About this activity
City Restoration Route: 42 listed buildings, one exceptional cycling or walking route through the Zaan region
Anyone who thinks the Zaan region has nothing but windmills and museums is in for a surprise. The Urban Regeneration Route takes you on an 8.5-kilometre journey past no fewer than 42 carefully restored monuments, ranging from historic wooden houses to former factory buildings that have been given a new lease of life. A route for those who really want to understand how the Zaan region was shaped.
You start at Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans station and walk via the Zaanse Schans, Zaandijk and Koog aan de Zaan to Zaandam station. Along the way, you’ll pass the clog-making workshop, the windmills, the Wevershuisje, the Bakery Museum, the Tinkoepel and the impressive Zaandijk Church. Most of the Stadsherstel monuments are marked by a special sign, and you can go inside some of them, though it’s worth checking the opening times in advance. There are places to stop for a bite to eat or a drink at Restaurant and Brewery Hoop and the Bullekerk Cultural Centre. Friday is the recommended day to walk or cycle the route, as most venues are open then.
The route can also be completed by bike in around 35 minutes. A GPX file is available for download. A wonderful and informative way to discover the Zaan region at your own pace.
DOEdeal!