Museum Zaanse Tijd

Step into the Zaanse Golden Age

Our museum lies at the entrance of the most scenic street in the Zaanse Schans. The museum is located in a picturesque seventeenth century living/working building from Assendelft which was carefully rebuilt at the Zaanse Schans in 1976. Enter the historic interior with period rooms taking you back in time. Visit a clockmaker’s shop and wander through an antique parlour and a drawing-room, both furnished in old Dutch style. You will see our unique and extensive collection of Zaanse and Dutch clocks in this pleasant setting. You can even wonder at an original tower clock and see its’ many wheels turning.

The museum tells the story of Cornelis Michielszoon Volger, the miller’s son who, as a clockmaker, was one of the founding fathers to see the Zaanse clock as a successful export product. Further down this page you can get an impression of the remarkable collection we are proud to preserve. 

For children

Would you like to enter into another world and do you want to know how clocks work, then you’re at the right place in our museum. You can even see an original turret clock from close up; you can see the toothed wheels and the mechanics driving this enormous tower clock. Discover how the windmills inspired these clocks.

Learn about Zaanse heritage and experience the story behind the most interesting export product of the Dutch Golden Age.