Z is for Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans is a small village just outside Amsterdam. It’s a living and working community, but also a heritage site with multiple windmills, some working, and small topical museums such as the Clock Museum and the first Albert Heijn store which started in 1887 and is now a major supermarket chain. Not everything was here originally – many of the buildings were moved from elsewhere – but it does give you a picture of what life must have been like in the past. I was interested to find out the different functions of windmills – sawmills, dye mills and oil mills – as I had just imagined they were all for grain.
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans
Anabel at De Kat Zaanse Schans 2011
And that’s it! The A to Z Challenge accomplished. Thank you to everyone who has read and commented on my posts. It’s been great fun.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
Lovely post. I love traditional windmills. We have them in Finland, but they are much more rustic.
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I love windmills too.
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This is a cool place! Quite different from my Kinderdijk. I loved the green windmill! There is something about the green there, isn’t it? The windmill and those houses- lovely shade
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Yes, the green is lovely. Just scrolled through the old comments and someone else mentioned that it reminded them of Kinderdijk. I had forgotten that.
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What a lovely area, I would LOVE to go there. Congrats on finishing the challenge.
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Thanks! Got withdrawal symptoms now.
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One of our students commented, “I’ve always wanted to go to a ‘Clock Museum’ and learn about the mechanics of the device that we often take for granted, end this sounds like the perfect setting.” Visiting from A to Z Challenge at Learning at Cedar Ridge Academy and Cedar Ridge Academy
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Thank you! That’s my first ever comment from a school – I’m really pleased, and heading over to see what you did for A to Z right now.
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Love the windmills! That’s another place I’d like to visit someday. Congratulations on finishing the Challenge! I very much enjoyed your blog.
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Thanks! You too!
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Congrats on making it all the way from A to Z! I have enjoyed your posts and am grateful for all your comments and kind words on my posts. I’ve saved your blog to a folder to return to – I even need to catch up on A to Z posts I missed. Thanks again! 😀
~Tui Snider~ Dropping by from the A to Z challenge! 😀
@TuiSnider on Twitter
My blog: Tui Snider’s Offbeat & Overlooked Travel
I am also part of the #StoryDam team, a friendly writing community!
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Thanks, I’ve enjoyed yours too. It’s been great meeting so many new people and I’ll be keeping my A-Z feed live as well.
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I didn’t know windmills could be used for so many different things either.
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Yes, you live and learn!
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Congratulations on completing this challenge Anabel! I have really enjoyed reading your posts even though I haven’t always had time to comment on all of them. It’s really great to read about ‘off the beaten path’ locations and this in particular outside of Amsterdam is certainly appealing. Great collection of images as well that you included.
Looking forward to continuing to follow your blog – keep up the great work!
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Thanks, Chris – right back at you! Hoping to keep in touch with all my new friends, though perhaps not at the same pace.
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Congrats on finishing the A to Z Challenge! I loved the windmills and villages outside of Amsterdam – very quaint! Great pics.
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Thank you – it’s been a great experience.
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Wonderful pick for Z – that is so cute:-) And congrats on completing the challenge! It has been fun following you:-)
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You too! Keep on blogging!
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Congratulations on completing the challenge Anabel – those windmills look very cool!
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Thank you! The whole thing has been really enjoyable.
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A great entry, Anabel. Such a beautiful, unique-looking place.
Congratulations on completing the challenge! It’s been great meeting you, and a pleasure coming in here and reading your posts.
Silvia @
SilviaWrites
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Thank you – it’s been great fun all round.
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Congratulations on finishing the challenge – how do you feel knowing that you have completed it? 🙂
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Thanks. I feel great – raring to go for next year!
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Plenty of time to plan! 🙂
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Hmm, this year’s was actually meant to be last year! Didn’t quite happen.
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There must be a moral there somewhere! 🙂
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I guess so!
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Thank you for providing these daily trips around the world – it’s been a fascinating month of sightseeing!
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Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve enjoyed yours too – happy blogging.
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Perfect. I’m writing a guest post for someone about kid-friendly day trips from Amsterdam and Zaanse schans is my number one choice. Great pick for Z.
Congrats on making it to the end, it’s been a lot of fun hasn’t it?
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Kids would love it – and yes, it’s been great. Well done all of us!
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I can’t believe it is the end-We made it! Great end to this-Love the windmills-It just seems to peaceful
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We did! Hooray!
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Anabel, I loved Zaanse Schans, and so did my daughters! Congrats on making through the A-Z Challenge, I’ve loved reading your posts.
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Thanks Corinne – it was a lovely day trip from Amsterdam. Congrats to you too – we did it! With what, one overlap? I’ve enjoyed your posts too and look forward to finding out where you go next.
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I wonder how people who complain about wind farms would feel if they looked more like this windmill town. More picturesque maybe, but wonder how noisy it is.
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They were quite noisy when they got going! Personally, I think there’s a certain beauty in a wind farm but I don’t live near one, so maybe I’d feel differently then. Thanks for visiting.
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This village reminds me of the windmills at Kinderdijk just outside Rotterdam. Congratulations on finishing the challenge. it’s been fun meeting you.
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Thanks – the whole thing has been great, I’ve really enjoyed meeting everyone too.
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Congratulations on finishing A to Z. I’ve loved seeing your photos from your world travels.
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Thank you – you too! It’s been a great month.
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