On the road with Ellen
Zaans Zomeren - On holiday in the Zaan region
Discovering your own region and doing and seeing things that have been on your wish list for ages but never came up until now. But now it does! Because whether we can go on holiday abroad this summer is not (yet) certain for everyone. Fortunately, our own country is beautiful and there is still a lot to discover and enjoy in the Netherlands, even close to home!
Sleeping in a special place
Like spending a night on the Zaanse Schans! Because B&B Heerlijck Slaapen op de Zaanse Zaanse Schans is located in one of the most beautiful spots in the Zaan region. The magnificent view over the Zaan and picturesque old Zaandijk is like an old Dutch postcard. Staying here in one of the beautiful comfortable rooms is unique! In this special place, you fall asleep with the babbling of the Zaan in the background and wake up with a delicious Zaans breakfast.
A little further on, also on the Zaan but in Wormer, you can spend a special night in the brand-new restored authentic warehouse Riga from 1680. B&B Saenliefde has only just opened and owners Ronald and Margreet do everything they can to make your stay unforgettable. You can choose one of the four large luxury rooms, each one stylishly decorated and overlooking the Zaan.
In Jisp, overlooking the meadows where hares, pheasants, egrets and dozens of bird species live, is guesthouse 'Welcome'. Except for the chirping of the meadow birds, it is quiet here at night. This lovely spot has been furnished with love and attention and is ideal for those seeking peace and quiet. The cottage is suitable for two people and is fully equipped.
The Swarthoeve of the Swart family is a cosy farm campsite in the middle of the vast field on the edge of the Wormer- and Jisperveld. Find a nice spot for your camper or caravan and enjoy the peace and quiet around you.
Do you prefer the hustle and bustle of the city and do you like a bit of luxury? Then book a night at the Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam in Zaandam. Consisting of a collection of stacked Zaanse houses, the hotel is an architectural masterpiece and almost as famous as the Zaanse Schans. The rooms are modern and luxuriously furnished with a nod to the rich history of the Zaan region; the products of old, the workers of old and the families that made the region famous. Also nice: there is a Welness Club!
Varen in de Zaanstreek
In the watery Zaanstreek, you can go on a boat trip this summer. From the ever-bustling Zaan, you will see the Zaanstreek at its best and suddenly discover pearls that normally remain hidden. Like the beautifully landscaped backyards of sturdy merchant houses with romantic teahouses and historic air houses. The Zaan also takes you past its famous industrial heritage and (old) factories of food giants such as Verkade, Honig, Duyvis and Lassie.
If you prefer peace and quiet, you can sail via one of the many locks to beautiful nature areas such as the Westzijderveld, the Wormer- en Jisperveld, the Guisveld or the Reef in Westzaan. In these unique peat meadow areas, you can heerlijk and enjoy the flora and fauna around you. Recreatiegebied het Twiske consists mainly of water and is therefore a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. From swimming in the natural water to sailing, surfing, sailing a rowing or whisper boat to canoeing.
Anyone can sail: rent a boat
If you do not have a boat but would still like to sail a beautiful route through the Zaan region, you can rent a boat at several places in the region. De Zaanse Sloep in Nauerna marina rents out sloops and at Twiskehaven you can hire an electric boat or a rowing boat. If you like a bit of action, you can also hire a kayak, canoe, rowing boat, sailing boat or pedal boat at Twiske Haven Haven.
Suppen, or Stand-Up Paddling, is hot! Quiet and relaxed paddling in the open air is ideal for relaxing. Zwet's Up in the picturesque village of Jisp is located in the middle of the Wormer- and Jisperveld and rents out sturdy SUP boards. From here, you can explore the field while supping. Go on the bonnet and enjoy following your nose or make a nice trip via one of the signposted canoe junction routes in the field.
Boating, drinking tea
A day sailing is only complete with a well-stocked cool box or picnic basket on board! You can fill it yourself or have it filled by the Huiskamer in Wormer with a tasty lunch tasting on the water!
Of course, you can also choose to grab a terrace along the way. You can moor at Grand Café Batavia 1894 in Wormer and Eetcafé de Toog in Koog aan de Zaan for a drink or snack along the way. In the Zaanbocht in Wormerveer, there is always a free spot to moor your boat for a delicious ice cream from Hemels.
Tip: in the new Ervaar de Zaanstreek Magazine of 2020, you will find fun and useful information about varen in de Zaanstreek. From the best waterside terraces, tourist information and bridge and lock times to a detachable map to map out your own sailing route.
On the road with Ellen - You don't have to go far for special places
On this page, Ellen Groenveld takes us to a particularly beautiful, fun or tasty spot in the Zaan region every month. She is a travel blogger for online travel and inspiration platform 'Bijzonder Plekje', freelance lifestyle editor for Motorboot Magazine and responsible for social media at Dekker Watersport in Zaandam.
I live in the Zaan region and together with my family I can often be found on the water with our sailing boat and sloop. For 'Bijzonder Plekje', I regularly travel abroad and visit beautiful places. But, for special places and a holiday feeling, you don't always have to go far away. Indeed: I am a huge fan of the Zaan region and love to show you how beautiful, fun and special my region is.
Below are her earlier contributions.
Join the tour:
The Beschuittoren
Since 2018, Wormer on the Dorpsstraat has gained a special eye-catcher: the Rusk Tower. The tower is a replica of the original tower from 1620, also called the beschuitbakkerstoren at the time. After all, all of Wormer baked in the Golden Age!
Bake ships' biscuits yourself with Ellen's recipe.
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Zaan favourite spot
Do you have such a place, close to home, where you can get away from the daily hustle and bustle and relax? The Kerkepad in Wormer, in the middle of the meadows, is mine. This cycling and walking path lies on the edge of the Wormer- and Jisperveld and connects the Dorpsstraat with the Engewormer polder. It is heerlijk quiet and the sunrise is at its most beautiful here.
Walk with Ellen along Het Kerkepad.
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5x Tasty food
If you are looking for a nice place in the centre of Zaandam to have a really good meal, I would like to recommend Ciao Foodbar on Zuiddijk. In this small but nice Italian restaurant overlooking the Zaan, the chef serves delicious Italian dishes. If you choose the menu della casa, you will be surprised with a three-course tasting menu with various antipasti, fresh pasta and for dessert a mix of the most delicious desserts. Yum!
Go on a food tour with Ellen in the Zaan region from north to south.
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Along the Zaan
The most famous, even world-famous spot on the Zaan is of course the Zaanse Schans. Not nearly as famous but still a beautiful spot on the Zaan is the Zaanbocht in Wormerveer. It is the only village on the Zaan where the houses face the Zaan with their front doors. This way, residents used to have a good view of their factories across the water. The unique view over the Zaan is still there and in 2020(!) the Zaanbocht offers a wonderful mix of fine shops and cosy places for coffee or lunch.
Take a look at this beautiful place on the Zaan.
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Pearls on the Westzijde
Ellen takes you shopping on the Westzijde in Zaandam: "A trip around the Westzijde in Zaandam has been on my wish list for ages. Because thanks to Instagram, I came across some surprising places on this historic street in the centre of Zaandam."
Discover the pearls of the Westzijde together!
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The Verkade Factory
In my opinion, the story of Sjakie en de Chocoladefabriek is one of the best children's stories ever. I was twelve years old when I experienced my own unforgettable chocolate factory adventure in 1986. Together with my father. We didn't need a golden ticket for that. Verkade was 100 years old at the time and opened the gates of the chocolate factory on the Zaan to mark the anniversary. The factory was still in full operation and it was very unique, such a look behind the scenes. The best part? We got to snack on broken chocolate bars! It is my fondest memory of the old Verkade Factory.
Ellen takes us to the Verkadefabriek, now a fun meeting place with various businesses.
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Hembrug site
As a child in the 1980s, I regularly cycled with my father along the fences surrounding the mysterious Hembrugterrein on the North Sea Canal. Something very secretive and special was happening there. The military site was strictly guarded and no one just entered it. They were exciting bike rides.
I will never forget the Hembrug bike rides with my father. I am therefore very curious to see what there is to see and do on the Hembrug terrain now. By now, many of the 50 national and municipal monuments have been renovated. Some of these industrial buildings are home to entrepreneurs and creative people.
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Wormer and Jisperveld
In the north of the Zaan region lies the Wormer- and Jisperveld. In this peat meadow area, you will find shallow ditches, vast meadows and hundreds of islands. Did you know that this is one of the most important bird areas in Europe? Almost all meadow birds found in the Netherlands breed here. So it is a paradise for birdwatchers but also a very nice place for refreshing summer activities on the water.
If you want to discover the field, Ellen likes to tip you off to these addresses!
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Gortershoek
The Gortershoek in Zaandijk is the pretty little neighbourhood on the other side of the Zaanse Schans. Here, on the Lagedijk, you will find the famous green Zaan wooden houses with curly gables, sturdy merchant houses with pretty gardens and romantic vistas to the Zaan. As far as I am concerned, this is one of the most beautiful parts of the Zaan region. Not for nothing does this old part of Zaandijk have the status of Protected Village Area. Enormously entry-friendly, then!
Ellen takes us along one of the most beautiful parts of the Zaan region.
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Hidden treasures Wormer
Ellen takes you to her hometown Wormer, which has a lot more to offer than you might think. Ellen: "Maybe you know Wormer from its cocoa, Lassie or Batavia? Or from that 144-metre high tower that Zaankanters call the "Tower of Wormer" and which you can see from the whole Zaan region. But Wormer has more and I'm sure it will surprise you when you cross the Zaan bridge."
Join Ellen and discover Wormer's hidden treasures.
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