Industrial Heritage route

This route is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage, a tourist information network for industrial heritage in Europe. In the Netherlands there is a lot of heritage to be found along the Zaan, where the oldest industrial area in Europe that is still in operation is located. By draining various inland seas and lakes, the Zaan became the most important access to North Holland from the eighteenth century. Following this, factories and warehouses were built here. They are still there - sometimes old and worn, but often freshly renovated and given new uses. Such as the old Verkade cookie factory, now an interactive museum with catering (De Koekfabriek). The west side is of a completely different order: here you will find straight roads through endless lowlands with here and there a church tower on the horizon.