The most famous, even world-famous spot on the Zaan is of course the Zaanse Schans. From all over the world they come to see our unique piece of Dutch history. Not nearly as famous but still a beautiful spot on the Zaan is the Zaan bend in Wormerveer. It is the only village on the Zaan where the houses face the Zaan with their front doors. This way, residents used to have a good view of their factories across the water. The unique view over the Zaan is still there and in 2020(!) the Zaanbocht offers a wonderful mix of fine shops and cosy places for coffee or lunch.

In the Zaan bend

From Wormer, I prefer to go by bike but if you come to the Zaanbocht by car, I have good news. Thanks to the blue parking zone, you can park there for free for two hours. Just make sure there is a blue parking disc behind your forward. Coming from outside the Zaan region? Wormerveer station is a stone's throw away from the Zaanbocht and from the train you step straight into the shopping area.

Shopping in the Zaan

As I said, along the waterfront, overlooking Wormer's historic warehouses, you'll find some really nice shops. Like K'ook!, Karen and Anne's beautiful and atmospheric cookery shop. Here you will find everything for in the kitchen and on the table as well as loose tea, pasta and Zaanse regional products such as Zaanse Sambal, chocolate from de Euforij and beer from Brouwerij Hoop. At the back of the shop, you can tap your own olive oil and vinegar from large barrels. And are you looking for a nice gift? You're sure to find it here!

Heerlijk is the organic supermarket of Zaanstreek Noord. For your daily shopping but also for something nice for coffee and beautiful gifts. You will also find many local products here, such as delicious honey from the Guisveld.

I love the mix of an old craft combined with the trendiest shoes at Marjon Graas schoenenmode. Because at Marjon you shop stylish shoes from special (trendy) brands and shoemaker Paul Graas is a household name in the Zaan region when it comes to shoe repairs.

Speaking of a household name in the Zaan region, Pattiserie en Chocolaterie Buter is definitely one. Besides the shop on the Gedempte Gracht in Zaandam, there has also been a branch in the north of the Zaanstreek since 2018: on the Zaanbocht! The chocolaterie makes the most delicious chocolates and the tearoom overlooking the Zaan is a fine place to eat a cake.

Bij Katrien is special because here you go back in time. This small but very nice shop specialises in nostalgic cooking and household products. At Katrien , love for timeless basics, natural materials, sustainability and the environment are paramount. I can rummage around for ages among the gadgets and products with old-world quality for in and around the house.

The Zaan bend is full of Zaan concepts. Wala is another one. Because what Zaan lady doesn't know "the Wala"? I love coming there because of the cool clothing collection and because the ladies at Wala are always very good at helping and advising when buying lingerie and swimwear.

The Coffee Shop has five coffee shops in the Zaan region including one on the Zaanbocht and is the place to be for coffee lovers. The baristas here serve only sustainable organic coffee and there is always something tasty to go with it. Also for your takeaway coffee!

You will always succeed at Saenkanter Men & Women. This is just a very nice clothes shop for women & men with beautiful fashion brands and lots of choice. For the Hamming family business, 2019 is an extra special year as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. From a small menswear shop on Wandelweg in 1969 to the Saenkanter of today is certainly something to be proud of. And are you looking for a good suit? Saenkanter Suits opened its doors in 2018 and is the address for the perfect bespoke suit for any occasion.

At 't Kwassie they call themselves "the candy shop for every creative person". As a hobby hand letterer, I can't describe it any better - what a lovely shop! Among other things, you can find wool in all colours of the rainbow, beautiful drawing and painting materials, all kinds of hobby materials and there is also a frame shop. New and special is the Zaanse Sjaal. This beautiful shawl with colours like willow green, cattail brown and ditch blue was designed by Ellen Menses with the ditches, reeds, meadows full of cows and the green houses of the Zaan region as inspiration. At 't Kwassie, you buy a complete knitting kit including pattern and easy-to-knit wool so you can knit the scarf all by yourself (or have it knitted).

At Hemels, there are queues of people in summer because of the delicious ice cream. The good news is that Hemels is now also open in winter. Without ice cream but you can now also have breakfast and lunch. On Sundays there are poffertjes!