't Hoenstraat 39

Living in Zaandam is like having a front-row seat to a modern Dutch fairy tale, but with a raw, industrial soul that keeps it grounded. While tourists at the station stare at the "Lego hotel", the magic for us locals lies in the quiet corners along the Zaan. The daily rhythm: in the morning you usually smell chocolate – really. Depending on the wind, the local cocoa factories (like ADM or Cargill) envelop the entire city in a warm, brownie-like scent. It's the ultimate "gezellige buurt" perk you won't find in travel guides. My favourite local spots: De Hemmes: This is my favourite "secret" spot. It's a small peninsula jutting into the Zaan. It's wild, industrial, and perfect for a sunset walk when you want to see the windmills of Zaanse Schans in the distance without the crowds of tourist buses. BIND: Located on the old Hembrug terrain, this is the heart of the community. It's an old transformer building turned into a living-room café. There's a wood stove, various rugs, and someone is always playing guitar or hosting a small art workshop. The 'Dam' (Zaandam-style): On Friday nights we go to the square by the lock. It's much more intimate than Dam Square in Amsterdam. Sitting at Wonder's or Manzo's with a beer, watching the boats sail through the Wilhelminasluis, is how we truly unwind.

Daily nuisance from cockroaches moroccans, this neighbourhood has changed into an antisocial abdoela neighbourhood since 4 years.

The rest of Assendelft is difficult to reach, the neighbourhood bus only runs once an hour between 9 and 18, but otherwise it's very pleasant living here. All amenities are available, many schools, greenery.

No contact with neighbours, used to have New neighbours