Wooden Shoe Clog Workshop and Museum (De Klompenmakerij), Zaanse Schans
Through the meadows, over a small bridge, the path leads you back to the starting point, the old storehouses 'De Kraai', 'De Bezem', 'De Lelie' and 'De Vrede'. The 'Vrede' warehouse is a former storage shed for grain and snuff. Part of the warehouse has been set up as a wooden shoe-museum, with one of the largest collections in Holland and now it accommodates a clog workshop, where the handmade clogs and other souvenirs are sold. Quite often, you can see the clog maker at work. Storehouse 'De Bezem' accommodates a shop and the office of the Zaanse Schans Foundation. This clog maker is an original warehouse 'De Vrede' in Westzaan, a former barn for corn and snuff, mid 18th century.
The Wooden Shoe Workshop is situated in a former 1780 snuff and grain warehouse from the company Molenaar in Westzaan, relocated to the Zaanse Schans in 1984. Part of the storehouse has been devoted to the Wooden Shoe Museum, one of the largest and most beautiful collections of wooden shoes in the Netherlands including an absorbing audio-visual commentary of the history of this intriguing form of footwear. Free clog making demonstrations take place at regular intervals throughout the day.
A trip to The Zaanse Schans would not be complete without a visit to the Wooden Shoe Clog Workshop and Museum. In this magnificent old warehouse, once used for storing snuff and grain, is one of the finest and most extensive collection of wooden shoes to be found anywhere in the world. Here you can watch clog making demonstrations using an early clog making machine and finished off by hand. Try some on to see what they’re like to walk in! Over a million Dutch people still wear them regularly.
Opening times Wooden Shoe Workshop the Zaanse Schans:
Summer Season: March - October
Daily: 08.00 - 18.30
Winter Season: November - February
Daily: 08.30 - 17.00
Christmas Day, 25th December: 10.00 - 16.00
Boxing Day, 26th December: 10.00 - 16.00
New Year's Day, 1st January: 10.00 - 16.00
It is possible to arrange after hour group visits by appointment.
Location and Contact:
Visiting Address: Wooden Shoe Workshop, Wooden Shoe Museum
'De Zaanse Schans', Kraaienest 4, 1509 AZ Zaandam, Holland
Postal Address: P.O. Box 179, 1540 AD Koog a/d Zaan, Holland
Phone: +31 (0)75 - 617 7121
Fax: +31 (0)75 - 631 3476
Email: i...@clogs.nl
Website: http://www.woodenshoes.nl