Recreational and historical Oostzaan
Put on your walking shoes and discover Oostzaan in a surprising way!
This walking route lets you discover the best of recreational area Het Twiske and historic Oostzaan. The tour starts in the cosy heart of Oostzaan, where works of art and unusual buildings welcome you. Then you walk into the green Twiske, past the iconic Twiskemolen and the peaceful Stootersplas - a perfect place for a break. Whether you relax by the water on a sunny day or breathe in the fresh air on a cooler walk, Het Twiske offers something beautiful all year round.
After your break, you walk back through the village, past historical sites such as the Biksteenmolen De Vlijt and the Westerstijfselmakerspad. You conclude the route with a piece of history and the cosy atmosphere of Oostzaan - the ideal end to a day full of nature and culture!
Discover the cycle route too!
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Listen | De KunstGreep
De KunstGreep, designed by Roy Gelders and opened in 2007, is the meeting place for art, culture and municipal services in Oostzaan.
Listen | The Art GripListen | The Art Grip
De KunstGreep, designed by Roy Gelders and opened in 2007, is the meeting place for art, culture and municipal services in Oostzaan.
Here you will find the theatre, the library, art exhibitions, sports facilities and the town hall under one roof. The name refers to the Oostzaan coat of arms and the former village hall 'De Greep', which merged into this multifunctional centre.
The construction of this centre stemmed from the desire for a new town hall. The old town hall no longer met contemporary requirements and was also too small for the number of civil servants working for the municipality. The new building was built next to the former village hall 'De Greep' and not only serves as the town hall, but also provides space for a separate theatre hall and the relocation of the library. The building stands on a medieval mound, where special archaeological finds were made during construction, including a 12th-century farmhouse and a Spanish majolica jug.
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Listen | First Albert Heijn shop
On the corner of Kerkbuurt and Kerstraat in Oostzaan lies the origin of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain.
Listen | First Albert Heijn shopListen | First Albert Heijn shop
On the corner of Kerkbuurt and Kerstraat in Oostzaan lies the origin of the Albert Heijn supermarket chain.
It all started on 27 May 1887, when 21-year-old Albert Heijn took over his father's small grocery shop in Oostzaan. In the shop of just 12 square metres, he sold a variety of groceries. He soon expanded his range by roasting his own coffee and peanuts in the washroom behind the shop, followed by home-baked biscuits.
Eight years after it was founded, Albert Heijn opened its first branch in Purmerend. Rapid growth followed. By 1899, Albert Heijn already had ten branches in North Holland, all of which were supplied from Oostzaan. To improve the supply chain, Albert opened a central warehouse on the Westzijde in Zaandam that same year. Thanks to these developments, the product range had already expanded to 300 items by 1900 – a considerable selection for that time.
In 1910, Albert Heijn launched the first products under its own name, such as chocolate, buttermilk soap and blue for laundry; these were the forerunners of the Albert Heijn Huismerk. This marked the beginning of its own food production, which led to the construction of a factory on the Oostzijde in 1911. This is how the Albert Heijn concern expanded from a small shop in Oostzaan to a successful supermarket chain in the Netherlands and Belgium.
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Listen | Tile mosaics on Kerkstraat
Around the year 1400, a path came into existence from Zaandam to Oostzaan, the Kerkepad. For many years, this was the route for Zaandammers from the Zuiderven, via the present Wachterstraat and the Weerpad, to the Grote Kerk in Oostzaan. At the time, Oostzaan was still called Oostsaenden.
Listen | Tile mosaics KerkstraatListen | Tile mosaics Kerkstraat
Around the year 1400, a path came into existence from Zaandam to Oostzaan, the Kerkepad. For many years, this was the route for Zaandammers from the Zuiderven, via the present Wachterstraat and the Weerpad, to the Grote Kerk in Oostzaan. At the time, Oostzaan was still called Oostsaenden.
Every Sunday, Zaandammers made this walk of about 2.5 kilometres to the Grote Kerk in Oostzaan to attend mass, as they did not have their own church back then. The former Church Path reminds us of these early religious trips and the connection between Zaandam and Oostzaan.
Nowadays, the former Kerkepad is known as Kerkstraat. In 2014, Kerkstraat was embellished with fifteen colourful mosaic tiles, designed by primary school pupils from De Korenaar in Oostzaan and from De Gouw, Paus Joannes and De Tamarinde in Zaandam. The children created drawings of, amongst other things, churches, windmills and a mosque, which were transformed into beautiful mosaics by the artists Anke and Ineke Breur. These mosaic tiles not only enhance the visual appeal of Kerkstraat, but also link the street’s past with the present.
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Listen | Polderhuis
The stately Polder House has stood on Zuideinde in Oostzaan since 1925.
Listen | PolderhuisListen | Polderhuis
The stately Polder House has stood on Zuideinde in Oostzaan since 1925.
At the time, the house was specially built for the polder board, which at the time consisted of four polders from Oostzaan and four from Oostzaandam. Their main task was to manage the dykes and water levels, what we today call water management.
Designed in the business expressionist style, the building features colourful stained-glass windows with municipal coats of arms. On the facade are the year and the words 'Polder Oostzaan', referring to the year of construction and the building's original function. Today, the Polder House is a residential building.
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Listen | The Oostzaan Orphanage
This property on Zuideinde was built in 1695 as a country house. Years later, in 1774, the building was converted into an orphanage by the regents of Oostzaan.
Listen | The Oostzaan OrphanageListen | The Oostzaan Orphanage
This property on Zuideinde was built in 1695 as a country house. Years later, in 1774, the building was converted into an orphanage by the regents of Oostzaan.
For almost 170 years, it housed Eastzan orphans. The boys were trained as craftsmen so that they could pursue a trade after leaving, while the girls were prepared for a future as seamstresses or maids.
A well-known resident of the orphanage was David Teer, born in 1867. He entered the orphanage at the age of five and stayed there until he was 23. Teer later became a municipal official and eventually mayor of Oostzaan.
In 1943, the last child left the orphanage, after which the building was converted into a residential house. It is now listed for its rich history. Above the door of the outhouse are two figurines, a boy and a girl, with the Coat of Arms of Oostzaan between them. The sign the girl is holding shows the year 1713, the year the building was rebuilt. The building thus remains an important symbol of Oostzaan's past.
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Listen | Peacock bird sculpture
The sculpture 'Peacock' by artist Willem F. Cerneus (1932) was unveiled by councillor J. Meijer on 1 December 1988. This impressive artwork, about three metres high, stands on a pedestal of brick and steel pipes.
Listen | Bird art work PeacockListen | Bird art work Peacock
The sculpture 'Peacock' by artist Willem F. Cerneus (1932) was unveiled by councillor J. Meijer on 1 December 1988. This impressive artwork, about three metres high, stands on a pedestal of brick and steel pipes.
The peacock is made from old ship parts and tools, a technique called 'assembly'. This involves reusing discarded objects with a different original function in a work of art. With its stately pose, the peacock symbolises living in a bird-rich area. The artwork was financed by construction company Van der Gragt, which also built the surrounding houses.
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Listen | Ons Verpleeghuis / De Kolk
De Kolk is Oostzaan's medical centre, where doctors, dentists and physiotherapists practice. The building was originally opened in 1934 as 'Our Nursing Home', which then served as a nursing home, bathhouse and maternity ward.
Listen | Our nursing home / De KolkListen | Our nursing home / De Kolk
De Kolk is Oostzaan's medical centre, where doctors, dentists and physiotherapists practice. The building was originally opened in 1934 as 'Our Nursing Home', which then served as a nursing home, bathhouse and maternity ward.
The idea for the nursing home came from doctor Jan Taams, a general practitioner from Oostzaan.
To build the nursing home, an association was founded in 1931. 2,500 residents of Oostzaan became members and paid a weekly contribution of 3 cents. Money was also raised through collections and bazaars. Wealthy residents, such as Albert Heijn's wife, made donations and Albert Heijn himself paid the cost of the master builder. On 1 April 1933, Cornelis Schuitemaker, on whose land the building stood, laid the foundation stone.
After 25 years, the nursing home proved too small, and in 1974, the building was bought by the municipality and converted into today's De Kolk medical centre. The new nursing home, De Lishof, was built on a different site.
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Listen | Torso
The artwork 'Torso' by sculptor Jan Timmer (1935) has stood in the parkway near Lishof nursing home on Lisweg in Oostzaan since 1995.
Listen | TorsoListen | Torso
The artwork 'Torso' by sculptor Jan Timmer (1935) has stood in the parkway near Lishof nursing home on Lisweg in Oostzaan since 1995.
This abstract sculpture, depicting a stylised human torso with flowing lines and shapes, is a gift from the Stichting tot Steun voor Zieken en Bejaarden from Oostzaan. Although the body is recognisable, details such as limbs or a face are missing.
Jan Timmer originally made this sculpture in 1970 and it is one of three versions he created; the others are in Bilthoven and Nijmegen. Timmer describes his work as a balance between abstraction and realism, trying to depict an idea, event or feeling. The sculpture evokes both thoughts and emotions. 'Torso' is an important work of art in Oostzaan's public space, adding something not only visually but also conceptually.
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Listen | Het Twiske Recreation Area
Recreational area Het Twiske, located on the east side of Oostzaan, is a paradise for nature lovers.
Listen | Recreational area Het TwiskeListen | Recreational area Het Twiske
Recreational area Het Twiske, located on the east side of Oostzaan, is a paradise for nature lovers.
Over the years, various developments have taken place in the area, giving it a fascinating history. For instance, this area north of Amsterdam was still a watery peat meadow area at the beginning of the last century. In the 1930s, people decided to reclaim the peat meadow area for horticulture. Unfortunately, the soil proved unsuitable for this purpose and the project failed. The area became wild and looked bleak for many years, which is why it was popularly known as the 'Rimboe'.
Years later, in the 1960s, the construction of the Coentunnel route began, which required a lot of sand. This sand was found under the peat and clay of this area. As much as 12,000,000 m3 of sand was excavated and the Stootersplas was born. Around the same period, the demand for recreational space around the major cities of Amsterdam, Purmerend and Zaandam became great. For this, the area, today called Het Twiske, was perfect. When designing the recreation area, everything was really thought of and a good combination of nature and recreation was sought.
Thanks to these developments, today Het Twiske offers plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling and water activities such as swimming, diving, surfing and sailing. The area is particularly popular with families. Children can have plenty of fun in the Speelsloot, Spartelvijver and the Avonturenspeelplaats, which are equipped with various playground equipment.
In 2013, Het Twiske was designated a Natura 2000 area, together with Ilperveld, Oostzanerveld and Varkensland, due to the presence of rare bird species such as wigeon and bittern. Het Twiske thus offers a unique mix of nature, history and recreation, making it a great destination for everyone.
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Listen | Twiskemolen
The Twiskemolen has stood on the border between the municipalities of Landsmeer and Oostzaan since 1974. Looking at the dates on the mill, it is immediately obvious that the mill is much older.
Listen | TwiskemolenListen | Twiskemolen
The Twiskemolen has stood on the border between the municipalities of Landsmeer and Oostzaan since 1974. Looking at the dates on the mill, it is immediately obvious that the mill is much older.
The Twiskemolen was originally built in 1541. Only then it was not in Het Twiske, but about 40 km away in Barsingerhorn. When people were looking for a mill for Het Twiske, this mill - then stored in Nieuw-Vennep - was bought in the late 1960s.
The Twiskemolen is one of the few polder mills in the Netherlands that is still actually in operation and is managed by a volunteer miller. For decades, the monumental mill combined with an electric drive has been pumping the approximately 650-hectare Twiske polder. Did you know that in one minute the mill can grind 20 to 60 cubic metres of water one and a half metres up to the other side of the dike?
Next to the windmill, on the dike, is an information panel where you can read more about the Twiskemolen.
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Listen | The Kuiperijbrug
Kuiperijbrug, located over Roemersloot on Kerkbuurt, is a reminder of Oostzaan's industrial past.
Listen | The Coopery BridgeListen | The Coopery Bridge
Kuiperijbrug, located over Roemersloot on Kerkbuurt, is a reminder of Oostzaan's industrial past.
This ditch used to play an important role for the village's bleaching and starch mills. In those days, the region had a lively industry, including starch factories, cooperages, tear ducts, weaving mills and smithies. Clean water was essential for these businesses and cooperages, where wooden tubs, barrels and barrels were manufactured, provided the necessary means of storage. The bridge takes its name from the Schaft family's cooperage, which stood here.
The Kuiperijbrug was originally a drawbridge, like many bridges in Oostzaan, to provide passage for farmers with flatboats full of cattle or hay. Today, the Kuiperijbrug is a fixed bridge. In 1898, Oostzaan still had 35 bridges, but due to the drainage of many ditches, many of them have since disappeared.
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Listen | Westerstijfselmakerspad
Around the year 1630, starch houses or barns along clear, running water were used to make starch from wheat.
Listen | WesterstijfselmakerspadListen | Westerstijfselmakerspad
Around the year 1630, starch houses or barns along clear, running water were used to make starch from wheat.
This starch product was used to keep garments such as shirts, skirts, tablecloths and lace in shape and prevent them from getting dirty. The Roemersloot in Oostzaan was the ideal place for this process, as the water here was free from contamination by waste from tear, glue and gunk boilers.
A number of starch-making workshops were situated along the Westerstijfselmakerspad , but also on the other side of the Kerkbuurt along the Oosterstijfselmakerspad, now known as Dr. Scharffstraat. The Westerstijfselmakerspad is still a ‘path’. In the centre stands the warehouse ‘De Vriendschap’, which was moved to this location from the opposite side of the Roemersloot around 1936. Each starch-making shed had its own name.
Note! This path can only be reached on foot.
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Listen | De Vlijt Stone Mill
Bikestone mill De Vlijt, built around 1920, has not always stood on this site. The origins of this mill are somewhat controversial. Tradition has it that the little mill originally stood on the Kalf in Zaandam, but its exact location is unclear.
Listen | Biksteenmolen De VlijtListen | Biksteenmolen De Vlijt
Bikestone mill De Vlijt, built around 1920, has not always stood on this site. The origins of this mill are somewhat controversial. Tradition has it that the little mill originally stood on the Kalf in Zaandam, but its exact location is unclear.
In 1943, the mill was moved to the former yard of the sawmill the Crowned Hope, also known as the Rasphuis, which was demolished in 1898. The Rasphuis was used for sawing wood and grinding grain. In 1946, Jacob van den Broek from Oostzaan bought the mill for 225 guilders and moved it to the yard behind his parental home on Jacob Corneliszstraat in Oostzaan. There, the mill was placed on four high poles and named Zorg en Vlijt. Due to military service in Indonesia, Jacob was only able to put the mill on a barn in 1950 and it was also refitted for grinding grain and sawing wood.
Between 1959 and 1960, the mill was moved again within Oostzaan to its current location near Dokter Keijzerstraat. Here, the mill continued under the name De Vlijt and was equipped with a pestle mill to grind sandstone into sanding powder. This powder was used in the Sand-Soap-Soda trays from grandma's kitchen to clean pans. Mills like this, which are often small in size, are called Bikestone mills.
After the death of Jacob van den Broek in 2012, the mill came into the ownership of the municipality of Oostzaan. In the following years, the mill received little maintenance and fell into disrepair. In 2016, the Stichting Behoud Biksteenmolen De Vlijt (Foundation for the Preservation of Bikestone Mill De Vlijt) was established, with the aim of restoring the mill. From 2017 to 2020, this restoration was carried out, and on Saturday 3 October 2020, the restoration of the bikestone mill de Vlijt was officially completed. Today, the mill is used to grind glass to serve as anti-slip for boat jetties, for example.
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Listen | Image: Coat of arms of Oostzaan
This artwork, designed by municipal architect Dirk Reinners in 1954, is a tribute to the Coat of Arms of Oostzaan.
Listen | Image Wapen van OostzaanListen | Image Wapen van Oostzaan
This artwork, designed by municipal architect Dirk Reinners in 1954, is a tribute to the Coat of Arms of Oostzaan.
The artwork, made by local blacksmith Jan Rep of Hoef- en Kachelsmederij A. Schuitemaker, connects the rigid constructivism of the 1920s with the playful and spontaneous style of American artist Alexander Calder.
The Wapen van Oostzaan features a trident (a handle), depicting three mysterious objects. Although these objects are often interpreted as cheeses or coals, their true nature remains a mystery.
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Listen | Houten Huis
Oostzaan used to be full of wooden houses, but where have those charming, old cottages gone?
Listen | Wooden HouseListen | Wooden House
Oostzaan used to be full of wooden houses, but where have those charming, old cottages gone?
Many of these distinctive houses have unfortunately been lost, but fortunately some beautiful examples have survived. One of these historical gems is the Wooden House at Kerkbuurt 27. This stately building, with its characteristic hipped roof and the magnificent Louis XVI door, still exudes the elegance of the 18th century.
The Wooden House was probably built in 1761, commissioned by Pieter Claas, a prosperous manufacturer. For more than a century, his family lived in this beautiful house. It was not until 1872 that the family property passed into the hands of another family, but the property kept its status. Around this period, the property was occupied by a secretary, later mayor, of Oostzaan. The Wooden House reminds us not only of the Claas family's prosperity, but also of Oostzaan's rich history. It is a valuable monument that keeps the memory of the past alive.
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Listen | Hannie Schaft Commemorative Plaque
This Hannie Schaft plaque with the text "Forward and not forgotten" commemorates Jannetje Johanna Schaft, the most famous Dutch resistance fighter.
Listen | Hannie Schaft PlaqueListen | Hannie Schaft Plaque
This Hannie Schaft plaque with the text "Forward and not forgotten" commemorates Jannetje Johanna Schaft, the most famous Dutch resistance fighter.
Under her pseudonym 'Hannie', she became known as 'the girl with the red hair'. As a resistance fighter, she helped people in hiding by providing them with stolen voucher cards and fake identity cards, and carried out attacks on Germans and collaborators. She was arrested on 21 March 1945 and executed in the dunes near Bloemendaal on 17 April 1945, three weeks before the end of the war. Her body rests in the Bloemendaal Cemetery of Honour, where a plaque commemorates her bravery.
Although Hannie Schaft never lived in Oostzaan, she has connections here. Her father, Pieter Claasz. Schaft, was born in Oostzaan on 15 March 1885. This later teacher was a socialist and idealist and spent his younger years there. Hannie therefore regularly visited her family in Oostzaan.
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Listen | Het Wapen van Oostzaan
Above the door of Restaurant The Bull hangs a beautiful plaque with the Coat of Arms of Oostzaan. This coat of arms has had two versions over the years (see images).
Listen | Het Wapen van OostzaanListen | Het Wapen van Oostzaan
Above the door of Restaurant The Bull hangs a beautiful plaque with the Coat of Arms of Oostzaan. This coat of arms has had two versions over the years (see images).
It was officially granted in 1816, but some elements were added in 1949. To this day, this 1949 version is still used as the Coat of Arms of Oostzaan. The coat of arms consists of a crown, three blue crossbars and a handle containing three enigmatic objects.
The Coat of Arms of Oostzaan has a rich history and has several stories. Originally, the municipality wished to place a helmet with helmets on the coat of arms, but because helmets are not allowed for government arms in Dutch heraldry (heraldry), it was finally decided to use a crown.
There are several explanations about the origin of the grip (trident) with the three objects. One story suggests that they are cheeses. But how did cheeses end up on a weapon? Several stories circulate. One of the most exciting versions tells that during a raid on a Spanish ship, an Oostzaanse freebooter stumbled not on soldiers but on three cheeses.
Another possibility is that the objects are coal, referring to the nickname 'Cabbage Eaters' of the Oostzan people. There is also the theory that they are turf. In the 14th century in Oostzaan, responsibility for maintaining a dike was placed on those who lived closest to the dike. If someone could not bear this responsibility, they could symbolically show the authorities that they could not by using a spade to poke three sods out of the dike and place them on a three-toothed hay or dung fork. The shape and colour of the sods match the objects shown on the coat of arms. Whatever its true origin, the coat of arms remains a mysterious symbol of Oostzaan's rich and resilient history.
Unfortunately, nothing is clear about the meaning of the three blue crossbars.
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Listen | Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen Monument
The monument on the square in front of the Grote Kerk commemorates the Oostzan painter Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen.
Listen | Monument Jacob Cornelisz van OostsanenListen | Monument Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen
The monument on the square in front of the Grote Kerk commemorates the Oostzan painter Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen.
This initiative came from the Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen Foundation, with a design by architect and visual artist Eva Stache. The realisation of the monument was handled by the firm Meyn.
Born around 1470 in Oostzaan, Jacob began his career as a woodcarver, with more than 200 famous woodcuts to his name. He later settled in Amsterdam, where he bought two properties on Kalverstraat and started a painting studio with apprentices. This was the first known painting studio in the Northern Netherlands. Although it is unknown where Jacob learned his painting techniques, he lived in Amsterdam until his death in 1533, so he is also called Jacob Cornelisz. of Amsterdam.
In Amsterdam, he gained prestige and fame with his paintings, especially religious themes. He received commissions from wealthy merchants, regents and even the Danish king Christian and his wife Isabella. Jacob and his pupils, including Jan van Scorel and Dirk Jacobsz., were prolific; about 40 paintings by Jacob are scattered around the world. The monument honours his important contribution to art history.
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Listen | Grote Kerk Oostzaan
At the location of the current Grote Kerk in Oostzaan, around the year 1400 stood St Catherine's Church, the village's first church, dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria.
Listen | Grote Kerk OostzaanListen | Grote Kerk Oostzaan
At the location of the current Grote Kerk in Oostzaan, around the year 1400 stood St Catherine's Church, the village's first church, dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria.
During the Eighty Years' War (1568-1648), Spanish troops swept through the area and destroyed St Catherine's church by arson in 1573.
After its destruction, the church was rebuilt in the following years. By the mid-18th century, the rebuilt church was in such poor condition that it was decided to demolish it and build a new church, the Great Church. This building, erected in 1760, has endured a lot since then. The church was built on a mound to serve as a refuge during floods, a function it has fulfilled several times, including during the 1916 flood disaster.
Years later, during World War II, the bell was removed from the Grote Kerk and melted down for weapons. Thanks to the efforts of the people of Oostzaan, the church received a new bell in 1948. Today, the Grote Kerk is home to the Protestant Congregation of Oostzaan and seats 300 people.
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Listen | Resistance Monument
The resistance monument in Oostzaan, unveiled on 4 May 1978, is a poignant tribute to the brave resistance hero Rev Nanne Zwiep.
Listen | Resistance MonumentListen | Resistance Monument
The resistance monument in Oostzaan, unveiled on 4 May 1978, is a poignant tribute to the brave resistance hero Rev Nanne Zwiep.
This Dutch-reformed preacher, born on 3 August 1894 in the Beemster region, spoke out forcefully against National Socialism and the persecution of Jews during World War II. His courageous sermon on 19 April 1942, warning against the growing influence of the NSB, led to his arrest by the Nazis. After months of interrogation and imprisonment in Arnhem and Amersfoort, he was transported to Dachau concentration camp, where he died of exhaustion and malnutrition on 24 November 1942.
The monument, designed by artist Roel Bendijk, consists of a bronze chair on a concrete pedestal, surrounded by a circular pavement. The chair symbolises both the emptiness and strength of the resistance fighters. The bars of the chair are reminiscent of bars. A bird is chained to one of these bars, emphasising the absence of freedom.
This monument reminds us of the value of freedom and justice, and emphasises the need to defend it. The resistance monument remains a powerful symbol of the sacrifices Zwiep and many others made in the fight against oppression and injustice.
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