The Zaanse Port area
(7.3 km)Starting point: Zaantheatre near the Wilhelmina Bridge
Shipbuilding has played a major role in Zaandam's history. Along the banks of the Zaan were numerous shipyards
where many Zaankanters earned their living. Because of its favourable location on the North Sea Canal, Zaandam became�...
Starting point: Zaantheatre near the Wilhelmina Bridge
Shipbuilding has played a major role in Zaandam's history. Along the banks of the Zaan were numerous shipyards
where many Zaankanters earned their living. Because of its favourable location on the North Sea Canal, Zaandam became an important port for the supply of wood. The street names you encounter along the way recall the places where the ships hauled their goods. The mysterious Hembrug site is a former Ministry of Defence complex where weapons and ammunition were produced. With its 43 hectares of park-like grounds, it literally and figuratively formed the heart of the Stelling van Amsterdam; the 19th-century ring of forts around the capital. After World War I, some 8,500 people worked at this factory site, unique for the Netherlands. The characteristic buildings now house creative and innovative entrepreneurs and regularly host events and festivals. Experience the vastness of the water on the corner of the North Sea Canal at the Hemkade.
