Sunrise at the Zaanse Schans by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Sunrise at the Zaanse Schans"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

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

Starting in 1963, many old wooden buildings from the Zaan region were transported by flatbed trucks to the Zaanse Schans expansion plan and restored to their former glory. Moving by flatbed truck was preferred in order to preserve as much as possible the wooden authenticity of a building. However, concrete was chosen as the foundation instead of traditional wooden posts with kesps. Long registration lists emerged for occupation of the neighborhood. By 1970, fifteen homes had been rebuilt.

Initially set up as a residential neighborhood, the neighborhood attracted more and more tourists for which it was not calculated. Colonial Williamsburg was looked at as a tourist living neighborhood. Between 1970 and 1974, the plan accordingly expanded with historic buildings (restaurant "The Crow," warehouse "The Lily" and "The Broom") and some replicas suitable for hospitality and tourism.