Zaandijk and the Green Wooden Houses of the Zaan
The Zaanse Schans open-air museum sits on Zaandijk's doorstep, drawing over a million visitors per year to its windmills and traditional wooden houses. But Zaandijk itself is older than the museum: merchants built green-painted timber houses along the Zaan river from the 17th century, when wind-powered industry made the Zaanstreek one of Europe's first industrial regions. About 9,040 people live in this North Holland town, now part of the gemeente Zaanstad.
Several original Zaan-style houses survive on the Lagedijk, some predating the Zaanse Schans collection. The Honig Breethuis, a merchant's house from 1786, is open to visitors. Modern Zaandijk stretches inland from the river with post-war residential streets. Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station provides a direct rail link to Amsterdam in about 20 minutes.
Show more
The Zaanse Schans open-air museum sits on Zaandijk's doorstep, drawing over a million visitors per year to its windmills and traditional wooden houses. But Zaandijk itself is older than the museum: merchants built green-painted timber houses along the Zaan river from the 17th century, when wind-powered industry made the Zaanstreek one of Europe's first industrial regions. About 9,040 people live in this North Holland town, now part of the gemeente Zaanstad.
Several original Zaan-style houses survive on the Lagedijk, some predating the Zaanse Schans collection. The Honig Breethuis, a merchant's house from 1786, is open to visitors. Modern Zaandijk stretches inland from the river with post-war residential streets. Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station provides a direct rail link to Amsterdam in about 20 minutes.
Country selected
Region selected
City selected
