Located on the bank of the Zaan river, Zaandam was a major milling center during the Dutch Golden Age and boasted several windmills that powered their saws. Not far from Amsterdam, Zaandam blends the old with the new by showcasing a huge amount of culture, history and art.Explore the Czaar Peterhuisje (Tsar Peter house), one of the oldest wooden houses in the Netherlands, once home to the Tsar Peter the Great, who stayed in Zaandam in 1697. The city also inspired the French impressionist painter Claude Monet, who spent four months in Zaandam in 1871. Visit the Monet Atelier to enjoy the area through the eyes of the artist.