Located in The Netherlands, in the province of North Holland is the wonderful city of Zaandam. This city; situated close to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is also the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad. Zaandam lies on the River Zaan; which also...more
Located in The Netherlands, in the province of North Holland is the wonderful city of Zaandam. This city; situated close to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam is also the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad. Zaandam lies on the River Zaan; which also goes past towns like the popular Zaanse Schans. Zaandam is a popular destination amongst tourists visiting Amsterdam who wish to see other parts of The Netherlands but don’t have time to; because of its proximity to the capital. It is also an incredibly popular shopping city. There are not that many Muslim-friendly facilities in Zaandam. Muslim visitors will find one well known mosque in Zaandam, but finding Halal restaurants in Zaandam will prove to be incredibly tough.
A lot of Zaandam’s attractions involve the great outdoors. The entire area surrounding the Zaan River is ideal for exploring. Tourists can walk around it or even explore the area on a bike. There are also boat rides that visitors can take over the river.
Visitors can also cruise the polders on an open boat which will take them past Old Dutch houses, picturesque landscape, historic windmills, Czar Peter House and other fantastic sites. They will also get the opportunity to visit and explore these mills along the banks.
For those seeking a true Netherlands experience, a visit to the nearby neighborhood or open-air museum of Zaanse Schans is a must. The area is one of the highlights of the Netherlands and is packed to the brim with windmills and museums. Visitors will also find unique, traditional crafts here. It offers tourists a glimpse of what The Netherlands was like during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Tourists that want to learn more about Zaandam and the surrounding area should pay a visit to Zaans Museum. This museum was founded in 1994 and is located just across the renowned the Zaanse Schans. The modern museum covers quite a large area and is home to items which give visitors a fabulous insight into the Zaan region and its history.
Zaandam is also a shopper’s paradise. Tourists will be able to find a variety of shops selling goods ranging from electronics to clothes, shoes and accessories.
The closest airport to Zaandam is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; the main international airport of The Netherlands, which is located about 16.4 kilometres away. There are direct trains which run from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Zaandam every day; tourists can use these to get to their destination.
Because of its Muslim community, there should be a few Halal restaurants in Zaandam. Zoras is one such restaurant known to serve some Halal food in Zaandam. It is always however best for Muslim tourists to double check that anything they order is Halal. They must also be aware that most restaurants in Zaandam do serve alcohol. Muslims should also be able to find Halal food at the café at the local mosque.
There is one prominent mosque in Zaandam, namely the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. This mosque has separate prayer areas and other facilities for men and women, as well as a supermarket, conference room, café and more. Muslim tourists can also make inquiries regarding other prayer facilities in Zaandam while here.