Alblasserdam () is a town and municipality in the western

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, in the province of

South Holland South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of October 2021 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely ...

. It covers an area of , of which is water, and has a population of as of . Alblasserdam is officially a part of the Drechtsteden region. A portion of the small village of Kinderdijk, which boasts the largest and most famous concentration of windmills in the

, is part of Alblasserdam.

Etymology

The name ''Alblasserdam'' is derived from its location near the creek

Alblas Alblas is a Dutch surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Aart Alblas (1918–1944), Dutch navy officer * Norbert Alblas Norbert Alblas (born 12 December 1994) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Eredivisie club Excel ...

where a dam was built. Inhabitants of Alblasserdam are called ''Alblasserdammers'' (singular: ''Alblasserdammer'').

History

13th-19th century

The town of Alblasserdam was first mentioned in the chronicles of Melis Stoke in 1299, but the municipality wasn't formed until 1447. Before that, it was part of Oud-Alblas. Because of its location on the

Noord Noord () is a town and region in Aruba (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands). This town is known for its low rise and high rise hotels, restaurants, beaches, malls, the California Lighthouse, and other places of attraction. Places of interest ...

river, one of the busiest waterways in Western Europe, water has played a major role in Alblasserdam's history. The river was important for its development and makes it an advantageous location for industry. Alblasserdam's strategic location also brought it negative consequences. For example, between 1350 and 1821, the Alblasserwaard

polder A polder () is a low-lying tract of land that forms an artificial hydrological entity, enclosed by embankments known as dikes. The three types of polder are: # Land reclaimed from a body of water, such as a lake or the seabed # Flood plains s ...

flooded 32 times.

20th century

During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, mayor

Simon Berman Simon Berman (April 24, 1861 – October 19, 1934) was the mayor of Kwadijk, Middelie, Warder, Schagen, Bedum, and Alblasserdam in the Netherlands. He was the first mayor of Kwadijk, Middelie, and Warder to actually live in one of those villag ...

and the local government of Alblasserdam kept busy with 60 Belgian refugees within the municipal boundaries. An ad hoc municipal fund for the unemployed was established. Alblasserdam suffered during the German raid on Rotterdam on May 11, 1940, when its town centre was severely damaged. The historic Kerkstraat (Church Street) and the characteristic dike construction along the river, however, were spared. The invaders placed the Netherlands under German occupation. The

North Sea flood of 1953 The 1953 North Sea flood was a major flood caused by a heavy storm surge that struck the Netherlands, north-west Belgium, England and Scotland. Most sea defences facing the surge were overwhelmed, causing extensive flooding. The storm and flo ...

also affected a portion of Alblasserdam. The Delta Works program included reinforcements to the dikes and improvement of the locks. Therefore, water no longer poses a direct danger to Alblasserdam. In 1987, the custom yacht builder Oceanco started building yachts in the 80 metre+ range. In 1999 the town celebrated its 700th anniversary.

21st century

Bert Blase served as mayor from 1999 to 2014, when he was appointed as mayor of

Vlaardingen Vlaardingen () is a city in South Holland in the Netherlands. It is located on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas river at the confluence with the Oude Maas. The municipality administers an area of , of which is land, with residents in . Geogr ...

. Subsequently, the mayor of

Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands. It is located on the island of IJsselmonde, and borders with Zwijndrecht, Ridderkerk, and the Noord River (with Alblasserdam and Papendrecht on the other side). The j ...

, Jan Heijkoop, also acted as mayor Alblasserdam. On July 1, 2015 Jaap Paans became mayor of Alblasserdam.

Public transportation

*Waterbus route 1: **

Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte'') is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, part of the North Sea mouth of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, via the ''"N ...

Willemskade -

Krimpen aan den IJssel Krimpen aan den IJssel () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of in , and covers an area of of which is water. History Krimpen is first mentioned in a docum ...

Stormpolder - Ridderkerk De Schans - Alblasserdam Kade -

Dordrecht Dordrecht (), historically known in English as Dordt (still colloquially used in Dutch, ) or Dort, is a city and municipality in the Western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the province's fifth-largest city after R ...

Merwekade.

Notable people

Fop Smit Fop Smit (11 October 1777 – 25 August 1866) was a Dutch naval architect, shipbuilder, and shipowner. He founded the towage and salvage company L. Smit & Co that is now part of Smit International. His shipyard had a number of "firsts" in shipbu ...

(1777–1866) a Dutch naval architect, shipbuilder and shipowner; founded what became

Smit International Smit Internationale N.V. (or Smit International) is a Dutch company operating in the maritime sector. The company was founded in 1842 by Fop Smit as a towage company with only the 140 horsepower paddle steamer tug ''Kinderdijk''. Fop's sons, ...

(1861–1934) the Mayor of Alblasserdam, 1914-1923 *

Cornelis van Eesteren Cornelis van Eesteren (4 July 1897, Alblasserdam - 21 February 1988, Amsterdam) was a prominent Dutch architect and urban planner. He worked for the Town Planning department of Amsterdam (1929–59) and was the chairman of the CIAM (1930–1947 ...

(1897-1988) a Dutch architect and urban planner * Koos Schouwenaar (1902–1941) a Dutch rower, competed at the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...

Patrick van Kerckhoven Patrick van Kerckhoven (born 1970, alias DJ RuffneckVan Slooten, Lieuwe.Terugkeer DJ Ruffneck zaterdag in het Paard: 'Ik ben nooit weggeweest' (in Dutch), Den Haag FM, November 8, 2018.) is a darkcore or gabber DJ and producer, originating from ...

(born 1970) a

darkcore Darkcore (also referred to as darkside hardcore) is a genre of electronic dance music, considered to be a subgenre of breakbeat hardcore, which came out from the UK rave scene of the early 1990s; this genre in particular emerged from late 1992 ...

gabber Gabber (; ) is a style of electronic dance music and a subgenre of hardcore techno, as well as the surrounding subculture. The music is more commonly referred to as Hardcore, which is characterised by fast beats, distorted & heavier kickdrums, ...

DJ and producer

Gallery

File:Wantij ship Waterbus Alblasserdam 2018.jpg, Wantij ship Waterbus Alblasserdam File:Kinderdijk in a sunny day - panoramio.jpg, Kinderdijk File:Pool side house, kinderdijk - panoramio.jpg, Pool side house, kinderdijk File:Windpump at Molens Kinderdijk - panoramio.jpg, Windpump at Molens Kinderdijk

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Municipalities of South Holland Populated places in South Holland Alblasserwaard Drechtsteden