Car
The main enclosure for both regions is the A8/A7 motorway which starts at "Knooppunt Coenplein" near the Coentunnel part of the A10/Ring Amsterdam. For Zaanse Schans take the first exit on the A7 after the intersection with the A8. For Volendam, Edam and Marken, follow the A7 further until exit "Purmerend Noord/Volendam" and follow the signs "Volendam" and/or "Edam".
During rush hours the A7 is very busy and in the morning till 9:30 traffic jams direction Amsterdam are common sense.
By public transport
The Zaan Region is easily accessible by train. During weekdays, "Sprinter" trains run every quarter from Amsterdam Central station to all stations in the Zaan Region. Above this, the quarterly intercity service form Amsterdam to Alkmaar also stops at Zaandam railway station, linking Zaandam in total 8 times per hour with Amsterdam.For the open-air Museum Zaanse Schans, take the "Sprinter" train direction Uitgeest and get off at Koog-Zaandijk station. It's about 10 minutes walk from here to the Zaanse Schans Open Air Museum.Alternatively take Connexxion bus line 91 from Amsterdam Central Station IJ -side which has its terminal right in front of the main parking lot of the Zaanse Schans and Zaans Museum. The bus ride from Amsterdam Central takes around 45 minutes.
The Waterland Region is accessible by bus from Amsterdam Central Station. Arriva buses depart from the IJ-side of Amsterdam Central Station to Volendam Edam Monnickendam and Purmerend. Purmerend also has 3 railway stations served half-hourly by the "sprinter"trains Schiphol Airport- Zaandam- Hoorn. From Amsterdam Central change trains in Zaandam.