gemeente (municipality), western Netherlands (Netherlands, The). It lies along the Zaan River near its junction with the North Sea Canal. An industrial area 6 miles (10 km) northwest of Amsterdam, Zaanstad was created in 1974 at the merger of the former municipalities of Zaandam, Koog aan de Zaan, Zaandijk, Wormerveer, Krommenie, Assendelft, and Westzaan. Zaandam was an important shipbuilding centre in the 17th century; some 17th-century windmills survive, and there is a mill museum at Koog aan de Zaan. Zaanstad is a rail junction and important seat of the Dutch lumber trade and has food and paint industries. Pop. (2007 est.) 141,402.