Galerieroute

Cycle past five unique galleries and studios in Zaandam — from street art to Monet replicas — and discover the creative side of the Zaan region.

Art on every corner

Zaandam is known for its characteristic wooden houses and industrial heritage — but the city also has a vibrant art scene that most visitors are unaware of. On this route, you cycle past five galleries and studios that together provide a surprising picture of contemporary art in the Zaan region. From established street art to intimate living room exhibitions, from impressionistic replicas to confrontational contemporary art. Zaandam Station is both your starting point and your final destination.

From track to studio

You start at Zaandam Station and soon cycle towards the Hembrug site — a former industrial area that has been transformed into a vibrant place for culture and creativity. Here, at Grote Hulzen 11, you will find ArtZaanstad, a gallery featuring rotating exhibitions of contemporary visual art and an art gift shop. Let your navigation guide the route via Hogendijk and Havenstraat. Along the way, you will pass Hogendijk 78 — the blue house that Claude Monet painted in the late nineteenth century. A recognizable landmark. A little further on, just before you turn into Havenstraat, stands the sculpture The Woodworker by Yugoslavian sculptor Slavomir Miletić. Het HEM and the Museum of Humanity are also located on the Hembrug site itself — a welcome extra stop if you have more time.

From the Hembrug site, cycle on to Vroom & Varossieau at Draaibank 10, a gallery specializing in street art and urban contemporary art — featuring both internationally renowned names and emerging talent. Afterwards, take the Dik Trompad towards PLAY ROOM at Westzijde 99, an accessible gallery with exhibitions that always surprise and sometimes confront. A haven that makes you think differently.

Next, cycle to the Monetatelier at Westzijde 14g, accessible via the Beatrix Bridge. Here hang replicas of all 25 Zaan paintings that Claude Monet created in 1871 during his stay in Zaandam. A unique glimpse into what the city looked like a century and a half ago. The route concludes at Zaans Groen at Zeemansstraat 54, a former carpentry workshop where changing exhibitions and intimate concerts take place — and from where you can almost see Zaandam Station.