Alkmaar
City and municipality
De Bierkade
De Bierkade
Flag of Alkmaar
Flag
Coat of arms of Alkmaar
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Alkmaar in a municipal map of North Holland
Location in North Holland
Alkmaar is located in Netherlands
Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Location within the Netherlands
Alkmaar is located in Europe
Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Location within Europe
Coordinates: 52°38′N 4°45′E / 52.633°N 4.750°E / 52.633; 4.750
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Holland
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorAnja Schouten
Area
[2]
 • Total117.35 km2 (45.31 sq mi)
 • Land110.46 km2 (42.65 sq mi)
 • Water6.89 km2 (2.66 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (November 2022)[4]
 • Total111,766
 • Density1,012/km2 (2,620/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Alkmaarder
(Informal) Kaaskop
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
1800–1831
Area code072
Websitewww.alkmaar.nl
Topographic map of Alkmaar, Sept. 2014

Alkmaar (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑl(ə)kmaːr] ⓘ) is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination. The municipality has a population of 111,766 as of 2023.[4]

History

The earliest mention of the name Alkmaar is in a 10th-century document. As the village grew into a town, it was granted city rights in 1254. The oldest part of Alkmaar lies on an ancient sand bank a couple of meters (yards) above the surrounding region; it afforded some protection from inundation during medieval times. Its vicinage consists of some of the oldest polders in existence. Older spellings include Alckmar.[5]

On June 24, 1572, after the Geuzen captured the town, five Franciscans from Alkmaar were taken to Enkhuizen and hanged, becoming the martyrs of Alkmaar.

Siege of Alkmaar

In 1573 the city underwent a siege by Spanish forces under the leadership of Don Fadrique, son of the Duke of Alva. The citizens sent urgent messages for help to the Prince of Orange; he responded by promising to open the floodgates of the dykes and flood the region if the need arose, which despite the protestations of the peasantry, fearful for their harvest, he proceeded to do.

Some of his dispatches fell into the hands of Don Fadrique, and, with the waters beginning to rise, the Spaniards raised the siege and fled. It was a turning point in the Eighty Years War and gave rise to the expression Bij Alkmaar begint de victorie ("Victory begins at Alkmaar"). The event is still celebrated every year in Alkmaar on 8 October, the day the siege ended.

Since the French Revolutionary Wars

In 1799, during the French Revolutionary Wars, an Anglo-Russian expeditionary force captured the city but was ultimately defeated in the Battle of Castricum. After that battle, on 18 October 1799, the two opposing sides held the Convention of Alkmaar which met to determine the fate of the defeated Anglo-Russian force. The French victory was commemorated on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris as "Alkmaer".

The North Holland Canal, opened in 1824, was dug through Alkmaar. In 1865 and 1867 the railways between Alkmaar and Den Helder and between Alkmaar and Haarlem were built respectively.

In the second half of the 20th century, Alkmaar expanded quickly with development of new neighbourhoods. On 1 October 1972, the town of Oudorp and the southern portions of Koedijk and Sint Pancras were added to the municipality of Alkmaar.[6]

Administrative divisions

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
13983,800—    
15144,179+0.08%
162212,417+1.01%
163213,200+0.61%
166013,650+0.12%
173212,500−0.12%
17957,514−0.80%
Source: Lourens & Lucassen 1997, pp. 54–55

The municipality of Alkmaar historically consists of the following cities, towns, villages and districts: Alkmaar, Bergermeer, Daalmeer, De Hoef, De Horn, De Nollen, Het Rak, Huiswaard, Koedijk (southeastern part), Overdie, Oudorp and Omval. On 1 January 2015 the municipalities of Graft-De Rijp and Schermer were merged into Alkmaar. The historical village of De Rijp is thus since a part of Alkmaar.

These once separate villages are now all linked together by the suburban sprawl of buildings that arose between the late 1970s and early 1990s. During this time, the population of Alkmaar almost doubled.

Local government

The municipal council of Alkmaar consists of 39 seats, which are divided as follows after the 2022 elections:[7]

Transport

City center
Cheese market
North gable of the Beer Museum in Alkmaar

The A9 motorway runs from Amsterdam to Alkmaar, then continues on to Den Helder as the N9.

There are direct trains to Den Helder, Hoorn, Zaandam, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Ede, Arnhem, Nijmegen, 's-Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven, Maastricht and Haarlem. For exact details see Alkmaar railway station.

Alkmaar has two railway stations:

The waterway Noordhollandsch Kanaal, which opened in 1824, runs through Alkmaar. As of 2017. it can be crossed (among other ways) using two of the five operating vlotbruggen, Koedijkervlotbrug and Rekervlotbrug.

Main sights

Alkmaar has many medieval buildings that are still intact, most notably the tall tower of the Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk, where many people from Alkmaar hold wedding ceremonies. The other main attraction, especially in the summer months, is Alkmaar's cheese market at the Waagplein, one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. The cheese market traditionally takes place from the first Friday in April through the first Friday in September. Every Friday morning (10:00–12:30) the Waagplein is the backdrop for this traditional cheese market. After the old-fashioned way of the hand clap, traders and carriers will weigh the cheeses. It is one of only four traditional Dutch cheese markets still in existence. The traditional fare of this cheese market is those cheeses made in the local area, as opposed to the well-known brands of Dutch cheeses, including the Edam and Gouda cheeses. It is not actually possible to buy cheese at the market itself, which is really only a demonstration of how this merchants' market operated in times gone by. However, the demonstration, which takes place in front of the medieval weighing house, is surrounded by many specialized stalls where it is possible to buy all kinds of cheese (and non-cheese) related products. The Waag is also home to the local tourist office and a cheese museum. Alkmaar has 399 registered rijksmonuments, of which most are situated along the city's old canals.[8]

Alkmaar has two large theatres and a big cinema (which was originally two cinemas). A red light district is situated at the Achterdam, and Alkmaar has a nightlife scene as well which takes place in the pubs in front of the cheesemarket. Every year, at the end of May Alkmaar hosts the four-day event Alkmaar Pride, which has a canal pride parade on Saturday.[9]

Museums

Sports

AFAS Stadion

Alkmaar is home to the professional football team AZ (Alkmaar Zaanstreek). In 2006, the club moved to a new 17,000 capacity stadium, the DSB Stadion, now named the AFAS Stadion. In 2008–2009, AZ won the Eredivisie, the Dutch football league. It was the second league title for the club after the Eredivisie in 1980/81 with only one league defeat. Notable coaches include former FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, and Netherlands national football team coach Louis van Gaal.

The city also has a velodrome where the Dutch national track cycling championships are held every year. The city hosted the 2019 European Road Championships.

Notable residents

Public thinking & Public Service

Cornelis van der Lijn, ca.1650
Patrick Cammaert, 2001

The Arts

Bust of A.L.G. Bosboom-Toussaint in Alkmaar
Roderick Teerink, 2006
Jan Wils, 1928

Science & Business

Pieter van Foreest, ca.1590

Sport

Maarten van der Weijden, 2008
Dewi Claire Schreefel, 2012

Twin towns—sister cities

Old Alkmaar plaque, Amsterdam Museum

Alkmaar is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "College van burgemeester en wethouders" [Board of mayor and aldermen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Alkmaar. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 1815AG". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand". CBS Netherlands (in Dutch). 4 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam
  6. ↑ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Definitieve uitslag Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2022 - gemeente Alkmaar". Kiesraad Databank Verkiezingsuitslagen. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  8. ↑ nl:Lijst van rijksmonumenten in Alkmaar.
  9. ↑ "Home". alkmaarpride.nl.
  10. ↑ "Dorislaus, Isaac" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 08 (11th ed.). 1911.
  11. ↑ "Everdingen, Allart van" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 10 (11th ed.). 1911.
  12. ↑ "Bosboom-Toussaint, Anna Louisa Geertruida" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 04 (11th ed.). 1911.
  13. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  14. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  15. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  16. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  17. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  18. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  19. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 16 February 2020
  20. ↑ IMDb Database retrieved 13 April 2021
  21. ↑ "Bath's Twinning Associations". The Mayor of Bath. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. ↑ "Town Twinning". Bath and North East Somerset Council. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 12 December 2007.
  23. ↑ "Städtepartnerschaften und Internationales". Büro für Städtepartnerschaften und internationale Beziehungen (in German). Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.

Literature

  • Lourens, Piet; Lucassen, Jan (1997). Inwonertallen van Nederlandse steden ca. 1300–1800. Amsterdam: NEHA. ISBN 9057420082.
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