View of Zaandam, near Amsterdam.

Title

View of Zaandam, near Amsterdam.

Description

General view of the Dutch town of Zaandam in the province of North Holland. From ‘Barlon's General History of Europe’.

ca. 1720

Artist

Sparrow

Historical Description

Zaandam is located in the north of the Randstad metropolitan region, which extends across the provinces of Flevoland and Noord-Holland. The Noordzeekanaal, which was built between 1865 and 1876 and connects Amsterdam and the IJ with the North Sea, begins on the southern edge of the town. The city is known for its numerous mills and old wooden houses. The Zaanse Schans came into being in the middle of the 19th century, when the industrial revolution reached the Zaanstreek. A characteristic working-class district developed in which working and living were combined. Zaandam is known worldwide for the Zaanse Schans open-air museum. The museum displays regional exhibits that showcase the residential and industrial culture of the industrial revolution. The home culture collection mainly consists of traditional costumes, traditionally painted furniture and everyday objects from the 19th century, while the industrial culture collection mainly features exhibits from local companies such as Albert Heijn, Bruynzeel and Verkade.