanse Schans windmills sit just 15 kilometres north of Amsterdam, and getting there is genuinely easy — the only real question is which way suits you best. Train, bus or car? Each has its place. This guide compares all three on time, cost and convenience, so you arrive relaxed and with plenty of the day still ahead of you.

Three ways to reach the Zaanse Schans

From central Amsterdam you can be standing among the windmills in well under half an hour. The Zaanse Schans is one of the most popular day trips from the city, which means the routes to it are well-served and well-signposted. Whether you're a solo traveller, a couple, or a family with a stroller and a tired toddler in tow, there's a comfortable option for you.

Below we walk through each of the three ways — train, bus and car — and end with a clear verdict on which to pick. We'll also tie it all back to the part most visitors look forward to most: arriving in good time for a 25-minute windmill cruise on the river, the highlight of the whole trip.

By train (fastest & recommended)

For most visitors, the train is the clear winner. From Amsterdam Centraal, take a train heading towards Alkmaar or Uitgeest and step off at Zaandijk Zaanse Schans. The journey is short — roughly 15–20 minutes — and trains run several times an hour throughout the day, so you rarely wait long on the platform.

From the station it's a pleasant 10-minute walk: cross the bridge over the Zaan and the windmills rise up in front of you. No traffic, no parking stress, and the approach on foot is part of the charm. For families, the train is hard to beat — children love watching the canals and green wooden houses slide past the window, and you arrive ready to explore rather than frazzled from circling for a parking space.

If you'd like the official route details and a few extra pointers, see our page on getting to the Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam.

By bus

If you'd rather stay above ground the whole way, bus 391 runs directly from Amsterdam Centraal to the Zaanse Schans and drops you right at the entrance to the village. There are no changes to worry about, which makes it a relaxed, do-nothing option: board, settle in, and watch the city give way to open polder landscape.

The trade-off is time. The bus takes around 40 minutes — roughly double the train — because it makes stops along the way and follows the roads rather than the rails. For some, that's a fair price for the convenience of being delivered straight to the door without a station walk. It's a particularly good shout if you're travelling with someone who finds steps and bridges hard going, or if you simply prefer a single, no-fuss connection.

One thing to keep in mind: buses run less frequently than trains, so it's worth checking the departure time before you set off rather than turning up and hoping.

By car

Driving from central Amsterdam takes about 20–25 minutes outside of rush hour, which on paper makes it the quickest door-to-door option. There's a paid visitor car park right beside the village, so once you've parked you're only a short walk from the first windmill.

The catch is parking itself. The car park is not huge, and in summer and during tulip season it fills up fast — sometimes well before midday. Arrive after 11:00 on a sunny Saturday and you may find yourself waiting for a space or being turned away. If you do drive, the golden rule is the same as for everyone else: get there before 10:00. A car makes most sense if you're continuing on to other countryside spots afterwards, travelling with lots of luggage or gear, or coming from outside the city where a train change would be awkward.

For a pure Amsterdam-and-back day trip, though, the parking gamble means the car rarely beats the train.

“Whichever way you travel, the goal is the same: arrive early, unhurried, and ready to see the windmills from the water.”

The verdict: which should you choose?

Here's the short version. Take the train — it's the fastest, cheapest and least stressful way to reach the Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, and the 10-minute walk over the bridge is a lovely opening to the day. Take the bus if you'd prefer a single connection straight to the entrance and don't mind the extra time. Take the car only if you're carrying a lot, continuing elsewhere afterwards, or coming from outside the city — and only if you can arrive early enough to be sure of a parking space.

Whatever you choose, the aim is the same: to arrive with time and energy to spare for the part of the visit most people remember best. The windmills line the riverbank because the Zaan was their highway, and the view they were built to be seen from is the water itself.

A public windmill cruise glides you right past every mill in about 25 minutes, with a skipper-guide pointing out which one grinds spices, which saws wood, and which historic merchant houses line the bank. It departs daily, costs from €9 per person, and is the single best photo opportunity of the entire trip. Travelling as a group or marking a special occasion? A private boat tour gives you your own boat, skipper and guide from €127 per hour for groups of up to around 30 — you set the pace and the route.

Frequently asked questions