Historic museums North Holland
4x the region's history - Costumes, fishing and painting
Laag Holland is a true paradise for anyone who likes to immerse themselves in culture and heritage. History buffs will be in for a treat in this region, as it has several museums that tell you about the rich local history. For example, did you know that Purmerend was a centre of the production of Jugendstil earthenware? Or that the inhabitants of the Marken peninsula communicated through their costumes? Take your time and discover the stories of Laag Holland in one or more of these museums.
1. The Edam Museum
The Edam Museum is located in the 'Steenen Coopmanshuys', Edam's oldest stone house. This beautiful building was built around 1540 for a wealthy merchant (grain merchant) and has served as a city museum since 1895. Prominently situated on the Damsluis, it is an impressive sight and anyone who steps inside will imagine themselves in the Golden Age. You will learn all about Edam's history, shipbuilding, architecture and notable families.
Floating cellar
In front of the Edam museum lies the Damsluis lock. The sea water from the Zuiderzee entered Edam up to this point and the tidal effect had a great influence on the groundwater slate, which is why it was necessary to allow the 3x3x2 metre basement to move freely. The house is known even abroad for its 'floating cellar', where you can hear the water lapping. The last remaining accessible 'floating basement' in the Netherlands*, so rightly a unique phenomenon to behold.
The Edam Museum - Edam
*Source: Infinite North Holland
2. The Purmerends Museum
In the heart of Laag Holland's oldest town, Purmerend, you will find the Purmerends Museum. The museum is housed in the former town hall, in the middle of the historic Kaasmarkt. The museum tells the rich history of the town of Purmerend; from its beginnings as a fishing village strategically located between the lakes, to an important market town during and after the reclamation of the Beemster, the Purmer and the Wormer. Throughout the year, various exhibitions are on show with different themes, often related to the history of the town and the region, or to (hand-painted) ceramics. You will also find a Museum Shop adjacent to the museum that serves as a tourist office, where all kinds of information about the town and region can be found, as well as, for example, cycling and walking routes and regional products.
Ornamental pottery
The Purmerends Museum is known for its fine collection of Jugendstil pottery. This has everything to do with the trading history of the town, which between 1895 and 1907 was a centre for the factory production of decorative pottery. Firms like Wed. N.S.A. Brantjesd & Co and NV Haga produced vases, statues, tile tableaux and tableware by designers such as August Falise, Chris van der Hoef and Chris Lanooy. The Purmerends Museum has many of these pieces on display in their collection, and more....
The Purmerends Museum - Purmerend
3. The Volendam Museum
At the Volendam Museum, you can see and experience how people worked and lived from the late 19th century until the 1950s. From exhibitions of the famous Volendam costumes and jewellery to a collection of drawings, sculptures, pottery, photographs and postcards. The museum's truthfully decorated interiors give an impression of the fishing industry and its side businesses and Volendam expressions of folk art and cottage industry. Also on display is a huge collection of cigar bands, as many as 11 million, lining several houses and mosaics. For culture lovers, the museum also displays a collection of literary and musical art forms.
Artists, painters and draughtsmen.
The scenery of laag Holland has been the inspiration of many an artist for centuries. Among others, Claude Monet, Jan Toorop and even Paul Signac were inspired here to produce their masterpieces. Over the years, Laag Holland has been home to several great talents and, fortunately, these works can still be viewed today in various museums, including the Volendam Museum. Many of these artists stayed at the famous Volendam hotel Spaander, where a large number of paintings and drawings can still be admired today. During the Izi.Travel audio tour Volendam Artists' Village, Leendert Spaander takes you through Volendam using various paintings from his Spaander Collection.
The Volendam Museum - Volendam
4. The Marker Museum
Although the whole village of Marken could have been an open-air museum, it is not. The unique coloured houses are inhabited by the current inhabitants of Marken. If you are curious about how the former population of Marken lived, a visit to the Marker Museum is recommended. Housed in six historic houses in the old centre, the museum offers a unique glimpse into the special history of the peninsula. Those who walk into the museum step into a time machine. One of the cottages is furnished exactly as it was when a marker fishing family lived in it, around 1920. All the furniture, utensils, textiles, paintings and trinkets are authentic and antique. A team of volunteers still searches for antique objects every day to make the story of historical Marken even more complete.
Costume
Costumes were an important part of Markers' lives. Garments were not only very personal, but they were also used to 'speak' their own language. A way of dressing was associated with almost every occasion; birth, mourning, celebration, or wedding. What is also special for that time is that children had their own costumes, which were more appropriate to their age. Still today, this costume is very important to Markers. Most of the costumes are carefully preserved and passed down from parent to child, so many specimens can still be seen today, including in the Marker Museum.
The Marker Museum - Marken
