A typical folk celebration in the Zaanstreek and Waterland region is Luilak. The Saturday before Pentecost has been the scene of this celebration for centuries, during which early morning noise is made and special delicacies are prepared and eaten. Especially in the Zaanse mill culture, Luilak holds a special place: the mill people had their traditions, and especially the sawmills were put into a special ‘Luilak mode’. Nowadays, Luilak seems to be on the wane. This old-fashioned festival is now rarely celebrated and is in danger of falling further and further into oblivion. What exactly is the origin of this illustrious folk festival? What role did the Zaanse windmills play in it, and is there still a future for Luilak?

Speakers Friday 6 June
The first speaker will talk about the origins of Luilak.

The second speaker will discuss the Luilak tradition within life around the Zaanse mills. Luilak was one of the most important holidays in the Zaanse mills.

From the content team of De Zaansche Molen, it will be explained what exactly this tradition entailed. This is done using various collection pieces from the Mill Museum and the mills themselves.

Practical information
Date: Friday, 6 June
Time: 19:30 – 21:30 | walk-in 19:00
Location: Mill Museum, Kalverringdijk 30, 1509 BT Zaandam
Price: € 9.50 | including consumption & parking
Tickets: Verhalen van de Schans. A fresh look at the Zaan region. – Zaans Museum

Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled and will be postponed until 2026.