The former shipyard of Wed. K. Brouwer of Zaandam now houses an old cooperage from Oostzaan….

Originally, the building at Kraaienpad 2 was built around 1850 on the Rustenburg in Zaandam. This former shipyard was often used to build prams. Flat prams were also repaired here, at the time they were pulled out of the water using an original slipway. Notable are the hinges in the front facade, which allowed the facade to be opened almost completely to allow ships to pass through. Next to the building is a detached, stone oven that was used to heat the “pitch,” a tar-like substance used to maintain the ships.

Today, the unique and authentic cooperage of Tiemstra of Oostzaan can be admired here. With the industrialization of the Zaan region, there was an increasing need for storage of goods. Needless to say, tubs, barrels and vats were also in high demand. ‘Cooping’ is a special craft because crafting a wooden vessel is not a simple task. A barrel should be suitable for storing and transporting various materials, such as flour, spices, oils and even water. It is imperative that nothing leaks; and especially not with hazardous substances such as gunpowder! In the cooperage, you can see how the barrels were made with care and skill, using traditional tools and techniques.

The cooperage reflects the spirit of the last Zaanse cooper and is a tribute to Jaap Tiemstra, who bequeathed the workshop after his death in 1999. The Coopery is managed by the Zaans Museum.