We are deeply inspired by this Holland Zicht-designed houseboat in the Zaan region, which looks and glides as gracefully as the bird it was named for, Zwarte Zwaan, or Dutch for “Black Swan.”

Located on a tranquil arm of a dike in the Zaan, come float on the canal while surrounded by riparian flora and pristine pastures dotted with cows. From every window in this vacation rental in Holland is a view of nature, and we love the homages to river life present in the interiors: from the artful river fish tiles to the wide plank floors and ceilings, and nautical-inspired bulkhead lamps.

Drifting across  the water, parallel with the ducklings and their babies, relish the moment when a variety of other creatures come to greet you. If your heart is willing, match your cadence to the river’s flow, while the amenities of the Zaan region (and Amsterdam – a twenty-minute car ride away) lie within reach.

This river villa is a triumph of design from Holland Zicht, filled with curiosities that can delight you for many easygoing days.  

This vacation rental in Holland has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, accommodating up to to six guests. It also has two terraces, a kitchen with dishwasher, and a large living room with a plush sectional sofa centered around a flat-screen TV.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES

Essentials, TV, Cable TV, Heating, Kitchen, Washer/Dryer,Buzzer/Wireless Intercom, Shampoo, Pets Allowed, Parking free of charge, Suitable for children, Free Wifi, Smoke Detector, Fire Extinguisher, First Aid Kit, Carbon Monoxide Detector

AROUND

Offering all the highlights of remote and city life, this vacation rental in Holland drops you into the middle of nature, yet it is minutes to the center of Amsterdam and 15 minutes to Alkmaar.

Resembling an old postcard, Oostknollendam is a sparsely-populated farm village between Amsterdam and Alkmaar that is worth a visit.

And straight out your front door, there are lovely walks in the open nature. The Zaanse Schans, known for its windmills and meticulously-preserved green wooden houses, is ten minutes away by car.

Bergen, a seaside resort town and artists’ village is 30 minutes away, which birthed an art movement called ‘The Bergen School’ (you can view some of its notable works in the town’s Kranenbergh Museum). Another jewel of a beach resort, with sandy beaches and a Dutch Formula 1 race track, is Zandvoort, just 30 minutes away from The Black Swan.

LOCATION

Oostknollendam, Netherlands. Nearest Airport: Amsterdam Schiphol (30 min away)

BEST TIME TO VISIT:

All seasons. Summer is perfect weather for sailing, and in autumn, the owners recommend walking in nature or feasting in the Wormer and Jisperveld, then warming up by the stove. Winter brings the possibility of ice skating, and when spring rolls in, lamb flock on the meadows.

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