The municipality of Zaanstad and several towns along the Zaan are named for the river: Koog aan de Zaan, Westzaan, Oostzaan, Zaandijk and the city of Zaandam.
Several municipalities in the area, including Zaanstad and nearby towns like Koog aan de Zaan, Westzaan, Oostzaan, Zaandijk, and the city of Zaandam, are all named after the river that runs through them.