Zaandam
Encyclopedia
Zaandam is a town in the Netherlands
, in the province of North Holland
. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad
, and received city rights
in 1811. It is located on the Zaan
, close to the North Sea Canal
, and is close to Amsterdam
.
The statistical district Zaandam, which covers the city and the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 72.597.
Zaandam was a separate municipality until 1974, when it became a part of the new municipality of Zaanstad.
Zaandam (formerly called Saenredam) and the surrounding Zaan River region, called the Zaanstreek, have a history that is intimately connected with industry.
In the Golden Age
, Zaandam served as a large milling center. Thousands of windmills powered saws that were processing Scandinavian wood for the shipbuilding and paper industries. A statue was commissioned from the Yugoslav
sculptor Slavomir Miletić
in honor of this era, and the statue, “The Woodworker” (“De Houtwerker”), was installed on 20 June 2004.
Zaandam was a leading city in the first Industrial Revolution
. Into the second half of the 20th century, Zaandam was still an important lumber port.
Zaandam is also historically linked with the whaling
industry.
In 1697 the emperor Peter I of Russia
spent some time in Zaandam, studying shipbuilding. The house where he stayed is preserved as a museum, the Czar Peter House
.
In 1871 the impressionist painter Claude Monet
painted several pictures of the area, including Bateaux en Hollande pres de Zaandam and A windmill at Zaandam.
The first European McDonald's
restaurant opened in 1971 in Zaandam. The Albert Heijn
supermarket chain is also headquartered in Zaandam, where it originated.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in the province of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. It is the main city of the municipality of Zaanstad
Zaanstad
Zaanstad is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Its main town is Zaandam. It is part of the metropolitan area of Amsterdam.-Population centres:...
, and received city rights
City rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
in 1811. It is located on the Zaan
Zaan
The Zaan is a small river in the province of North-Holland in The Netherlands and the name of the district through which it runs. The river was originally a side arm of the IJ bay and travels 10 kilometers through the municipality of Zaanstad north of Amsterdam, from West-Knollendam in the north...
, close to the North Sea Canal
North Sea Canal
The North Sea Canal is a Dutch ship canal from Amsterdam to the North Sea at IJmuiden, constructed between 1865 and 1876 to enable seafaring vessels to reach the port of Amsterdam...
, and is close to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
The statistical district Zaandam, which covers the city and the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 72.597.
Zaandam was a separate municipality until 1974, when it became a part of the new municipality of Zaanstad.
History
In the Golden Age
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
, Zaandam served as a large milling center. Thousands of windmills powered saws that were processing Scandinavian wood for the shipbuilding and paper industries. A statue was commissioned from the Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
sculptor Slavomir Miletić
Slavomir Miletić
Slavomir Miletić is a Yugoslav sculptor from Bosnia and Herzegovina, now living in the Netherlands.-External links:*...
in honor of this era, and the statue, “The Woodworker” (“De Houtwerker”), was installed on 20 June 2004.
Zaandam was a leading city in the first Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. Into the second half of the 20th century, Zaandam was still an important lumber port.
Zaandam is also historically linked with the whaling
Whaling
Whaling is the hunting of whales mainly for meat and oil. Its earliest forms date to at least 3000 BC. Various coastal communities have long histories of sustenance whaling and harvesting beached whales...
industry.
In 1697 the emperor Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
spent some time in Zaandam, studying shipbuilding. The house where he stayed is preserved as a museum, the Czar Peter House
Czar Peter House (Netherlands)
The Czar Peter House is a historical building in Zaandam, the Netherlands. It is best known as the place where Czar Peter I of Russia resided in 1697 during his Grand Embassy. The building was constructed in 1632....
.
In 1871 the impressionist painter Claude Monet
Claude Monet
Claude Monet was a founder of French impressionist painting, and the most consistent and prolific practitioner of the movement's philosophy of expressing one's perceptions before nature, especially as applied to plein-air landscape painting. . Retrieved 6 January 2007...
painted several pictures of the area, including Bateaux en Hollande pres de Zaandam and A windmill at Zaandam.
The first European McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
restaurant opened in 1971 in Zaandam. The Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn B.V. is a supermarket chain founded in 1887 in Oostzaan, Netherlands. It is named after Albert Heijn, Sr., the founder of the first store in Oostzaan....
supermarket chain is also headquartered in Zaandam, where it originated.
Notable people born in Zaandam
- Jan SaenredamJan SaenredamJan Pieterszoon Saenredam , was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz Saenredam...
(1565–1607), copperplate engraver - Anton MauveAnton MauveAnthonij Rudolf Mauve was a Dutch realist painter who was a leading member of the Hague School. He signed his paintings 'A. Mauve' or with a monogrammed 'A.M.'. He was a very significant early influence on his cousin-in-law Vincent van Gogh.Most of Mauve's work depicts people and animals in...
(1838–1888), painter - Jan VerkadeJan VerkadeJohannes Sixtus Gerhardus Verkade was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist. In the early 1890s, frequented the circles of Paul Gauguin and of Les Nabis...
(1868–1946), painter - Kees BruynzeelKees BruynzeelCornelis Bruynzeel was a Dutch businessman, timber merchant and yachtsman.-Early years:Bruynzeel was the son of Cornelis Bruynzeel Sr., who founded a timber factory in 1897, and Antoinette Lels. He studied in The Hague, and took several trips to the United States and Sweden to study progress in...
(1900–1980), wood merchant, yachtsman and boat builder - Arie SmitArie SmitAdrianus Wilhelmus Smit , is a Dutch-born Indonesian painter living on Bali.- Early life :Arie Smit was the third of eight children of a trader in cheese and confectionery. His family moved in 1924 from Zaandam to Rotterdam, where Smit eventually studied graphic design at the Academy of Arts...
(born 1916), painter - Han BenninkHan BenninkHan Bennink is a Dutch jazz drummer and percussionist. On occasion his recordings have featured his playing on clarinet, violin, banjo and piano....
(born 1942), jazz musician - Johnny Rep (born 1951), football player
- Kathinka PasveerKathinka Pasveer-Biography:Kathinka Pasveer was born in Zaandam, North Holland, the daughter of a conductor who also taught at the Amsterdam Conservatory . She studied with Frans Vester at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where she received her performer's diploma, with the distinction of the Nicolai Prize in...
(born 1959), flautist - Erwin KoemanErwin KoemanErwin Koeman is a former football player and Dutch football manager. Currently he is the manager of FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. He is the son of Dutch international footballer Martin Koeman, and, alongside his younger brother Ronald, has also represented the Netherlands...
(born 1961), football player and football coach - Ronald KoemanRonald KoemanRonald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
(born 1963), football player and football coach - Robert MolenaarRobert MolenaarRobert Molenaar is a former professional footballer from the Netherlands. He played as a defender for FC Volendam, Leeds United and Bradford City and RBC Roosendaal....
(born 1969), football player - Ali Bouali (born 1981), rapper
- Patricia van der VlietPatricia van der VlietPatricia van der Vliet is a Dutch fashion model, who placed fourth in the fourth cycle of the reality television show Holland's Next Top Model.-Early life:She was born in Zaandam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands...
(born 1989), model - Gerrit Jan Vooren (born 1962), videographer–actor
- Melissa VenemaMelissa VenemaMelissa Venema is a Dutch trumpeter.-Life:Melissa started playing recorder at age 6 and moved to trumpet by age 8. When she was 10, she auditioned successfully at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, training under Frits Damrow, a world-famous trumpeter...
(born 1995), musician