Zaandam is the epinal image of the Netherlands, the dream image of a country where beautiful villages appear in the middle of the canals, mills perpetuate tradition, millers fall asleep to the sound of the wind If you are staying in Amsterdam, Zaanstad, (30 minutes away from Amsterdam city center) is worth a visit ; it is composed of several villages, the most interesting and authentic ones are undoubtedly Zaandijk and Zaandam. You can see Zaanse Schans and its iconic windmills in a 3-hour tour from Amsterdam, visiting the famous A’DAM Tower.