Factory or dairy visit · Zaandam
Zaanse Schans Cheese Farm
The cheese farm at the Zaanse Schans is the Catharina Hoeve, run by Henri Willig. Staff in traditional dress demonstrate cheesemaking and you can taste in the shop, all for free. It opens 8:00 to 18:00 from March to September and 8:30 to 17:00 from October to February. The train from Amsterdam Centraal takes 17 minutes, then it is a 15-minute walk.
- Price
- Free
- Summer hours
- 8:00 to 18:00
- Winter hours
- 8:30 to 17:00
- From Amsterdam
- 17 min train + 15 min walk
At the Catharina Hoeve
Staff in traditional costume give a cheesemaking demonstration, and afterwards you can taste in the shop. Entry is free and individual visitors don't need to book. Next door, De Haal, a former hay barn, has an audio tour you start with a QR code, in Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish and Italian.
Hours are 8:00 to 18:00 from March to September and 8:30 to 17:00 from October to February. On Christmas Day it opens 8:30 to 14:00.
The Rest of the Zaanse Schans
The village itself is free to walk around. A paid Zaanse Schans ticket covers the Zaans Museum, the Verkade Experience, the Zaanse Tijd Museum, the Mill Museum, the Weaver's House, a cooperage, two windmills and an audio tour. Most attractions open around 9:00 to 17:00.
Getting There From Amsterdam
Take the local train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans, 17 minutes, then walk about 15 minutes. From mid-March to mid-October buses 800 and 801 also run from Centraal to a stop next to the Zaans Museum in about 24 minutes. Parking costs €15 per visit at Schansend 7.
In the same season, bus 801 continues to Volendam, so you can see both cheese stops in one day.
Tours in Zaandam
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Cheeses to Taste Here
Where to Stay near the Zaanse Schans
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Questions People Ask
Is the Zaanse Schans cheese farm free?
Yes. The Catharina Hoeve has free entry, and so does walking around the Zaanse Schans village. The museums and some windmills charge, or are covered by the Zaanse Schans ticket.
How long does it take to get to the Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam?
The train to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans takes 17 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, then it is about a 15-minute walk.
Official site: dezaanseschans.nl/en/. Dates, hours and prices checked 22 October 2026; confirm on the official site before you travel. See all cheese factory tours.