Zaans Historical Museum

Next we went to one of the most interesting museums I had ever been to, the Zaans Historical Museum. We spent several hours, even though it was a fairly small museum. Here is the text on display at the exhibits entrance, translated from Dutch:

Rotating sails, wind and water. Green Zaans houses. . . Home. Life in the Zaan region. Look at the Zaans bracket clock, the painted household goods, the Assendelft cupboard. Enjoy the atmosphere of bygone days. Follow the drama of Zaandam and dream on. . .
The sound of windmills, the factory whistle. The scent of wood and cocoa. The sweat of earning one's living. Paddle wheels and axles. . . a life of toil in the 'Red' Zaan region. Listen: to the beat of hammers, the singing of workers, the clank of steel and the hiss of steam . . . Listen, it's a Zaans symphony
Wind . . . the life-force of the Zaan region. Whisperings of stories. The Zaan region at work. Processing cocoa, flour,, paint, mustard, oil, timber. . . Paintings made with oil and paint from the windmills; portraits of Zaans pride. Feel the wind, natural energy.
To Broek in Waterland or Nova Zembla, near or far, the only way to travel was by water. Or over the ice, with ice boats and sleds. Water . . . the Zaan region's vital artery for transport, trade and shipbuilding. The route to the whale fisheries. Whale oil refineries, a heroic past. See the whale bones, left high and dry in the Zaan region . . .