Monnickendam

Monnickendam
Monnickendam in 2010
The town centre (dark green) and the statistical district (light green) of Monnickendam in the municipality of Waterland
Coordinates: 52°28′N 5°2′E / 52.467°N 5.033°E / 52.467; 5.033
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Holland
MunicipalityWaterland
Area
 (2012)[1]
 • Total
1,536 ha (3,796 acres)
 • Land1,464 ha (3,618 acres)
 • Water72 ha (178 acres)
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total
9,915
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
Postal code
1140–1141[2]
Area code0299[3]

Monnickendam (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌmɔnɪkə(n)ˈdɑm]) is a city in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Waterland, and lies on the coast of the Markermeer, about 8 km (5.0 mi) southeast of Purmerend. It received city rights in 1355 and was damaged by the fires of 1500 and 1513.

History

Monnikendam was also the name of a number of warships built at the port of the same name during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.

The town was founded by monks,[4] the name Monnickendam translates as 'Monk's dam'.

Monnickendam was a separate municipality until 1991, when it was merged into Waterland.[5] Although it is a small fishing village today, it was an important port in earlier centuries. It possesses a seventeenth-century weigh house, once used by merchants and port officials, and a bell tower that dates from 1591. The fourteenth century church of St. Nicholas, renovated in 1602, is particularly notable. The synagogue was built in 1894.[6] Jewish families named Monnikendam trace their roots to this town.

The town was the site of an artist's colony in the early twentieth century.[7][8]

Economy

Monnickendam hosts a number of industries, many related to its history and proximity to the Markermeer. Notably, the city is home to the Royal Hakvoort Shipyards that has operated for over a century, first catering to the local fishing industry by building vessels for their purpose, and later moving into luxury and pleasure crafts.[9]

Other notable organisations include Leguit + Roos, specialising in the renovation and restoration of historical buildings that are plenty in the Waterland area.[10]

In recent developments, the derelict business quarter of Galgeriet was demolished in order to make space for the development of new residential buildings. The Dutch government has subsidised this development with €6,420,240, with the hope of creating 700 homes as well as additional commercial spaces to both alleviate the ailing demography and provide an impetus for further economic growth.[11]

Demographics

In 2001, the town of Monnickendam had 9,546 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 1.34 km2 (0.52 sq mi), and contained 3,766 residences.[12] The wider statistical area of Monnickendam has a population of around 9,680.[13]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b (in Dutch) Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2009-2012, Statline, Statistics Netherlands, 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ (in Dutch) Zoekresultaten, Postcode.nl. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. ^ (in Dutch) Netnummer zoeken, Telefoonboek.nl. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  4. ^ DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: The Netherlands: The Netherlands. DK Publishing. 1 August 2011. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7566-8476-1.
  5. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
  6. ^ Synagogues of Europe: Architecture, History, Meaning, by Carol Herselle Krinsky - 1996, p. 68
  7. ^ "Monnickendam aan de Zuiderzee, Holland". University of Pretoria Archives. 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  8. ^ Pennington, Estill (2010). Lessons in Likeness: Portrait Painters in Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley, 1802-1920. University Press of Kentucky. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-8131-2613-5. Retrieved 3 July 2025. the American artist colony at Monnickendam, Holland, at the 1907 Southern Exposition
  9. ^ "Royal Hakvoort Homepage". Royal Hakvoort. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations honors subsidy application for the Municipality of Waterland for the Galgeriet project". Gemeente Waterland. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Leguit + Roos Homepage". Leguit + Roos. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  12. ^ Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Bevolkingskernen in Nederland 2001 [1]. Statistics are for the continuous built-up area.
  13. ^ Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Gemeente Op Maat 2004: Waterland [2].