Maybe you know Wormer from the cocoa, the Lassie or the Batavia? Or from that 144-metre tower we call the "Tower of Wormer" here, which you can see from all over the Zaan region. But Wormer has more and I'm sure it will surprise you when you cross the Zaan bridge. Will you join us?

Wormer' Street Art

From Wormerveer, we cross the Zaan bridge and turn right. There you will soon find Wormer's first hidden surprise. The Zaan street artist Bas de Gooijer conjured an amazing mural of Wormer's famous factory wall there with his spray cans on a dull wall.

Bas' mission is more art on the streets, which is why he likes to give dull places and empty walls a positive look with his street art. In Wormer, he certainly succeeded! Want to see more street art by Bas? The blue humpback bridge under the viaduct over the Koningin Julianaweg near the Gouw in Zaandam and a memorial on the graffiti zone under the A8 viaduct in Koog aan de Zaan are also by Bas.

Coffee stop in de Huiskamer

Fancy a coffee? Thanks to chef Arno and his wife Renate, the Zaan region has added a very cosy meeting place. Restaurant De Huiskamer on Dorpsstraat 34 offers coffee and tea as well as heerlijk lunches, high tea and drinks. In the summer months, there is delicious Italian ice cream: on warm days, the long wooden benches in front of De Huiskamer are always occupied.

Eye-catcher the Rusk Tower

Since 2018, Wormer has gained an eye-catcher: the Rusk Tower. The tower is a replica of the original tower from 1620. In the Golden Age, there was a huge demand for ships' rusks. Indeed, this long-keeping and nutritious bread was ideal for sailors aboard VOC ships and whaling ships.

The best ship's rusk came from Wormer and so there were about a hundred and fifty rusk bakeries, made of wood and often thatched. Hugely fire-prone, the function of the Rusk Tower was simple but important: to warn when the rusk bakers needed to put out their ovens or re-light them. This prevented overheating of the ovens and thus a fire.

The tower was demolished in 1894 due to declining demand for ships' rusks. The rebuilt Rusk Tower commemorates the rusk bakeries of the time and now houses the archives of the Historical Society of Wormer.

Further down the Dorpsstraat

At first glance, the Dorpsstraat looks like one of those streets of which there are dozens in the Netherlands. The nice thing about this Dorpsstraat is the hodgepodge of styles. From Zaans green houses to old farms and from characteristic to modern, architect-designed buildings. The old town hall and grandpa's house, there is a lot to see and the side streets are full of surprises!

Among the meadow birds on the Kerkepad path

From the Beschuitstoren, we continue down the Dorpsstraat towards Jisp. Near the Wollokaal at number 251 you'll find the entrance to the Kerkepad, one of my favourite spots in Wormer. This cycle and footpath connects the Dorpsstraat with the Engewormer. Between the meadow birds and with the turning windmills of the Zaanse Schans in the background, I like to run my running laps there. Favourite moments: when the grass has just been cut, early in the morning or on a long summer evening. Heerlijk.

Zaanse Schans from the other side

Continuing towards Jisp, we pass Mariastraat, a quiet and dead-end side street of Dorpsstraat. If you want to see the Zaanse Schans from the other side, drive all the way down Mariastraat until you can't go any further and you'll have a great view over the Engewormer polder.

Picnic and children's paradise

Just past the Mariastraat is the Mariahoeve. Hidden behind this beautiful stolpboerderij is a great children's paradise. The path to the right of the farm takes you to a large grassy area open to all.

In the distance, you can see molen De Koker. On the playground equipment, children can have fun to their heart's content. Tip: also a nice picnic spot!

Organic pancake flour from De Koker

As Dorpsstraat turns into Oosteinde, on the right at number 14, stands De Koker, the only remaining windmill in Wormer. On the path to the mill, every visitor is kindly greeted by donkey Charlie. The mill is in a beautiful spot in the polder and from here you can see the skyline of the Zaan region most beautifully.

De Koker is the only remaining flour and peel mill that used to make the flour for the famous Wormer ship's rusks. Uniquely, the mill is accessible by water. So the heavy sacks of wheat used to be brought in by boat.

De Koker still grinds wheat into flour and you can go there for the Zaan region's tastiest organic pancake flour. The mill can be visited every second Saturday and when the mill is running. You can find out more on the De Zaansche Molen website. Don't forget to bring a bag of pancake flour!