{"id":8997,"date":"2023-11-27T11:47:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T10:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zaanseschans.com\/paint-mill-de-kat\/"},"modified":"2025-03-14T12:17:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T11:17:30","slug":"paint-mill-de-kat","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.zaanseschans.com\/en\/paint-mill-de-kat\/","title":{"rendered":"Paint Mill The Cat"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Paint mill ‘The Cat’<\/h3>\n
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By artisanal methods, Rembrandt’s dyes are still made here….<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Paint Mill ‘De Kat’ is a unique mill in the Zaan region, where raw materials are processed into pigments for artisanal paint production, this according to the recipe of the world-famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn. The mill was built on this site in 1646; its history includes a fire in 1781, with subsequent reconstruction. In 1904 the mill was dismantled to rack height, but in 1960 it became a complete mill again, thanks to the mill body of paint mill “De Duinjager” being placed on the substructure. This reconstruction brought the mill back to its full glory. <\/p>\n

With approximately 130,000 visitors annually, this is the busiest mill in the Netherlands. From its high scaffolding, the mill offers breathtaking views of the river and the polder. The mill has two pairs of stones: for chalk and for dyes. Miller Kempenaar is a master of ancient painting techniques and his pigments are highly sought after around the world, especially by artists and restorers, including the Rembrandt House and the Van Gogh Museum.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The ground chalk from the mill is used for various applications, such as marking white lines on sports fields, as well as being delivered to the Forbo factory, where it is incorporated into linoleum. Next to the mill is a chalk barn whose walls can be opened, to allow the chalk (from the Champagne region) to dry. <\/p>\n

A total of about 50 paint mills have stood in the Zaan region, of which Paint Mill ‘De Kat’ is the only remaining paint mill in the world. In the store of Paint Mill ‘De Kat’ there are many unique paint products for sale, but there is also a wide choice of fun and original ‘mill’ souvenirs!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Construction of the Zaanse Schans in 1960.<\/em>with o<\/em>Paintmill De Kat in the background<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Oostzijderveld at Zaandam in 1885, with mill ‘De Duinjager’ (1696) on the right, whose mill body was later placed on ‘De Kat’<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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< back to the map<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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National Monument 1646
\nRelocation of mill body 1960
\n(formerly Oostzijderveld, Zaandam)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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