Sunrise on the Zaanse Schans by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Sunrise on the Zaanse Schans"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

The Zaanse Schans is a historic Zaanse neighbourhood in the municipality of Zaanstad established in 1963, 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 shops and restaurants. It is located in the Kalverpolder, a protected peat meadow landscape on the Zaan, 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 every year. From 1963, many old wooden buildings from the Zaan region were transported by low-loaders to the Zaanse Schans expansion plan and restored to their former glory. Moving by low-loader 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 traditional wooden posts with kesps. Long registration lists emerged for occupation of the neighbourhood. By 1970, 15 houses had been rebuilt. Initially set up as a residential area, the neighbourhood attracted more and more tourists for which it was not calculated. Colonial Williamsburg was looked at as a tourist living neighbourhood. Between 1970 and 1974, the plan on this was expanded with historical buildings (restaurant 'De Kraai', warehouse 'De Lelie' and 'De Bezem') and some replicas suitable for catering and tourism.