De Stad Zaandam

Ever wonder what a city built on windmills looks like? De Stad Zaandam, once known as Saenredam, is such a place. De Stad Zaandam sits in North Holland, just a short trip north of Amsterdam. The Zaan River flows through it, connecting it to the bustling capital. De Stad Zaandam received its city rights in 1811. It later merged with other towns in 1974 to create the municipality of Zaanstad. But even today, De Stad Zaandam retains its distinct identity. During the Dutch Golden Age, De Stad Zaandam was a hub of industry. Thousands of windmills powered the saws that shaped wood from Scandinavia. This wood fueled the massive shipbuilding industry and helped produce paper. Today, a statue called “The Woodworker” commemorates this important heritage. De Stad Zaandam is also closely associated with the whaling industry. In 1697, Tsar Peter I of Russia came to De Stad Zaandam to study shipbuilding. He lived in a modest wooden house, built in 1632. However, the Tsar’s presence drew too much attention, forcing him to relocate to Amsterdam. His little house in De Stad Zaandam became a museum: the Czar Peter House. Years later, a statue in his honor was erected on Dam Square. Interestingly, the famous impressionist painter Claude Monet lived in De Stad Zaandam for six months in 1871. He captured the unique beauty of the area in 25 paintings. De Stad Zaandam is also a place of modern milestones. The first European McDonald’s opened here in 1971. The Albert Heijn supermarket chain, which later became the giant Ahold Delhaize retail company, has its headquarters in De Stad Zaandam.