Zaans Museum

Zaans Museum is a museum of windmills. The beginnings of the museum date back to the 17th century, when the first windmills began to be built in this area - using the energy of nature, the fields were drained. Currently, the museum offers the opportunity to see and visit thirteen windmills for various purposes - driving machines for mustard production, oil pressing, tobacco grinding to tobacco or grinding mineral paint components. On average, during the year, the museum is visited by nearly one million tourists.

The heart of the museum is a chocolate factory from the early 20th century. It has three efficient production lines at which production technologies can be learned. Visitors can purchase the famous Verkade chocolate bar and personally choose the souvenir packaging.

In the 18th century, the number of windmills in Zaandam and the surrounding area was estimated at around 600 large industrial constructions. Wind energy was widely used in all branches of production. The end of the windmill era was the mid-nineteenth century, when their functions were taken over by steam engines.