Gortershoek and pastor's garden

Directly opposite the windmills of the Zaanse Schans is De Gortershoek in Zaandijk, named after a gortery established there in 1669. From that time on it has been a neighborhood of the wealthy, now called'The pearl of the Zaanstreek\\\'. You will find beautifully decorated merchant houses, a museum, a former town hall, a sculpture garden near an old paper warehouse and a church converted into homes. There is also plenty of catering along the dike. 

The Domineestuin is an authentic neighborhood where private initiative has led to the renovation of the old houses, the preservation of the ditch pattern and historicising new construction in wood. Around the aptly named Karl Marxstraat you can see fine examples of social housing from the early 20th century. 

NB. in the summer a foot ferry sails from the Lagedijk near the lock to the windmill De Bonte Hen and vice versa. This shortens the walk considerably. 

Tip: visit the Honig Breethuis (open from Thu to Sun 13.00-16.00) and experience how the families of the paper manufacturers Honig and Breet lived around 1830.