History

The house has an interesting history; its last residents were the Honig family, a renowned papermaking family that was known worldwide for their high-quality papers. The Honigs’ family crest, a beehive, is prominently displayed on top of the roof, recalling their well-known contribution to the production of paper, including the paper on which the U.S. Declaration Of Independence was printed; consequently, many copies of this political pamphlet have a beehive as a watermark.
In the past, ‘t “Koopmanshuys d’Mol” and “Het Noorderhuis” stood side by side in Zaandijk. Both properties were in neglected condition, but not declared uninhabitable. The Noorderhuis was later purchased by the same family to house their library. The monumental decorations around the door have been beautifully restored and are now a great eye-catcher. The entrance panel was added during a thorough modernization in 1796, and shows in the overhead light the rods of Neptune (a trident) and Mercury (with 2 snakes): the gods of seafaring and trade. The same rods and the beehive can also be found in the doorway of the Noorderhuis.
Both buildings, ‘t Koopmanshuys d’Mol and Het Noorderhuis, have a rich history and are a valuable part of the Zaanse Schans, thanks to their unique architecture, historical significance and beautiful details.

The crossing of ‘t Koopmanshuis across the Zaan in 1970