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Klompenmuseum De Zaanse Schans

Free wooden shoe museum with one of the largest clog collections in the Netherlands, combined with a demonstration workshop at the Zaanse Schans.

Opening hoursFree admission

Website Directions

About the museum

On 1 April 1974, Jaap and Ineke Kooijman founded a clog-making workshop at the Zaanse Schans to preserve the Dutch craft; it was the first business on the site. Over the years Jaap Kooijman built up one of the country's largest wooden shoe collections, which his son Willem and the grandchildren continue to add to today. Since 1985 the business has been located in its present building, the warehouse "De Vrede" from the mid-18th century, which originally stood in Westzaan and was moved to the Schans.

The museum shows wooden shoes from all regions of the Netherlands and for different purposes: peat clogs with a flat, wide sole for the moor, horse clogs, ice clogs with iron fittings, work shoes for paviors and dike builders, and bridal clogs. The oldest wooden shoe found in the Netherlands is dated to about 1250. There are also wooden shoes from around the world and curiosities such as high-heeled or roller-skate clogs.

Artists also take up the theme: works by Bas van Buuren and the "Diamond Clog" by the goldsmith Jan Roedema are on permanent display. In the adjoining workshop, clog makers use historical copying machines to show, free of charge, how a wooden shoe is made, with explanations in many languages.

Highlights

One of the largest and broadest wooden shoe collections in the Netherlands
Bridal clogs, ice clogs with iron fittings, peat and horse clogs
Wooden shoes from around the world and unusual models such as high-heeled clogs
Artistic works such as the "Diamond Clog"
Free demonstration of clog making with historical machines

Permanent exhibition

Klompenmuseum – Collection of historical wooden shoes from the Netherlands and around the world, including bridal clogs, ice, peat and horse clogs, and artistic wooden shoe objects.

Founded: 1974
Operated by: Klompenmakerij 'De Zaanse Schans' (Familienbetrieb Kooijman)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum and demonstration workshop is free.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

By public transit

Zaanse Schans (Bus, neben dem Zaans Museum)

NS railway station Zaandijk Zaanse Schans (about 17 min from Amsterdam Centraal, then about a 15-minute walk to the Zaanse Schans); bus line 800 (express from Amsterdam Centraal, about 24 min) and line 801 stop right next to the Zaans Museum.