Volendam
Encyclopedia
Volendam is a town in North Holland
in the Netherlands
, in the municipality of Edam-Volendam
. The town has about 22,000 inhabitants (November 2007).
of the nearby Edam
, which was situated at the mouth of the river IJ
. In 1357, the inhabitants of Edam dug a shorter canal to the Zuiderzee with its own separate harbor. This removed the need for the original harbor, which was then dammed and used for land reclamation
. Farmers and local fishermen settled there, forming the new community of Vollendam, which literally meant something like 'Filled dam'. In the early part of the 20th century it became something of an artists' retreat, with both Picasso and Renoir
spending time here. The majority of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church
, which is deeply connected to the village culture. Historically, many missionaries
and bishop
s grew up in Volendam. Today there is the chapel of Our Lady of the Water of the controversial 'visionary' Mrs Hille Kok, which is located in a village park.
In the new year's night of 2000 to 2001, the lighting of a bundle of sparklers caused a short but intense fire
at a party in café De Hemel. The sparklers ignited the dry Christmas decorations on the ceiling, which fell down in their entirety. 14 people died, and over 180 people were injured. An inquiry showed the owner had been negligent in providing escape routes as well as in inundating the Christmas decorations, and that there were too many people in the building at the time of the incident. The mayor
, Frank IJsselmuiden, and the city councilor responsible both resigned as a result of the inquiry.
, a peninsula
close by. Volendam also features a small museum about its history and clothing style, and visitors can have their pictures taken in traditional Dutch costumes.
is a football club based in Volendam, which has regularly played in the Dutch Eredivisie
(though they are currently in the next division down).
sound") in reference to Volendam's status as fishing village.
During the 1960s, the local group The Cats
was a very popular group in the Netherlands and abroad.
Another band from Volendam was BZN
, which became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1995 BZN performed a duet with the ten year old Jan Smit
, who quickly became a celebrity in his own right.
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in the municipality of Edam-Volendam
Edam-Volendam
Edam-Volendam is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland, consisting of the towns of Edam and Volendam, whose centres lie just 3 km apart.-Local government:...
. The town has about 22,000 inhabitants (November 2007).
History
Originally, Volendam was the location of the harborHarbor
A harbor or harbour , or haven, is a place where ships, boats, and barges can seek shelter from stormy weather, or else are stored for future use. Harbors can be natural or artificial...
of the nearby Edam
Edam
Edam is a city in the Dutch province of Noord-Holland. Combined with Volendam, Edam forms the municipality of Edam-Volendam. Approximately 7,380 people live in Edam. The whole municipality of Edam-Volendam has 28,492 inhabitants...
, which was situated at the mouth of the river IJ
IJ (bay)
The IJ is a river, formerly a bay, in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is known for being Amsterdam's waterfront. The name derives from the generic Germanic term for "water" and is similar to other Aa/Ee names for bodies of water. In Dutch, the name consists of the digraph ij, which is...
. In 1357, the inhabitants of Edam dug a shorter canal to the Zuiderzee with its own separate harbor. This removed the need for the original harbor, which was then dammed and used for land reclamation
Land reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
. Farmers and local fishermen settled there, forming the new community of Vollendam, which literally meant something like 'Filled dam'. In the early part of the 20th century it became something of an artists' retreat, with both Picasso and Renoir
Renoir
-People with the surname Renoir :* Pierre-Auguste Renoir , French painter* Pierre Renoir , French actor and son of Pierre-Auguste Renoir* Jean Renoir , French film director and son of Pierre-Auguste Renoir...
spending time here. The majority of the population belongs to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, which is deeply connected to the village culture. Historically, many missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s grew up in Volendam. Today there is the chapel of Our Lady of the Water of the controversial 'visionary' Mrs Hille Kok, which is located in a village park.
In the new year's night of 2000 to 2001, the lighting of a bundle of sparklers caused a short but intense fire
Volendam New Years fire
The Volendam New Years fire was a café fire in the Dutch town of Volendam on New Year's Eve 2001. The fire began early on New Years Day 2001 and caused the death of 14 young people. There were in all 241 people admitted to hospital., 200 of which suffered serious burns.-Fire:The fire took place in...
at a party in café De Hemel. The sparklers ignited the dry Christmas decorations on the ceiling, which fell down in their entirety. 14 people died, and over 180 people were injured. An inquiry showed the owner had been negligent in providing escape routes as well as in inundating the Christmas decorations, and that there were too many people in the building at the time of the incident. The mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, Frank IJsselmuiden, and the city councilor responsible both resigned as a result of the inquiry.
Tourism
Volendam is a popular tourist attraction in the Netherlands, well-known for its old fishing boats and the traditional clothing still worn by some residents. The women's costume of Volendam, with its high, pointed bonnet, is one of the most recognizable of the Dutch traditional costumes, and is often featured on tourist postcards and posters (although there are believed to be fewer than 50 women now wearing the costume as part of their daily lives, most of them elderly). There is a regular ferry connection to MarkenMarken
Marken is a peninsula in the IJsselmeer, the Netherlands, located in the municipality Waterland in the province North Holland. It is an island, which nowadays is connected to the North Holland mainland by a causeway. Also, Marken is a well-known tourist attraction, well-known for its characteristic...
, a peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
close by. Volendam also features a small museum about its history and clothing style, and visitors can have their pictures taken in traditional Dutch costumes.
Football
FC VolendamFC Volendam
Football Club Volendam is a Dutch football club based in Volendam, North Holland, Edam-Volendam. Founded on June 1, 1977, as a result of a split up with RKSV . It currently plays in the Eerste Divisie, holding home games at Kras Stadion, with a 6,260-seat capacity.-History:Football Club Volendam...
is a football club based in Volendam, which has regularly played in the Dutch Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
(though they are currently in the next division down).
Music
Volendam is also well known for its distinctive music, which is called Palingsound (literally "eelEel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
sound") in reference to Volendam's status as fishing village.
During the 1960s, the local group The Cats
The Cats
The Cats were a rock band from Volendam, The Netherlands. Together with BZN, they were key figures of what came to be called the Palingsound , an umbrella for artists residing in Volendam...
was a very popular group in the Netherlands and abroad.
Another band from Volendam was BZN
BZN
BZN was a Dutch band.-History:BZN started out as a pop-rock band in their native Volendam in 1966, playing early-Bee Gees-like harmony pop...
, which became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1995 BZN performed a duet with the ten year old Jan Smit
Jan Smit
Jan Smit is a Dutch theoretical physicist. During his PhD at UCLA with professor Finkelstein he made some early contributions to lattice formulation of quantum field theory around 1972, which was a year before Kenneth Wilson, and two years before Alexander Polyakov. However, he encountered some...
, who quickly became a celebrity in his own right.
Born in Volendam
- Carola SmitCarola SmitCarola Sier-Smit is a Dutch singer and, since March 25, 1984, a member of Dutch pop band BZN.Carola began her musical career in 1980 , when she joined the band Double Trouble. When she was with that band, she released her first single Never Loved This Way Before...
(1 September 1963), singer. - Nick SchilderNick SchilderNicolaas 'Nick' Maria Schilder is a Dutch singer-songwriter. Together with Simon Keizer, he forms a duo called Nick & Simon.-Career:...
(6 November 1983), singer. - Simon KeizerSimon KeizerSimon Nicolaas Keizer is a Dutch singer-songwriter. Together with Nick Schilder, he forms a duo called Nick & Simon.-Biography:...
(16 May 1984), singer. - Jan SmitJan Smit (singer)Johannes Hendricus Maria "Jan" Smit is a Dutch pop music and schlager singer. He scored his first number one position in the Dutch charts with Ik zing dit lied voor jou alleen in 1997...
(31 December 1985), singer. - Cees KeizerCees KeizerCees Keizer is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Oss.-Career:Born in Volendam, Keizer played youth football with hometown club FC Volendam before moving to Dutch giants Ajax. He never broke into the first team, and moved to Vitesse, where he made his professional...
(8 January 1986), football player. - Wim JonkWim JonkWilhelmus "Wim" Maria Jonk is a retired Dutch footballer. At the height of his career, he also played for the Netherlands national team....
(12 October 1966), football player. - Carla Braan (23 july 1961), Olympian gymnast.
External links
- Volendam Events - Enjoy Volendam
- Tourist information about Volendam
- page about traditional costumes (Dutch)
- Page about traditional costumes (in English)
- page about typical local fishing boats (Dutch)