For the executive producer of The Smurfs, see Freddy Monnickendam.
Monnickendam
City
Coordinates52°28′N 5°2′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Holland
MunicipalityWaterland
Unit prefMetric
Area total1536 ha
Area land1464 ha
Area water72 ha
Population as of2012
Population total9,915
Postal code1140–1141[1]
Area code0299[2]

Monnickendam (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 1499 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,[3] the name Monnickendam translates as 'Monk's dam'.

Monnickendam was a separate municipality until 1991, when it was merged into Waterland.[4] 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.[5] 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.[6][7]

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.[8]

Other notable organisations include Leguit + Roos, specialising in the renovation and restoration of historical buildings that are plenty in the Waterland area.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11] The wider statistical area of Monnickendam has a population of around 9,680.[12]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ (in Dutch) Zoekresultaten, Postcode.nl. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ (in Dutch) Netnummer zoeken, Telefoonboek.nl. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. ^ DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: The Netherlands: The Netherlands. DK Publishing. 1 August 2011. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7566-8476-1.
  4. ^
  5. ^ Synagogues of Europe: Architecture, History, Meaning, by Carol Herselle Krinsky - 1996, p. 68
  6. ^ "Monnickendam aan de Zuiderzee, Holland". University of Pretoria Archives. 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  7. ^ 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
  8. ^ "Royal Hakvoort Homepage". Royal Hakvoort. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ "Leguit + Roos Homepage". Leguit + Roos. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  11. ^ Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Bevolkingskernen in Nederland 2001 [1]. Statistics are for the continuous built-up area.
  12. ^ Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Gemeente Op Maat 2004: Waterland [2][dead link].
  • Vol. 18. p. 629.