Zaandam, Administrative division in Zaanstad, Netherlands
Zaandam is a town in the municipality of Zaanstad in the western Netherlands, located north of Amsterdam. The area extends along the Zaan river and includes residential neighborhoods, shops, and several bridges and railway stations for local transport.
The settlement developed since the Middle Ages as an industrial site with windmills and timber processing. In 2008, the town became part of the newly reorganized municipality of Zaanstad.
The Zaan flows through the center and shapes daily life with its green banks and houseboats. Local residents use the promenades for walking and cycling along the canals.
The town is easily reached by train from Amsterdam Central Station in about fifteen minutes travel time. Buses connect the different neighborhoods and run regularly throughout the day.
Traditional timber houses stand in some neighborhoods directly by the water and reflect the historical building style of the region. Many of these buildings have green or brown facades made from vertically attached wooden boards.
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