You can still buy the renowned ‘Duivekater’ here…

In 1972, Queen Juliana opened the Bakery Museum ‘In de Gecroonde Duyvekater’ in the Zaanse Schans. This former bakery was located on Hazepad in Zaandijk as ‘Bakker Bolding’, and served as such until 1956. It was originally built as a dwelling in 1658, partially converted to a bakery in 1753, and is now a bakery museum and candy shop with all kinds of traditional Dutch bakery products such as chocolate, marzipan, speculaas (a spiced shortcrust cookie), taaitaai (a chewy delicacy flavored with spices and aniseed, which is eaten at Sinterklaas time), and confectionery.

Both the name of this museum and the wood carving above the shop door refer to the ‘Duivekater’, the typical sweet holiday bread from the Zaan region. It is traditionally a Christmas bread, but is also eaten at Easter and Pentecost. It originated as a replacement for the primitive custom of sacrificing a tomcat in the spring, as protection against the devil and to ensure a prosperous season. After becoming established here, the Roman Catholic Church forbade animal sacrifice, and this practice was replaced with baking loaves of bread in the shape of a cat’s body. Duivekaters are still made today, and in accordance with tradition, slices are eaten with a nice, thick layer of butter. The recipe has remained the same for centuries…

The shop is decorated in a style reminiscent of the 19th century, complete with a gorgeous marbled wood floor and an authentic stone oven. In a separate area to the right is a period room featuring a magnificent tiled fireplace, known as a ‘smuiger’. The building was donated in 1970 by the Zaan-based company Wessanen Koninklijke Fabrieken NV, which is now a multinational in the food industry.

Some of the collection at the Bakery Museum

To the left is Bakkerij Bolding, at Hazepad 11 in Zaandijk