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Alkmaar

{{short description|City and municipality in North Holland, Netherlands}}

{{other uses}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Alkmaar

| settlement_type = City and municipality

| image_skyline = Alkmaar - Bierkade zaterdagochtend.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = De Bierkade

| image_flag = Alkmaar Flag.svg

| flag_size = 100x67px

| flag_alt =

| image_shield = Alkmaar wapen HRvA.svg

| shield_size = 100x80px

| shield_alt =

| image_map = Map - NL - Municipality code 0361 (2019).svg

| map_alt = Highlighted position of Alkmaar in a municipal map of North Holland

| map_caption = Location in North Holland

| pushpin_map = Netherlands#Europe

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Netherlands##Location within Europe

| pushpin_relief = 1

| coordinates = {{coord|52|38|N|4|45|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = Netherlands

| subdivision_type1 = Province

| subdivision_name1 = North Holland

| government_footnotes = {{cite web

|url = http://www.alkmaar.nl/eCache/21826/Samenstelling_college_en_portefeuille

|title = College van burgemeester en wethouders

|trans-title = Board of mayor and aldermen

|language = nl

|publisher = Gemeente Alkmaar

|access-date = 19 February 2014

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140225003753/http://www.alkmaar.nl/eCache/21826/Samenstelling_college_en_portefeuille

|archive-date = 25 February 2014

|url-status = dead

}}

| governing_body = Municipal council

| leader_party =

| leader_title = Mayor

| leader_name = Anja Schouten

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_footnotes = {{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}

| area_total_km2 = {{Dutch municipality total area|Alkmaar}}

| area_land_km2 = {{Dutch municipality land area|Alkmaar}}

| area_water_km2 = {{Dutch municipality water area|Alkmaar}}

| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web

|url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool

|title=Postcodetool for 1815AG

|language=nl

|author=

|work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland

|publisher=Het Waterschapshuis

|access-date=19 February 2014

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool

|archive-date=21 September 2013

}}

| elevation_m = 1

| elevation_max_footnotes =

| elevation_max_m =

| elevation_min_footnotes =

| elevation_min_m =

| population_footnotes = {{cite web|date=4 January 2023|title=Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230NED/table|access-date=17 January 2023|website=CBS Netherlands|language=nl}}

| population_total = 111,766

| population_as_of = November 2022

| population_density_km2 = 1012

| population_demonym = Alkmaarder
(Informal) Kaaskop

| timezone = CET

| utc_offset = +1

| timezone_DST = CEST

| utc_offset_DST = +2

| postal_code_type = Postcode

| postal_code = 1800–1831

| area_code_type = Area code

| area_code = 072

| website = {{URL|1=http://www.alkmaar.nl}}

| footnotes =

}}

File:Alkmaar-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg

Alkmaar ({{IPA|nl|ˈɑl(ə)kmaːr|-|Nl-Alkmaar.ogg}}) 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.

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.Amsterdam Museum, Amsterdam

On 24 June 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.{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}

Administrative divisions

{{Historical populations

|title = Historical population

|align = right

|cols =

|pop_name =

|percentages = pagr

|footnote =

|source = {{Harvnb|Lourens|Lucassen|1997|pp=54–55}}

|1398|3800

|1514|4179

|1622|12417

|1632|13200

|1660|13650

|1732|12500

|1795|7514

}}

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:{{cite web |date=2022-03-16 |title=Definitieve uitslag Gemeenteraadsverkiezingen 2022 - gemeente Alkmaar |url=https://verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731123 |access-date=2023-01-17 |website=Kiesraad Databank Verkiezingsuitslagen}}

Transport

File:Alkmaar - Luttik Oudorp lente.jpg]]

File:Alkmaar.jpg

File:North gable of the Beer Museum in Alkmaar.jpg

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.:nl:Lijst van rijksmonumenten in Alkmaar.

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.alkmaarpride.nl/ |title=Home |website=alkmaarpride.nl}}

=Museums=

  • Beatles Museum – dedicated to The Beatles, as John Lennon's first guitar was made in Alkmaar
  • Holland Cheese Museum – located in the historic weigh house
  • National Beer Museum "De Boom"
  • Op ArtMuseum - closed since 2014
  • City Museum Alkmaar – for history of the city

Sports

File:AFAS stadion.jpg]]

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 =

File:Cornelis van der Lijn.jpg

File:Patrick Cammaert.jpg

= The arts =

File:Bosboom-Toussaint August Falise Kennemerstraatweg Alkmaar.JPG

File:Roderick Teerink in Japan.jpg

File:Jan Wils.JPG

  • Maria Tesselschade Roemers Visscher (1594–1649), poet and engraver
  • Pieter van Schaeyenborgh (1600–1657), painter known for pictures of fish; worked in Alkmaar from 1635
  • brothers Caesar van Everdingen (1616/7-1678) & Allaert van Everdingen (1621–1675) {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Everdingen,_Allart_van |volume= 10 |short=x}} Dutch Golden Age painters
  • Emanuel de Witte (1617–1692) a Dutch perspective painter of genre paintings
  • Willem de Fesch (1687–1761) a virtuoso Dutch violone player and composer
  • Geertruida Bosboom-Toussaint (1812–1886) a Dutch novelist {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Bosboom-Toussaint,_Anna_Louisa_Geertruida |volume= 04 |short=x}}
  • Cécile de Jong van Beek en Donk (1866–1944) a Dutch feminist writer
  • Dirk Smorenberg (1883–1960) a Dutch Art Deco painter
  • Jan Wils (1891–1972) a Dutch architect and founding member of the De Stijl movement
  • Jan Gerrit van Gelder (1903–1980) a Dutch art historian
  • Ans Wortel (1929–1996) a Dutch painter, poet and writer
  • Rudi Carrell (1934–2006) entertainer, hosted his own TV show [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0140167/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Dan van der Vat (1939–2019) a journalist, writer and military historian
  • Angela Groothuizen (born 1959) a Dutch singer, artist and TV personality [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0343218/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Karin Bloemen (born 1960) is a Dutch actress and singer [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0088812/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Lorena Kloosterboer (born 1962) a Dutch-Argentine artist who paints using trompe-l'œil
  • Joost Zwagerman (1963–2015) a Dutch writer, poet and essayist [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1432762/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Marco Borsato (born 1966) a Dutch singer [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0097441/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Edwin Brienen (born 1971) a Dutch film director, actor, producer and journalist [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0108889/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Hellen van Meene (born 1972) a Dutch photographer known for her portraits
  • Tom Six (born 1973) a Dutch horror filmmaker, writer and actor [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519353/ IMDb Database] retrieved 16 February 2020
  • Roderick Teerink (born 1976) a Dutch-Argentine actor and music producer [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2830082/ IMDb Database] retrieved 13 April 2021
  • Sabine Marcelis (born 1985) a Dutch-New Zealander artist and designer
  • Melissa Venema (born 1995) a Dutch trumpet player

= Science & business =

File:PietervanForeest.JPG

= Sport =

File:Maarten van der Weijden (2008-08-25).jpg

File:Dewi-Claire Schreefel.JPG

Twin towns—sister cities

File:Old Alkmaar plaque, Amsterdam Museum.jpg

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in the Netherlands}}

Alkmaar is twinned with:

class="wikitable"
valign="top"

|

  • {{flagicon|UK}} Bath, United Kingdom{{cite web|url=http://www.thecityofbath.co.uk/twinning-associations |title=Bath's Twinning Associations |access-date=15 July 2013 |work=The Mayor of Bath |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517074103/http://www.thecityofbath.co.uk/twinning-associations |archive-date=17 May 2011 |df=dmy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/leisureandculture/tourismandtravel/Twinning/ |title=Town Twinning |access-date=12 December 2007 |work=Bath and North East Somerset Council | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071027142443/http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/leisureandculture/tourismandtravel/Twinning/|archive-date = 27 October 2007}}
  • {{flagicon|TUR}} Bergama, Turkey
  • {{flagicon|GER}} Darmstadt, Germany, since 1958 {{cite web|url=http://www.darmstadt.de/standort/staedtepartnerschaften-und-internationales/index.htm|title=Städtepartnerschaften und Internationales|access-date=26 July 2013|work=Büro für Städtepartnerschaften und internationale Beziehungen|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723212417/http://www.darmstadt.de/standort/staedtepartnerschaften-und-internationales/index.htm|archive-date=23 July 2013|url-status=dead}}
* {{flagicon|HUN}} Tata, Hungary
  • {{flagicon|FRA}} Troyes, France

    • Gallery

    File:Rechtestraat, De Rijp, Netherlands - panoramio (23).jpg|De Rijp

    File:Alkmaar, toren van het stadhuis RM7282 foto5 2014-12-26 11.41.jpg|Townhall tower

    File:Kennemerstraatweg 118-126, Alkmaar.jpg|Kennemerstraatweg

    File:Alkmaar, de Mient bij het Biermuseum RM7221 foto3 2014-12-26 11.24.jpg|De Mient near the Biermuseum

    File:De Rijp Panorama 2.JPG|Grote Dam

    File:Alkmaar, straatzicht De Laat met de voormalige Domuskerk foto7 2014-12-26 11.52.jpg|View to a street: De Laat with its former church

    File:Cheesemuseum in the Alkmaar Waagbuilding 1582 - panoramio.jpg|Weighing house (Waag) and cheese museum

    References

    {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

    =Literature=

    • {{cite book |last1=Lourens |first1=Piet |last2=Lucassen |first2=Jan |title=Inwonertallen van Nederlandse steden ca. 1300–1800 |year=1997 |place=Amsterdam |publisher=NEHA |isbn=9057420082 }}

    External links

    • {{commons category-inline}}
    • {{Wikivoyage-inline}}
    • {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Alkmaar |volume= 01 |short= x}}
    • {{oweb|http://www.alkmaar.nl}} – City of Alkmaar

    {{Geographic location

    | Centre = Alkmaar

    | North = Dijk en Waard

    | Northeast = Koggenland

    | East = Purmerend

    | Southeast = Wormerland

    | South = Zaanstad

    | Southwest = Uitgeest

    | West = Heiloo
    Castricum

    | Northwest = Bergen

    }}

    {{Dutch municipality Alkmaar}}

    {{North Holland Province}}

    {{Authority control}}

    Category:Cities in the Netherlands

    Category:Municipalities of North Holland

    Category:Populated places in North Holland