I woke up at 8:30 this morning and not so promptly got out of bed and headed to breakfast. After breakfast we headed to Zaanse Schans. I learned that Zaanse Schans is a 16th century windmill town, and the majority of the windmills were relocated to their present location. We visited a cheese store where we learned how the cheese is made. I learned the relatively simple process, where milk and a few other activating agents is churned until the protein is separated, which is further pressed into cheese. I also learned about previous ingredients, specifically a enzyme found in a cow’s stomach, which would require the killing of a cow, but the company has since rid of this practice to be more sustainable and sympathetic towards life.
We then explored the small town. Unfortunately, the site’s several museums required an entrance fee, so me and the group I was with decided to skip the museums and walk around the town. I had a great time exploring the beautiful quaint town, crossing small footbridges, looking at the goats, sheep, and ducks, shopping and laughing. I enjoyed viewing the landscape and marveling the engineering behind the construction of the town and the windmills, especially considering the time period they were constructed.
Finally, we traveled to Rotterdam, where I unpacked, created the most awesome bottom bunk setup imaginable, and walked downtown to grab a bite. I am excited to explore the city some more tomorrow and learn more about Rotterdam and the Netherland’s history.