Visitors|About the Zaanstreek

In the footsteps of impressionist Monet

ClaudeMonet

'Zaandam has enough to paint for a lifetime', Claude Monet once wrote to a collegue. During his short stay in the Zaan region he made 25 paintings.

 

If you want to follow the footsteps of this great impressionist, you can stroll past the places Monet painted. The trail throughout Zaandam can be recognized by the specific Monet tiles.

 

There is also a special cycle trail via the Zaanse Schans. Detailed information about these routes can be found in the book '1871 Monet Zaandam'. Available at bookstores and at the Zaanse Schans.

 

Picture: detail of Monet's painting 'The Blue House'.

The website of Monet in Zaandam
 

About the Zaanstreek

The Zaanstreek was the very first industrialized region of Europe, being the 'motor' behind the succes of the Dutch Golden Age. When the Dutch sailed the world, the wood of their ships was cogged by the mills of the Zaanstreek. When they imported their trade, those same mills processed all of their goods, making the Dutch economy flourish as never seen before. 

 

For centuries the region is known for its food industry and combined innovational skills. From windmills to steam engines, to entire factories and to well-kept industrial heritage of the present day. The Zaanstreek has evolved into a hard-working region with extensive knowhow of food processing, logistics and all sorts of business services. This is why the region can be discribed as 'typical Dutch', adding up to its characteristic Holland 'polder' landscape, with windmills and 'Zaanse' green wooden historic houses. Thus, experiencing Holland is seeing the Zaanstreek!

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