Fog on the Zaanse Schans by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Fog on the Zaanse Schans"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

The Zaanse Schans is a historic neighborhood in the municipality of Zaanstad established in 1963 with relocated monumental wooden buildings and industrial mills from the Zaan region. In the course of time, it has been supplemented with various cultural-historical museums, craft shops and restaurants. It lies in the Kalverpolder, a protected peat meadow landscape on the Zaan, opposite the village of Zaandijk. This architectural reserve for Zaanse wood construction is a protected village sight because of its architectural-historical and scenic value. It has developed into an international tourist destination with several million visitors annually.

From 1963, many old wooden buildings from the Zaan region were transported by flatbed trucks to the expansion plan Zaanse Schans and restored to their former glory. Relocation by low-bed trailer was preferred in order to preserve the wooden authenticity of a building as much as possible. However, concrete was chosen as the foundation instead of the traditional wooden posts with cesps. There were long lists of registrations for the occupation of the neighbourhood. By 1970, fifteen houses had been rebuilt.

Initially set up as a residential area, the neighbourhood attracted more and more tourists, for whom it was not designed. Colonial Williamsburg was looked at as a living tourist area. Between 1970 and 1974 the plan was extended with historical buildings (restaurant 'De Kraai', warehouse 'De Lelie' and 'De Bezem') and some replic