Zaanse Schans is a beautiful Dutch village known for its well-preserved windmills. Starting next spring, it will begin charging an entry fee to tourists. Once a quiet backwater, the village just outside Amsterdam has, in recent years, become a mecca for curious tourists. According to year-end tourism projections, the number of visitors expected will skyrocket from 1.7 million in 2017 to a projected 2.8 million this year. This increase has prompted local authorities to take action to manage the influx of tourists and preserve the village’s charm.
Starting next spring, non-residents will have to pay an entrance fee of €17.50 to visit Zaanse Schans. This mayor’s initiative directly confronts the issue of overcrowding. It guarantees that the village is able to shield its infrastructure and heritage sites, particularly the emblematic windmills that have characterized Zaanse Schans since the 17th century.
Marieke Verweij, the director of the Zaanse Schans museum, told Dutch outlet NOS about the toxic effects of tourism on her close-knit community. With a resident population of only 100, she noted that “In 2017 we had 1.7 million visitors… this year we’re heading for 2.8 million.” Verweij expressed concerns about the village’s capacity to accommodate such large numbers: “This is a small place! We just don’t have room for all these people!”
The council will spend the money it raises through entrance fees to preserve the windmills. In the process, they hope to use these dollars to build local infrastructure. The village’s windmills historically served various purposes, including grinding grain, producing pigments for paint, and sawing wood, and their upkeep is essential to preserving Zaanse Schans’s cultural heritage.
The decision to charge an entry fee has created a firestorm of reaction from residents as well as would be visitors. Many of the town’s residents are concerned that the new fee will drive away tourists. They don’t want to pay a premium for just a minute stop. Sterre Schaap, a local resident, expressed her concerns, stating, “It’s awful. It will mean that people who don’t have a big wallet won’t be able to come here.”
Other visitors are much more willing if they know it will improve their experience. Steve, a tourist considering a visit, remarked, “look at the windmill and say ‘nah, I’m not gonna pay extra to go in there’, but if it’s all included I wouldn’t hesitate.” This feeling comes from a longing for something deeper than just looking at the windmills on the horizon.
Rachel Dodds, a professor of tourism at Canada’s Toronto Metropolitan University, provided context for Zaanse Schans’s decision by comparing it to other destinations that have implemented entry fees. She pointed out, “Bhutan has a daily entry fee in order to enter their country. Venice, of course, is the best publicized – some would say infamous – example with €5 charge for day trippers. Weirs, entry fees and other limits on overtourism like weirs, these comparisons underscore the recent movement among popular tourist destinations to control tourism and preserve local communities.
The proposal has raised concerns about accessibility and affordability. Ishan, a potential visitor to Zaanse Schans, expressed skepticism about the fee: “I don’t know if I’d pay the €17.50 to come here. It’s a bit steep just to see a couple of windmills.” This view is indicative of worries that new costs might reduce availability for price-sensitive riders.
The village’s gift shop, Trash and Treasures, which has been operating since 1623 and is co-run by a local woman, adds another layer to the community’s charm. Lucky visitors to this lovely little shop can take home a piece of Zaanse Schans. In the process, they’re helping out local artisans and businesses as well!
Zaanse Schans seems to be poised for the next step in its policy of resisting mass tourism. The local council faces the challenge of protecting the village’s distinctive heritage, but welcoming its new-found fame as a must-visit destination. The introduction of an entrance fee is expected to help maintain the delicate equilibrium between tourism and community life in this historic Dutch village.