Once again, we were in for a long day. We made our way back to the tour company office and joined our group for the walk to the bus. Then off to visit the Zaanse Schans windmills. This is a drive through the countryside, seeing some of the present windmills, some of which still operate.
On arriving at Zaanse Schans, our bus was only the second one in the lot. We were given a time we had to be back to the bus, and then set off on a tour of the area with our guide. There were the usual gift shops which we looked at on the way by, but our main interest was the windmills. We had a photo shoot where we got a look at the windmills that were there, still working as tourist exhibitions.
Our tour took us inside a milling windmill. The miller was grinding peanuts and making oil. He showed us the process from the time the peanuts and shells were put on the grind stone, collecting the ground shells and nuts to cook them a bit, and then pressing them to get the oil out. Most of these things were run by the windmill, and it was quite amazing how the various gears moved different parts when needed.
After the oil has been squeezed out, he removes the outer cloth, and they use the remainder as food for the animals. Not much wastage here. He told us that he can make 600 litres of peanut oil in a year. Now, this process is done in factories, and they make more in a day than he does in a year. He is paid by the tourism industry and by the peanut oil companies to keep the windmill operating and demonstrate how the mill was used in the past.
One of the other windmills there was a lumber processing mill. We didn’t get to that one, but it likely worked on the same principles. The Dutch were very rich at one time because they were able to make their ships quicker than other countries so they were able to move to the Carribean, Indonesia and other places to bring back their products for sale to other countries.
From here, we when to Volendam where Edam cheese is produced. We had to walk a fair amount again to get to the chees factory, but it was a very interesting explanation of the process. We got to sample the various cheeses that they produced, and of course, shop at their souvenir shop. They had a different type of cheese slicer/grater so we purchased one to bring home.
Then a walk to the shore of the lake (used to be ocean but the dykes have made it a lake) and were able to get something to eat. Our guides (Garen and Kathleen) showed us the recommended restaurant but we decided not to go in. Instead, we decided to try a waffle from the street vendor. It was pretty good, but the fruit on top certainly attracted the wasps.
Before leaving, we took a quick tour of a store where the original stroopwaffle cookies were made. These are thin waffles originally made from the left over bread dough but now following a recipe of the original person in this house. The waffles are pressed in a cooker (looks like a t-shirt decal press). When cooked, the waffle is taken out, and sliced in half so there are two rounds. Then a filling is spread (could be caramel, chocolate, or various other sweet ingredients) and the pieces put back together. It is these that are then sold as cookies.
When this was done, we boarded a ferry to go across the lake to another village where our bus was to meet us. Here we were taken to a small shop where wooden shoes were being made. It was very crowded, but he showed us the process of making shoes from a small block of wood (fresh cut is best because it is still soft). He used a system of lathes and gouges to shape the outside of the shoe and then gouge out the inside. In less than 10 minutes he had made one shoe. It was amazing. The same machine is used to make both left and right shoes. Depending on which direction the lathe wheel turns, either a left shoe or a right shoe is made. They always make the shoes in pairs so that they are identical except for the side the foot goes into.
Then it was back to the bus for our trip back to Amsterdam and the afternoon tour. Our guides were fantastic. They were knowledgeable, humorous, and very concerned about making sure we were getting a good experience.
Then the Afternoon Trip to Delft and The Hague and Madurodam
We had about ¾ of an hour off, and then had to return to board the bus. This was a different guide; one we weren’t overly happy with.
We first went to a factory in Delft where Delftware is produced and had a tour. This pottery is very similar to the Chinese pottery. Apparently the idea came from the Chinese, but after a while, they developed their own artwork on the pottery. Again, a gift shop which we had to visit and make some purchases. Our guide didn’t accompany us. Instead, we noticed him smoking his cigar by the coffee shop.
The we went to a tour of the town square. There had been a market there, but they were shutting it down when we got there. The big cathedral there was the church where the Dutch Royal Family members are buried. Again, our guide walked us to the square (quite a ways) and told us what time to be back to the bus, and then disappeared (another cigar, I suppose).
Once everyone was back, we moved on to The Hague. Here it was just a look at the site. It was closed to the public, but this was where the war crimes trials were held.
Finally, on to Madurodam, the miniature city. This was a tour where we got into the park and were able to walk around all the exhibits. They were working, miniature replicas and were quite interesting to see. We were very tired by this time, so didn’t spend too much time walking around. We did see the guide and the driver sitting at the cafe, smoking again. Not a lot of guiding going on.
Finally back on the bus and the return trip to Amsterdam. Both of us slept on the way back. When we got there, back to our hotel and out for a light dinner and back to the room for bed.
