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Museums / Westzaan

North Holland · Technology & transport

Lettergieten 1983: making type for the printing press

Museum Lettergieten 1983 in Westzaan is a workshop where the casting of lead type continues. Historic machines and matrices make a printed word tangible.

Plan your visit ↗

A letter before printing

Here a printed page does not begin with a digital file, but with material. Ask how a matrix and a casting machine together produce a letter. This gives you insight into a step that easily stays out of view in an ordinary display about printing.

The workshop in operation

Monotype machines and ornaments are part of what is collected and worked on. The foundation also supplies material to printers. Arrange in advance whether you are visiting during a working session or on an open day; the opportunities for explanation may differ.

Confirm Thursday first

The workshop names Thursday as its working day, but different opening and closing times are circulating. So have a visiting time fixed. There are also a few open days a year, including one announced for 26 September 2026.

Before you go

Arrange a Thursday visit in advance or check the announcement of the open day.

Sources

This first edition has been compiled from collected museum information. Not all of the information has yet been confirmed by the museum. Viewing tips are by the editorial team. The sources used are listed below.

  1. Museum Lettergieten 1983 — source 1

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

  2. Museum Lettergieten 1983 — source 2

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

  3. Museum Lettergieten 1983 — source 3

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

  4. Museum Lettergieten 1983 — source 4

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

  5. Museum Lettergieten 1983 — source 5

    Source reference supplied; independent source check still needed. Research reference supplied; source content and claims still to be verified independently.

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