Sunset view of the river Zaan and windmills

Zaan

The Zaan is a small river in the province of North-Holland in The Netherlands and the name of the district through which it runs. The river was originally a side arm of the IJ bay and travels 10 kilometers through the municipality of Zaanstad north of Amsterdam, from West-Knollendam in the north to Zaandam in the south, where it empties into the IJ.

The municipality of Zaanstad and several towns along the Zaan are named for the river: Koog aan de Zaan, Westzaan, Oostzaan, Zaandijk and the city of Zaandam. The river also runs past the Zaanse Schans, a village with historic windmills and houses. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands.

See: Wikipedia

De Bonte Hen

De Bonte Hen (The Spotted Hen) is the name of an oil mill, located in the Zaanse Schans, in the municipality of Zaanstad. De Bonte Hen is the northernmost of the mill Schans.

The original mill was built in 1693. Until 1935, the mill was preserved in its original state. In 1975, the restoration of the mill was accomplished. Since then, the mill weekly on a voluntary basis into service. Among the mill are still the original oil cellars for the storage of oil made at the mill.

See: Wikipedia

Het Klaverblad

Het Klaverblad (The Cloverleaf) is a small wooden saw mill, located in the Zaanse Schans, in the municipality of Zaanstad.

The mill was built by Ru Pos on the site of the previous KROMO warehouse. This private initiative was turned into foundation "Het Klaverblad" with the purpose of building, running and maintaining the sawmill. The sails of the mill first turned in 2005.

See: Wikipedia

De Os

De Os is an oil windmill in the Zaanse Schans, Zaanstad.

Between the saw mills Het Jonge Schaap and Het Klaverblad is the hull of the oil mill De Os. The mill was built in 1663 and is one of the oldest industrial windmills in the Zaan. Until 1916 the mill was operating on wind power. In that year, hood, and wings were removed; the Os was converted a warehouse. The barns are now occupied by the mill. The mill body was restored in recent years.

See: Wikipedia

De Zoeker

De Zoeker (The Seeker) is the name of an oil windmill, located in the Zaanse Schans, Zaanstad. Its purpose is to press seeds such as linseed and rapeseed into vegetable oil. It is the only oil mill still in operation, and is one of five remaining oil mills in the area.

The mill was built in 1672 in Zaandijk. The mill continued with few interruptions until 1968, when it was moved to the Schans.

See: Wikipedia

De Kat

De Kat is the only remaining working windmill in the world which makes paint. The mill is in the Zaanse Schans, Zaanstad.

The original mill 'De Kat' was built in 1646 as an oil mill. In 1782 the mill was destroyed by fire but the mill was rapidly rebuilt again. The mill was in use until 1904 and then was partially demolished.

In 1960 the eight-sided paint mill 'De Duinjager' was removed from its former position owing to urban development and placed on top of the old storehouse of 'De Kat'. The mill is again grinding raw materials such as chalk to make pigments for paints in the traditional way.

See: Wikipedia