Explore - Zaanse Schans

Oil mill ‘De Zoeker’ (The Seeker)

In the early days, this mill – the oldest at the Zaanse Schans – used to pump water. Nowadays it presses oil...

This is where the mustard is cut!

Here, Rembrandt's famous colors are made the traditional way...

Giant logs are sawed here every day, just as they were centuries ago...

Although struck by lightning many times, ‘De Kip’ continues to stand its ground...

This former Zaandam bookshop was reputed to be a haunted house. These days, soap is made here!

A granary typical of the village of Westzaan, housing a gold and silversmith, diamond merchant and... a syrup waffle bakery!

This 18th century tea dome is home to daily pewter casting demonstrations...

You can watch the whole cheese production process here... and enjoy a taste of the many varieties available!

Explore the history of wooden shoes and the way they are made... then go and try some on for size!

The ‘Cottage of Miss Albestel’, who by all accounts was petulant, fickle and not easily satisfied...

The only two-story wooden house in the Zaanse Schans...

‘Hairs’ were made in this house – press mats made from horsehair, that were used in oil mills...

The former Westzaan mayor’s residence, with the municipal coat of arms still displayed above the door...

Judging by the gold beehives on the garden fence, the Honig (honey) family must have lived here...

The Zaans Museum was opened in 1998, with the aim of safeguarding and preserving the Zaan heritage...

The oldest of the houses in the Zaanse Schans, formerly inhabited by the Jager family.

Restaurant ‘De Hoop op d’Swarte Walvis’, formerly a Westzaan orphanage, with a beautiful ‘smuiger’ (tiled fireplace) and terrace...