Zaandam: From Monet to Modern Art

As soon as you step out of the train station in Zaandam, you're plunged straight into the city's characteristic look. The municipal building is a bright green colour. The Inntel Hotel looks like a giant stack of miniature houses. You might even notice some nods to Zaandam's history with the whaling industry. The Coat of Arms at the municipality features two whales, and you'll find hundreds of little whale details across the city.

It's no wonder that the city's unique look has been inspiring artists and creatives for generations. Even as far back as the 19th century, Monet himself sought to capture the essence of this remarkable city.

Photos taken by BOBz

Zaandam Through Monet's Eyes

Claude Monet, one of Zaandam's most prominent visitors, came to this little corner of the Dutch world in 1871. He famously wrote to his friend Camille Pissarro: "there is enough here to paint for a lifetime", which sounds like a personal challenge because boy did he try! By the end of his stay, he had made 25 paintings and 9 sketches of the Zaan landscape. And who can blame him? At the height of the Dutch Golden Age, there were some 600 windmills active in Zaandam. It doesn't get more Dutch than that.

Bringing The Past Into The Present

Of course, it's fun to reference French Impressionists from centuries ago, but what does that have to do with Zaandam’s art scene today? The Impressionist movement may have died out, but so many art forms have popped up in its stead. And they have all been drawn to Zaandam.

Some call it vandalism. Others call it art. But undeniably, graffiti can be an incredible form of visual expression when done right. This is where graffiti workshops come in. Allowing you to leave a physical imprint on the city, graffiti workshops are a testament to the ever-evolving art scene in Zaandam.

Photo and graffiti art by Rich Armstrong from TapTapKaboom

Moving to the digital realm, we also find artists and designers all over Zaandam. Studios like TapTapKaboom are known for their digital art, doodles (but professional), and NFTs. Not only that, a central part of their work is creating online classes that teach you how to unleash your creativity.

Traditional art isn't dead, of course. Zaandam-based artists such as Marlien Venema and Paul Visser remain true to their roots with traditional canvas paintings. Whether it be mixed media on canvas or depictions of people and nature, they're examples of a timeless era still alive and flourishing in this area.

Looking Towards The Future

With such a rich artistic scene, it only makes sense for BRANDz Creatives to set up shop in a place like Zaandam. But with all of the incredible opportunities before us, we also carry a sense of responsibility. What does the future look like? How will the Zaan art continue to evolve? Guess it's up to us to find out.