Zaandam Facts for Kids

This page is about the Dutch city. For the cruise ship, see MS Zaandam.

Quick facts for kids Zaandam
City
Windmills at the Zaanse Schans north of Zaandam in 2007
Zaandam Location in North Holland
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Holland
Municipality	Zaanstad
Population (2017)
• Total	76,804
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Zaandam (Dutch pronunciation: [zaːnˈdɑm]) is a city in the Netherlands. It is located in the province of North Holland. Zaandam is the main city of the Zaanstad area. It officially became a city in 1811. The city sits right on the Zaan river, just north of Amsterdam.

The area of Zaandam, including the city and nearby countryside, has about 76,804 people living there. Zaandam used to be its own town until 1974. Then, it became part of the larger area called Zaanstad.

Discover Zaandam's Past
Zaandam's Economy and Businesses
Getting Around Zaandam
Gallery
Historical Flags
Notable People from Zaandam
See also

Discover Zaandam's Past

The history of Zaandam, once called Saenredam, and the surrounding Zaan River region is closely tied to its industries.

Zaandam's Golden Age Industries

During the Dutch Golden Age, Zaandam was a major center for milling. Thousands of windmills were used to power saws. These saws cut wood from places like Scandinavia. This wood was then used to build ships and make paper. A statue called De houtwerker (which means "The Woodworker") was put up on June 20, 2004. It honors this important industry. Zaandam also has a history with the whaling industry, which involved hunting whales.

Tsar Peter the Great's Visit

In 1697, Tsar Peter I of Russia visited Zaandam. He came to learn about shipbuilding. He stayed in a small wooden house built in 1632. However, he soon had to leave because too many local people were curious about him. He then moved to Amsterdam to continue his studies at a shipyard of the Dutch East India Company. His house in Zaandam was saved and is now a museum called the Czar Peter House. A statue honoring him was placed in Dam Square in 1911.

Claude Monet's Paintings of Zaandam

In 1871, the famous painter Claude Monet lived in Zaandam for about six months. During his stay, he painted 25 pictures of the area. Some of these paintings include Houses on the Achterzaan, Bateaux en Hollande pres de Zaandam, and A windmill at Zaandam.

Zaandam's Economy and Businesses

Zaandam is home to several important businesses. The very first European McDonald's restaurant opened here in 1971. The Albert Heijn supermarket chain, which started nearby in 1887, has its main office in Zaandam. This company has grown into the large Ahold Delhaize retail group. The chocolate maker Verkade also comes from Zaandam. In 2019, there were 6,910 businesses in the city.

The football club AZ (Alkmaar Zaanstreek) was started in Zaandam on May 10, 1967.

Getting Around Zaandam

Zaandam has two railway stations: Zaandam railway station and Zaandam Kogerveld railway station. There are also plans to extend the Amsterdam Metro system to Zaandam in the future.