The Jisper House
Temporarily closed
Visit this fisherman’s home from the smallest village of the Zaan region, Jisp. Explore a fisherman’s household as it would have been in the 1850s and get a photo of yourself in traditional Zaan costume!
The small Zaan village Jisp is historically renowned for its fishing past; herring fishing and whaling were important sources of income for the residents.
Traditional Zaan costume
The knowledgeable volunteers of the Zaans Museum tell the story of how people lived, worked, and dressed. You can even look just like a Zaan resident from that time by having your picture taken in traditional Zaan costume in front of the fireplace or in the box bed.
Representation of the era
The clothing on show in the Jisper House is in keeping with the time around 1850. This kind of fisherman’s cottage would have been home to poor people. The family had to wear sturdy clothing that didn’t cost a lot and would last a long time. People often just had three sets of clothes: They had one set to wear while another was being washed, and the third was stored ready to wear the next day.
Dark fabrics
Clothing was difficult to wash back then and the outer layer was often just aired instead of washed. For this reason, people used dark fabrics. Children from poor families would generally wear the same clothing as their parents. For the boys, that meant fall-front trousers, a smock, and a cap. Girls wore skirts, peplum bodices, and caps.
