What to do in Zaandam? Agenda today and this weekend

In Zaandam and the Zaan towns (Krommenie, Wormerveer, Zaandijk and the Zaanse Schans), start in the centre of Zaandam: the Czaar Peterhuisje, a drink on the Dam and a show in the Zaantheater or a film at Pathé. For the windmills take the train to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans. On a Sunday the Zaanse Schans museums and the main windmills are open, and so is Pathé.

The Zaanse Schans is free to visit, and a windmill costs an entrance fee: children from 4 to 17 pay less than adults. The Windmill Museum is interactive, and the Zaantheater has family and youth shows.

Go to the Dam and the Damstraat in the centre, where the cafés and bars stay open late, especially at the weekend. For live music look at De Kade and the Bullekerk, which also has party nights. Big dance events take place in North Sea Venue.

In Zaandam the weekly market is on the Rozengracht every Thursday and Saturday, from 8:30 to 16:30. The other Zaan towns have one as well: Krommenie on Tuesday at the Durghorstplantsoen (8:30 to 15:00) and Wormerveer on Wednesday at the Marktplein (8:30 to 16:30).

Pathé Zaandam in the centre has six screens. Filmtheater De Fabriek on the Jan Sijbrandsteeg shows other films, with a film club and a café.

Last year the Bullekerk held a Dickens-style winter market on the second weekend of December, and Krommenie, Zaandijk and Koog aan de Zaan had markets as well. The Winter Kerstcircus stood in Zaandam from 19 December to 4 January last winter.

Sinterklaas arrives in Zaandam on Saturday 14 November 2026 at 13:00, at the kade van de Burcht. The children's activities are free.