By Aleksandria Rudenko | Published 28 October 2026

Family of three twirling hand in hand on the quay by an old lamppost, the windmills of the Zaanse Schans across the water

This family trip to the Zaanse Schans started with a spin on the quay. Nadia, Sam and their little girl Lily had come all the way from the USA, and Lily had one wish: real windmills.

The village on the Zaan is flat, green and full of things to point at, which makes it easy with small children. This walk shows how my photoshoots at the Zaanse Schans work when the youngest guest sets the pace.

Where
The Zaanse Schans, from the quay to a white bridge
When
June, midday
Session
Family Photoshoot
Light
Hazy midday sun, clearing to a blue sky

A Twirl on the Quay

We met by the water at a quarter past twelve. Across the Zaan stood a row of windmills, and an old lamppost marked the edge of the quay. I asked them to hold hands and walk, then to spin. Within seconds, Lily’s dark red dress was flying, and so was her mother’s long pink one.

Father, mother and little daughter walking hand in hand past a green wooden mill with a red sign on its wall, the Zaan behind them
The quay on the Zaan, 12:18

Then Lily found an old millstone in front of a green wooden house. She climbed on top and held out her skirt, as if the stone were a stage.

Little girl in a dark red dress and white sunglasses holding out her skirt on an old millstone in front of a green wooden house

Hydrangeas by a Dark Wooden House

Around the corner, a dark wooden house hides behind a wall of hydrangeas. The three of them stood in front of it hand in hand, while Lily swung their arms. Then she wandered off to inspect a flower, so her parents had a minute to themselves.

Family standing hand in hand before a wall of hydrangeas and a dark wooden house at the Zaanse Schans, the girl between her parents
Mother in a pink floral maxi dress smiling up at her husband in a white shirt as they stand close in front of green hydrangeas

Under the Big Mill at the Zaanse Schans

Next, we walked to a jetty below the big green mill. They sat down together on the planks, and Lily leaned against her mother in her white sunglasses.

Parents and daughter standing on a wooden jetty below the big green windmill, a gabled green house and orange roofs behind them
Family sitting together on the jetty under a green windmill at the Zaanse Schans, the girl in sunglasses leaning on her mother

For the next frame, Sam lifted her onto his arm, and all three waved at me across the reeds. Before we moved on, Nadia walked into the meadow on her own for a few frames, with the mill behind her.

Father holding his daughter on one arm as the three of them wave from a jetty on the Zaan, windmills on the horizon and reeds in front
Mother in a long pink dress walking alone across a sunny meadow, the green windmill of the Zaanse Schans and a blue sky behind her
By the big mill, 12:35 to 12:41

Ducks Come First

Then Lily spotted the ducks. A group of brown ducks waddled across the grass toward us, and soon the whole family was feeding them. I simply followed, because a child who forgets the camera gives me the most natural frames. For Lily, the ducks may well have been the highlight of their family trip to the Zaanse Schans.

Mother, father and daughter walking toward a group of brown ducks on the grass beside the big green windmill, water and bushes nearby
Girl in a dark red dress reaching out to the ducks while her father feeds them by hand and her mother looks on beside the mill
Feeding time by the big mill, 12:45

A duck even walked into the next portrait. Nadia and Sam stood against a dark wooden wall beside a white window full of tiny green houses. Meanwhile, Lily took a break in her stroller right next to them.

Couple standing close against a dark wooden wall beside a white window full of tiny green houses, both smiling in the sun
Parents holding hands by a dark wooden house while their daughter rests in a stroller and a duck walks past at the Zaanse Schans
A break in the stroller, 12:52

A White Bridge at the Zaanse Schans

Our last stop was a small white bridge between green houses. All three crossed it hand in hand. After that, Lily skipped ahead, while her mother crouched behind her and laughed.

Family crossing a small white wooden bridge between green houses, a windmill behind them on their family trip to the Zaanse Schans
Little girl skipping across a white bridge in front of her smiling mother, green houses, trees and a windmill in the distance

Finally, Nadia and Sam stood in front of a big heart of painted clogs on a dark wall, with four giant yellow clogs at their feet. That was the last frame of their family trip to the Zaanse Schans, at five past one.

Couple holding hands before a heart of painted wooden clogs on a dark wall at the Zaanse Schans, giant yellow clogs at their feet

Within a week, their gallery was ready to download, ducks included. If you are planning a family day there too, the official visitor page lists the opening hours and directions.

And for the prettiest corners of the village, see my guide to photo spots at the Zaanse Schans.

Planning a day among the windmills with your own little ones? Discover how my photoshoots at the Zaanse Schans work.