Open Air Museums Netherlands: Which To Pick

Are you’re planning your Netherlands trip and wondering which open-air museum to visit? Then I can help. I thought this would make an excellent post because the differences are stark, and as a Dutch tour guide and itinerary planner I get asked about this a lot.

There are four important open-air museums in the country:

• Zaanse Schans (the most famous close to Amsterdam, also the most touristy)
• Zuiderzee Museum Enkhuizen (my personal favorite and I am going to tell you why)
• Kinderdijk Windmills (UNESCO Heritage, a beautiful site to see and visit windmills)
• National Open-Air Museum Arnhem (better overall history, but not as pretty)
• Open Air Museum Archeon (fantastic if you want to go further back in time)

Each one is interesting to visit, but they all serve different travelers. Let me help you pick the right one for your trip.

Zaanse Schans Dutch Open Air Museum

I’m going to start with the most famous, and the most visited: The Zaanse Schans open air museum. It’s free, just 20 minutes from Amsterdam by train or bus (in summer), and undeniably photogenic.

But we also need to be realistic about Zaanse Schans. It’s very touristy, crowded, and every building houses a shop. Since it’s so close to Amsterdam all tour busses come here. The cheese shop is cute, but terrible for cheese buying, they sell tourist-focused flavors I’ve never seen in regular Dutch stores (ps. in my article about Dutch foods I share where I buy cheese).

However if you’re short on time, or just don’t want to travel far; come here.

Why you might choose Zaanse Schans:

• Closest to Amsterdam (20 minutes)
• Open year-round
• Free entry, but you have to pay for windmill and museum access
• Working windmills you can tour
• Classic Dutch postcard scenery, you can make really nice photo’s here

You can get to Zaanse Schans by train, bus, a tour bus (of course), and for example as a stop on a private tour with me.

⤷ I wrote an entire article on how to get from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans. I made it really easy for you with my favorite modes of transportation and tours (no, not just my own).

Zuiderzee Museum Enkhuizen: My Top Pick

If you ask me Gerrit what is your favorite Open Air Museum in the Netherlands my answer is always: the Zuiderzee Museum in Enkhuizen. And here’s why: they recreated a real fishing village and turned it into a living museum that feels genuine. It so many cute little houses you don’t know what to do with yourself, different neighborhoods, all lined along canals.

The fish smokery is my favorite stop. You’ll watch them smoke fresh salmon and herring right in front of you, then buy it warm off the rack to eat immediately.

The herring here isn’t the raw version most Dutch people eat (which horrifies many visitors). This is warm-smoked herring – completely different and absolutely delicious. The salmon is excellent too, and you won’t find this quality of fresh-smoked fish easily anywhere else in the Netherlands.

The Zuiderzee Museum captures life when Enkhuizen sat on the open sea (before we built the massive Afsluitdijk dam). You’ll watch craftspeople work in authentic settings, these are not just tourist demonstrations.

What makes Enkhuizen special:

• Real historical buildings where people actually lived and worked
• Demonstrations by locals who know their craft
• The smoked fish station serves excellent herring and salmon
• The museum is mostly popular with Dutch people, there few foreigners here
• You exit into an beautiful historic town, not a parking lot, so leave time to explore Enkhuizen too

The museum costs about €20 for adults, but every euro is worth it. The quality difference from the free Zaanse Schans is immediately obvious.

Getting there from Amsterdam: Take the train to Enkhuizen (1 hour), then catch the free museum boat from behind the station. The boat ride adds a nice touch to your visit. But you can also walk, just follow the signs.

⤷ Here is my article on how to get train tickets in the Netherlands

Kinderdijk: UNESCO Heritage and Iconic Windmill Views

Kinderdijk isn’t technically an open-air museum, but it deserves mention because it’s the most famous windmill site in the Netherlands. And people view it as an open air museum.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site showcases 19 original windmills from 1738-1740, still in working condition. Because it’s a bit harder to get to it doesn’t attract the number of visitors, Zaanse Schans does. It also feels a lot more authentic!

What makes Kinderdijk special:

• The most iconic Dutch windmill landscape – this is what’s on all the postcards
• Multiple windmills you can enter (included in your ticket)
• Real working water management system that’s been keeping the land dry for centuries
• Boat tours through the waterways between the mills (included in your ticket)
• Beautiful walking and cycling path

My favorite way to get there: Take the Waterbus from Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge. It’s a scenic 30-minute journey along Dutch rivers The boat ride itself becomes part of the experience. It drops you right at the entrance.

⤷ Here is my post on how to get from Amsterdam to Rotterdam

• Rotterdam to Kinderdijk Boat Transportation (fastest, scenic, and fun)
• Unesco Kinderdijk access tickets including access to windmills and boat tour

National Open Air Museum Arnhem

The Dutch Open-Air Museum in Arnhem covers our entire country’s history, not just one region. It’s where Dutch school children learn their heritage, so the educational content runs deep.

What you’ll find here:

• Different areas representing various Dutch regions and eras
• Historic trams you can ride
• Amsterdam’s Jordaan neighborhood recreation
• Colonial history exhibits
• Traditional poffertjes (mini pancakes) with butter and powdered sugar

The catch: Getting there takes effort. You need to take a train to Arnhem, then a local bus, then walking. Or pre-book a taxi to save money and have door-to-door convenience. If you’re planning more Arnhem and Nijmegen a rental car might be easier.

You do not need advance reservations, buy your tickets at the window. Here is the museums’ website.

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When to choose Arnhem: If you’re staying longer in the Netherlands, planning other stops near Arnhem, or want the most complete historical picture of our country.

Open Air Museum Archeon Alphen a/d Rijn

Archeon in Alphen aan den Rijn focuses on hands-on history from prehistoric times, Roman times, and all the way through the Middle Ages. This is where Dutch school groups come for educational trips, so everything is designed for participation.

What makes Archeon different:

• You can try prehistoric fire-making, Roman mosaic creation, and medieval archery
• Costumed interpreters teach you period skills like weaving and pottery
• Gladiator shows in a proper Roman arena
• You can row in a replica of the world’s oldest dugout canoe (8,000+ years old)
• Roman Museum with original artifacts

Here’s a cleaner, more engaging version:

Archeon surprised me on my first visit. I expected a small theme park designed for school kids, but it’s a real musuem, and I genuinely enjoyed the park as an adult. The park workers know their history, and the hands-on activities feel educational rather than gimmicky.

I also love their restaurants. You’ll find real Dutch classics here, like the best Apple Pie and some really food Dutch pancakes. Archeon is a park I love going back to.

Getting there: Train to Alphen aan den Rijn, then bus or walk (but it’s quite a distance). Consider pre-booking a taxi (which saves a lot).

Let’s Pick the Right Open Air Museums Netherlands

Pick Enkhuizen if: You want authentic Dutch culture, don’t mind a one-hour train ride, and you’re visiting April-October.

Pick Zaanse Schans if: You’re staying close to Amsterdam, have limited time, or you’re visiting in winter months.

Pick Kinderdijk if: You want the classic Dutch windmill experience, don’t mind to travel there, or you’re staying in Rotterdam.

Pick Archeon if: You want to go back further in time and learn about prehistoric, roman and medieval times. But know there are no Dutch cute houses here, like in the other parks. Those where not invented during those times!

Pick Arnhem if: You want comprehensive Dutch history, have a rental car, or you’re planning other activities in that area.

I usually tell guests: “If you can only visit one, make it Enkhuizen. If you just want photos and easy access, do Zaanse Schans. If you want to more history, consider Archeon. And if you want the most beautiful windmill pictures than you have to go to Kinderdijk.”

Frequently Asked Questions Open Air Museums Netherlands

Keeping Reading

Did this help you choose your perfect open air museum in the Netherlands? I love helping travelers discover the real Netherlands beyond the typical tourist spots.

Here are more of my insider tips on exploring our beautiful country:

• What to do and see at the Zaanse Schans
• The best time to visit the Tulip Fields
• Discover my favorite city in the country: Amersfoort