Zaandam Waterfront Promenade

Zaandam is the main town of the Zaan district, the stretch of land on either side of the river Zaan, north of Amsterdam, which was one of the first industrial regions of Europe. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, hundreds of windmills lined the river, sawing timber, pressing oil, grinding spices and making paint, and shipyards and warehouses crowded the banks. The windmills of the Zaanse Schans are the best-known remnant of that world, but the river itself, running through the middle of the modern town, is just as much a part of the story, and a walk along its banks gives a quieter and more local view.

The waterfront is the working edge of the town, and it has the look of a place that has changed many times. Old warehouses and wooden houses stand beside modern apartment blocks and a number of bold contemporary buildings, including a hotel whose facade is made of stacked house fronts in the green wood and white trim of the Zaan style. The promenade follows the water and makes a pleasant walk or cycle ride, with views of boats, bridges and the opposite bank. The route is flat, mostly paved and easy for walkers of all ages, and it is open at all times with no charge. In the evening the lights reflect in the water, giving a calm mood.

The promenade links several places of interest. The Czaar Peterhuisje, a small wooden house, recalls the visit of Tsar Peter the Great, who came to Zaandam in 1697 to learn about shipbuilding and lived for a time in a simple cottage. The visit was an important episode in the history of the connection between the Netherlands and Russia, and the house is preserved as a museum. The French painter Claude Monet came to Zaandam in the summer of 1871 and painted about two dozen pictures of its windmills, canals and houses, and the town commemorates this with a trail and displays. The Zaans Museum, near the river, tells the story of the district's industries, including the famous chocolate and food companies that grew up here.

The nearby market on the Rozengracht offers a taste of local life, and the cafes along the waterfront provide places to rest. Zaandam is only a few minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal, and the Zaanse Schans is a short bus ride away.

The promenade suits walkers, cyclists, photographers and anyone interested in industrial history. A stroll takes an hour, and it makes a good complement to the crowded Zaanse Schans for those who want to see the district as it is today.