Northwest of Amsterdam lies the Zaanstreek region, full of quaint traditional architecture, windmills and lovely waterside views. One of the hallmark features of the area are green houses with white trim and pointed roofs. It is a very tourist driven area, but it’s a very nice place to visit. Our friend and fellow photographer J was interested in seeing it. We decided to make a small day trip there before taking J to the airport.
First, we visited Zaanse Schans, a historic neighborhood with well preserved houses, windmills, and old time workshops. We couldn’t spend a lot of time in the area, so we drove around the region. Sometimes we got out to walk around the area. There were many other attractive historic towns to see. Along the Ijsselmeer we stopped in a waterside village called Volendam. It normally would be swamped with tourists, but it was quiet due to the season (winter). Here we introduced our friend J to kibbeling, delicious fried fish. My favorite location was Marken, a fishing village located on an island. It had the most interesting character of all the towns. We spent only half of a day in the area, but it left a lasting impression 🙂
Swan stalking the McDonald’s parking lot
Swan
Zaanse Schans
Characteristic town area in the Zaanstreek
Zaanse Schans
Characteristic green houses with white trim
G and J trying on clogs
Clog workshop
Inntel Hotel in Zaanstad constructed to reflect the local architecture of the region
Town of Edam (where the cheese comes from)
Volendam
Towns on the Ijsselmeer
Yes, a tree full of clogs
This sign translated basically means “Pants in Water Land”
For more information on this region: Wikipedia