Zaanse Schans, Netherlands - 27 May 2016 Zaanse Schans is a neighborhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk in the Netherlands. It has a collection of well-preserved historic windmills and houses, making it one of the popular tourist attractions of the Netherlands. Windmills are not just scenic. Some 250 years ago, well over 600 windmills were cramped into this relatively small area, forming one of the first industrial site in the world. They performed a wide range of industrial duties, such as pumping and grinding, producing grain, paint, mustard, oil and paper.