A thousand years of digging ditches
Paintings, topographic maps, and unique objects tell the story of a thousand years of ditch digging and water management in the Zaanse polder. Meet residents of the past and present and discover that not everyone shares the same interests. From the Assendelver farmers of the sixteenth century to the conservationists four centuries later.
These days, the polder landscape seems taken for granted: a picturesque backdrop of windmills, dikes, and locks. But is that really the case? How much effort does it still take to keep this land dry? And who is responsible for that?
In this exhibition, you'll explore the past, present, and future of the (Zaan) polder. A place where farmers' interests sometimes clash with the interests of the dike reeve, and nature demands its own voice.
For centuries, people have lived in an area that's practically uninhabitable: the polder. A landscape that was once marshland and later constantly threatened by the wild Zuiderzee. Yet, the inhabitants persisted, living on land that was still practically water.
Come face to face with the past, present and future of the (Zaanse) polder, a landscape where man and nature must constantly find each other again.
Activities program
The exhibition features interactive activity areas where young and old can puzzle, measure, and design, discovering together the polder's versatility. The program is supplemented with guided tours, lectures, and activities in the landscape.
