From pewter foundry to coopery: handicrafts in the Zaanse Schans

The characteristic clatter of wooden clogs on cobblestones would never have existed without the artisans who crafted this unusual footwear. The Old Dutch handicrafts have also brought us the typical Dutch cheeses and the Delft Blue decorative style. You’ll encounter various different artisans as you stroll through the Zaanse Schans. Feel free to look over their shoulders; they’ll be happy to show you where their particular products come from. There’s a great range of products available in the craft shops, for a wonderful souvenir of our special past.

The Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm

There’s nothing more Dutch than… cheese! Come and try some at the Catharina Hoeve Farm

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Opening hours
High seasonapril to september
Low seasonoctober to march
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Contact & Rates
Contact

Zeilenmakerspad 5
1509 BZ Zaandam

T: (+31)75-6215820
E: [email protected]

www.cheesefarms.com

Rates
A good old cheese sandwich; it’s what made us so tall! Learn all about the typical Dutch delicacies at Catharina Hoeve, a replica of a traditional farm from Oostzaan. The cheese makers, clad in traditional costumes, will tell you all about the different types of cheese. After all, what exactly is the difference between Gouda, goats and herb cheese? There are daily demonstrations, in 10 different languages, allowing you to see everything that’s involved in producing the cheese. And, of course, you’ll get to taste some of those delicious cheeses. But be warned: a little taste probably won’t be enough for you! That’s why we’ve got all sorts of goodies to buy in the farm shop.

Clog workshop

Clogs: see how these world famous Dutch shoes are actually made.

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Opening hours
High seasonapril to september
Low seasonoctober to march
Monday

09:00-18:00
Tuesday

09:00-18:00
Wednesday

09:00-18:00
Thursday

09:00-18:00
Friday

09:00-18:00
Saturday

09:00-18:00
Sunday

09:00-18:00
View the opening hours
Monday

09:00-17:00
Tuesday

09:00-17:00
Wednesday

09:00-17:00
Thursday

09:00-17:00
Friday

09:00-17:00
Saturday

09:00-17:00
Sunday

09:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Contact & Rates
Contact

Kraaienest 4
1509 AZ Zaandam

T: (+31)75-617 7121
E: [email protected]

www.woodenshoes.nl

Rates
free entrance
Open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day from 09.00 - 15.00
Open on New Year's eve from 09:00 - 16:00

Give the clog maker a block of wood and chisel, blink your eyes and voilà: a clog. The workshop is open everyday, allowing you to see how they were made for farmers, workers and the general public. Admission is free to both the workshop and the small, but impressive, shoe museum. It’s a unique opportunity to view one of the largest and finest collections of clogs in the Netherlands. This includes beautiful examples of painted clogs, carved clogs, “ice clogs” with iron fittings, horse clogs, “art”-clogs and clogs from many (exotic) countries.

The workshop is situated in the ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750), which was formerly used to store grain and snuff tobacco. The warehouse was originally used by the Molenaar company (Molenaar’s baby food) from Westzaan. The clog workshop also contains a large shop with ready to wear clogs in all sizes and colours, along with miniature clogs, clog slippers, key-rings and piggy banks. There is also a wide assortment of typical Dutch souvenirs: something for everyone.

The Weaver’s House

Here you can see how large sails were made, both for boats and windmills.

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Opening hours
High seasonapril to september
Low seasonoctober to march
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Contact & Rates
Contact

Zeilenmakerspad 8
1509 BZ Zaandam

T: (+31)75-681 0000
E: [email protected]

[email protected]

Rates
Normal€ 2,-
Children 4 / 17€ 1,-
Children up to 3 years oldGratis
In the Weaver’s House in the Zaanse Schans, you’ll discover the history of the traditional Dutch craft of sail making. In the 18th century, two entire families would have lived here among the five looms. Experience how it must have felt at that time; crawl behind the loom, relax in the box bed and admire the weavers in their traditional costumes.

The Weaver’s House was an operational weavers right up to the beginning of the 20th century. In 2015, the house on the Zaanse Schans was rebuilt and employees of the Zaans Museum now demonstrate the craft of home weaving.

Tiemstra Coopery

Making a barrel is not as easy as might think. Discover why in the coopery.

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Opening hours
High seasonapril to september
Low seasonoctober to march
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Contact & Rates
Contact

De Kwakels 2
1509 BX Zaandam

T: (+31)75-681 0000
E: [email protected]

www.zaansmuseum.nl

Rates
Normal€ 2,-
Children 4 / 17€ 1,-
Children up to 3 years oldFree
Take a step back in time as you enter the Tiemstra Coopery. Cooperage is a special craft, because making a wooden barrel is no easy thing. It must be able to store and transport many different things. Whether it’s flour, spices, oils or water, nothing can leak out. Not to mention gunpowder… The authentic atmosphere is still imbued with the spirit of the last Zaanse cooper. The Coopery displays the fully outfitted workshop of barrel-making company S.R. Tiemstra & Sons from Oostzaan. Jaap Tiemstra bequeathed the workshop after his death in 1999. Tiemstra’s barrel-making workshop was then moved to the building that previously housed the Schuitemakerij Brewery. It was located at Rustenburg in Zaandam, but was demolished in 1964 and its contents were put into storage. In 1967, the warehouse was reconstructed at the Zaanse Schans.

Liqueur distillery de Tweekoppige Phoenix

Discover the most delicious liqueurs at the Liqueur distillery de Tweekoppige Phoenix.

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Opening hours
High seasonapril to september
Low seasonoctober to march
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Monday

10:00-17:00
Tuesday

10:00-17:00
Wednesday

10:00-17:00
Thursday

10:00-17:00
Friday

10:00-17:00
Saturday

10:00-17:00
Sunday

10:00-17:00
View the opening hours
Contact & Rates
Contact

Kraaienest 3
1509 AZ Zaandam

T: (+31)75- 635 3111
E: [email protected]

www.detweekoppigephoenix.nl

Rates
Find out all about the ancient tradition of distilling alcohol, which is easy to observe thanks to the use of glass retorts and a traditional copper kettle. Throughout the day, the enthusiastic staff are always ready to provide information about the process. The Tweekoppige Phoenix also offers a tasting of three liqueurs from our broad range. From sweet to peppery, whatever takes your fancy! In the authentic bar room, you can try one of the countless flavours created here and buy your favourite one in the shop. But why, you may ask, is there a distillery in the Zaanse Schans? In the past, distilleries were quite common in towns. The mills not only ground grain for bread, but also for beer and gin. The production of alcoholic spirits used to be a lengthy process, until the steam engine was invented. This made it much easier to produce liqueurs.

The Tinkoepel pewter foundry

Casting pewter: an artisanal industry that is still done completely by hand.

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Opening hours
High seasonapril to september
Low seasonoctober to march
Monday

11:00-16:00
Tuesday

11:00-16:00
Wednesday

11:00-16:00
Thursday

11:00-16:00
Friday

11:00-16:00
Saturday

11:00-16:00
Sunday

11:00-16:00
View the opening hours
Monday

11:00-16:00
Tuesday

11:00-16:00
Wednesday

11:00-16:00
Thursday

11:00-16:00
Friday

11:00-16:00
Saturday

11:00-16:00
Sunday

11:00-16:00
View the opening hours
Contact & Rates
Contact

Kalverringdijk 1
1509 BT Zaandam

T: (+31)75-617 6204
E: [email protected]

www.tinkoepel.nl

Rates
One of the last pewter foundries in the Netherlands stands on the Zaanse Schans. This traditional craft does not involve any machinery; all the products are cast and finished by hand. The moulds employed are invariably made from an ancient form of bronze, the oldest of which dates from 1697. The pewter foundry gives free daily demonstrations. Inside, you’ll find the largest range of pewter products available in the Netherlands. De Tinkoepel at Zaanse Schans is housed in a listed building dating from the second half of the 18th century. This beautiful, romantic building used to be a teahouse, located then, as now on the banks of the River Zaan. Like many other buildings, it was moved to the Zaanse Schans in 1968. In this case, from the Westzijde in Zaandam.