Gemeente Zaanstad

What is Gemeente Zaanstad?

The Gemeente Zaanstad, commonly known as Zaanstad, is a municipality in the province of North Holland, Netherlands. Located in the region known as the Zaanstreek, it encompasses several towns and villages, including Zaandam, which is its administrative center. Zaanstad is historically significant for its role in the Dutch industrial revolution, particularly due to its numerous windmills and factories that lined the Zaan River, contributing to early industrialization in the Netherlands. Today, Zaanstad is a vibrant area combining its rich heritage with modern urban development, offering cultural attractions, residential areas, and economic activities linked to both its historical and contemporary industries​. More information can be found on the website.

How do we contribute?

The contribution of YUE in collaboration with Zaanstad focuses on the development of comprehensive white papers to support the Zaanse Omgevingsvisie ‘Ruimte Maken’. This environmental vision outlines the societal challenges and the core qualities that need to be protected or developed in Zaanstad, aligning with the six Zaanse Strategic Tasks (StratO’s): Urbanization, Equal Opportunities, Economy, Sustainability, Health, and Safety.

YUE's role involves creating six distinct white papers, one for each StratO, highlighting successful and relevant spatial implementations. These white papers are designed to inspire Zaanstad's internal stakeholders, such as civil servants and council members, by showcasing practical examples of spatial interventions both in buildings and public spaces. The examples provided will be derived primarily from online desktop research, with the potential to contact project designers for visuals, although external publication is not intended.