Agricultural Science: Agriculture in Amsterdam

In 2014 I was fortunate enough to travel to Amsterdam for my husband's work. We visited Zaanse Schans while we were there. According to the Dutch Website: "The Zaanse Schans is a residential area in which the 18th and 19th centuries are brought to life. Stroll past the bakery museum and enjoy the smell of fresh bread, or take a look at the warehouse where clogs are made. You should be sure not to miss the cheese factory, pewter foundry and the various windmills. The Zaanse Schans is a unique part of the Netherlands, full of wooden houses, mills, barns and workshops. Make a cycling or sailing trip, browse the shops or treat yourself at the pancake restaurant. A day out at the Zaanse Schans in North Holland is fun and educational."

They say this and it's all true, but to me the most interesting items were the agricultural bits. The area is created by interlocking several small islands. Water is plentiful being on the river leading into the North Sea which means birds and fish are also plentiful. Geese, Swans, Ducks, and other birds flocked in the tall marsh grasses. Sheep and goats were lead across wooden planks to center islands and left there to graze during the day by simply removing the planks. Behind the cheese factory is a pen with goats, sheep, and chickens. Woven eel and fish baskets were suspended in the waterways between houses.

We also went to Castle Muiderslot which has a great tour, fun kid's zone, and AMAZING gardens! I spent over an hour looking at the gardens and we were hit by a Hurricane when we were there. The bells and the woven apple trees are amazing. They copiced the pear trees against the walls which saves so much room as well.

"As was customary in the seventeenth century, the beautiful historic gardens of Muiderslot are still used for decorative and practical purposes. The covered walk (berceau) divides the grounds into a vegetable garden (Warmoeshof) with vegetables from earlier times, and a herb garden, with herbs for the kitchen, for medicinal purposes, for making dyes and for decoration. From March to November, you will find the garden being tended by volunteers who will be happy to tell you more about the proud history of the gardens and everything growing in them. Behind the castle is the the plum orchard. The orchard is the source of the expression “See you when the plums appear again!”, the expression P.C. Hooft would use to bid his guests farewell."

Food and Agriculture seemed to be woven into the countries' fabric. As we drove along the freeways and into the smaller neighborhoods we saw allotments and small gardens everywhere. The food was fresh, small portions, wild caught, and affordable. We spent more time in the grocery than anywhere else on the trip!