De Zaanstreek Maakt Het

Just a stone’s throw from Amsterdam, the Zaan region developed into Western Europe’s first industrial area. There was a time when there were over 600 active windmills here!

Many different food products such as cocoa, rice, and oil have been produced here for centuries. Even kitchen cupboards and floors were made in the Zaan region.

Golden ages
In the ‘De Zaanstreek maakt het’ (The Zaan region really makes it) exhibition, you explore three golden ages: the period where the Zaan region was dominated by windmills (1720-1750), the period of the steam engine (1890-1914), and the period of the factories (1950-present).

Windmill spectacle
Step back in time with an interactive windmill spectacle and experience an age of hard work and discover the typical Zaan worker mentality and entrepreneurial spirit.