You can discover a distinctive charm of Amsterdam different from other European cities. A lot of canals shows a romantic atmosphere and an endless procession of bikes represents the transporation culture of the Netherlands. But sometimes, you might want to be in a cozy and a bit quiet town rather than a crowded city.
One of the most famous nearby cities of Amsterdam is Zaanse Schans which is known for its windmills. But if you have a busy plan, we recommend you to visit Zaandam. It only takes 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station. It is a small city but you can enjoy a unique scenery that can't be seen anywhere else.
Zaandam is located on the way to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam. You can take a train from Amsterdam Central Station toward Uitgeest or Alkmaar. And get off at Zaandam station where you can find a small and cute city. Or you can also go to Zaanse Schans first and have a short visit on your way back to Amsterdam.
Zaandam is known as a lego town. The photo above is not from a theme park. It is a train station which looks to have been built with lego blocks.
Inntel Hotels is the most famous building in Zaandam. Its architectural design is impressive which looks like a building of lego bricks. In practice, many tourists take a photo in front of Inntel Hotels. You don't need to search about its location on the map because you can find this tall building as soon as you go out of the train station.
Train station, shopping street from Inntel Hotels, various brand stores. There are several characteristic buildings that feature Zaandam as a lego town. Take your time to discover the city.
In order to discover the main attractivenesses of Zaandam, it only takes around 10 minutes. It is a small and pretty town where you can feel the innocence of childhood. If you have a transportation pass for Amsterdam, it is worth visiting for a couple of hours. And if you go a little further from Zaandam, you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing scenery of Zaanse Schans. If you have time, I recommend you to visit Zaandam and Zaanse Schans in one day.
Words by Youra CHOI
Photographs by Yuna LEE
Transportation: Take the train from Amsterdam Centraal Station, direction Uitgeest or Alkmaar. Get off at Zaandam.