Enkhuizen () is a municipality and a city in the

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 North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.

History

Enkhuizen, like

Hoorn Hoorn () is a city and municipality in the northwest of the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is the largest town and the traditional capital of the region of West Friesland. Hoorn is located on the Markermeer, 20 kilometers ...

and

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, was one of the harbor-towns of the VOC, from where overseas trade with the

East Indies The East Indies (or simply the Indies), is a term used in historical narratives of the Age of Discovery. The Indies refers to various lands in the East or the Eastern hemisphere, particularly the islands and mainlands found in and aroun ...

was conducted. It received city rights in 1355. On June 24, 1572 during the

Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt ( nl, Nederlandse Opstand) ( c.1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish government. The causes of the war included the Re ...

, in Enkhuizen five

Franciscans , image = FrancescoCoA PioM.svg , image_size = 200px , caption = A cross, Christ's arm and Saint Francis's arm, a universal symbol of the Franciscans , abbreviation = OFM , predecessor = , ...

from

Alkmaar Alkmaar () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland, about 30 km north of Amsterdam. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination. The ...

were hanged: known as the

martyrs of Alkmaar The Martyrs of Alkmaar ( nl, Martelaren van Alkmaar) were a group of 5 Dutch Catholic clerics, secular and religious, who were hanged on 24 June 1572 in the town of Alkmaar by militant Dutch Calvinists during the 16th-century religious wars� ...

. In the mid-17th century, Enkhuizen was at the peak of its power and was one of the most important harbor cities in the Netherlands. However, due to a variety of reasons, notably the silting up of the harbors, Enkhuizen lost its position to Amsterdam.

Tourism

Enkhuizen has one of the largest marinas in the Netherlands.

Zuiderzeemuseum The Zuiderzee Museum, located on Wierdijk in the historic center of Enkhuizen, is a Dutch museum devoted to preserving the cultural heritage and maritime history from the old Zuiderzee region. With the closing of the Afsluitdijk (Barrier Dam) on M ...

is located in Enkhuizen. Architecturally, the

Drommedaris The ''Drommedaris'' is the southern gateway of the city Enkhuizen. It is the best known building in Enkhuizen. Origin The building was erected as a defense work at the entrance to the Old Harbor, and was originally on the Westfriesian dike; th ...

is the oldest building in Enkhuizen, from 1540. Tourists take boat trips to and from the port to Medemblik.

Industry

Industrially, Enkhuizen is home to a number of seed production companies, Enza Zaden,

Syngenta Syngenta AG is a provider of agricultural science and technology, in particular seeds and pesticides with its management headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. It is owned by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned enterprise. Syngenta was founded ...

Monsanto The Monsanto Company () was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901 and headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Monsanto's best known product is Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, developed i ...

, as well as a

plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...

s factory. Tourism is a large part of the economy, too.

Population centres

The municipality of Enkhuizen consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Enkhuizen, Oosterdijk, Westeinde.

Local government

The municipal council of Enkhuizen consists of 17 seats, which are divided as follows:

Transport

Enkhuizen station offers direct rail service to

and

Maastricht Maastricht ( , , ; li, Mestreech ; french: Maestricht ; es, Mastrique ) is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Limburg. Maastricht is located on both sides of the ...

/ Heerlen, with the journey to Amsterdam Centraal of around an hour. Furthermore, during summer

ferries A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi ...

for pedestrians and cyclists operate between Enkhuizen and Stavoren; between Enkhuizen and Medemblik; and between Enkhuizen and Urk. It is also possible to drive or cycle across the Houtribdijk to Lelystad, passing under a naviduct near the Krabbersgat lock.

Notable buildings

Evangelical Lutheran Church (Enkhuizen) The Evangelical Lutheran Church on the Breedstraat 40, Enkhuizen, is a former church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The congregation was founded in 1623 by the family of a Danish Lutheran merchant, Frederik ...

* St Francis Xavier Church, Enkhuizen

Notable residents

Public thought and public service

* Lucas Janszoon Waghenaer (ca.1534–1606) nautical cartographer *

Franciscus Maelson Franciscus Maelson (1538–1601), originally from Enkhuizen in what was then West Friesland, was a Dutch physician, statesman and member of the States of Holland (representative assembly). Some sources identify him as François Maelson. His fat ...

(1538–1601) a Dutch physician and statesman * Dirck Gerritsz Pomp (1544–ca.1608) a sailor, the first known Dutch visitor to China and Japan * Jan Huyghen van Linschoten (1563–1611), merchant, trader and historian * Joris Carolus (ca.1566-ca.1636) a Dutch cartographer and explorer * Johannes Antonides van der Linden (1609–1664) a Dutch physician, botanist and author *

Hermann Witsius Hermann Witsius (Herman Wits or in Latin Hermannus Witsius; 12 February 1636 – 22 October 1708, aged 72) was a Dutch theologian. Life He was born at Enkhuizen. He studied at the University of Groningen, Leiden, and Utrecht. He was ordained i ...

(1636–1708) a Dutch theologian *

Cornelis Jan Simonsz Cornelis Jan Simonsz ( – ) was a Governor of Dutch Ceylon from 11 May 1703 until 22 November 1707. Simonsz's exact birth day is unknown, but he is known to have been baptized on 14 October 1661 in Enkhuizen. He studied law and married Agnes A ...

(ca.1661–ca.1727) a Governor of Dutch Ceylon 1703/1707 * Jacob Mossel (1704– 1761) sailor and Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies 1750/1761 * Jan Baas (born 1950) a Dutch politician and Mayor of Enkhuizen *

Gerrit Zalm Gerrit Zalm (born 6 May 1952) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman. Zalm studied Economics at the Free University Amsterdam obtaining a Master of Economics degree and worked as a ...

(born 1952), banker, former Minister of Finance * Stef Blok (born 1964) a Dutch politician and

Minister of Foreign Affairs A foreign affairs minister or minister of foreign affairs (less commonly minister for foreign affairs) is generally a cabinet minister in charge of a state's foreign policy and relations. The formal title of the top official varies between coun ...

The arts

Pieter Symonsz Potter Pieter Symonsz Potter (1597 in Enkhuizen – 1652 in Amsterdam), was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography According to Houbraken he was the city secretary of Enkhuizen, he was married to the daughter of Paulus Bertius and the father of the pai ...

(1597–1652) a

Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and art an ...

painter *

Willem Bartsius Willem Bartsius (1612, Enkhuizen – 1657, Enkhuizen), was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography According to Houbraken, who mentioned his sister as Paulus Potter's mother, his father was Paulus Bertius, the city secretary of Enkhuizen, and hi ...

(1612–1657) a

painter. * Jacob Steendam (1615– ca.1672) a Dutch poet and minister Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, Steendam, Jacob
retrieved 20 September 2019 * Paulus Potter (1625–1654), painter *

Pieter Gallis Pieter Gallis (1633 in Enkhuizen – 1697 in Hoorn), was a Dutch Golden Age painter. His favorite color was blue. Biography According to Houbraken, he painted as a hobby, since he earned his living as the director of the local Bank van Len ...

(1633–1697) a

painter * Dirck Ferreris (1639–1693) a

painter *

Jos Lussenburg Johannes "Jos" Lussenburg (Enkhuizen, 20 November 1889 – Nunspeet, 28 July 1975) was a Dutch painter and musician. Lussenburg was a self-taught painter. Originally he was a professional musician: he was a music teacher at several music school ...

(1889–1975) a Dutch painter and musician *

Matthijs Verschoor Matthijs Verschoor (born 1955) is a Dutch classical pianist. He grew up in Enkhuizen and studied at the conservatories of Rotterdam and Amsterdam and continued his studies in Rome and London. Among his teachers are Bart Berman, Willem Brons and J ...

(born 1955) a Dutch classical pianist and academic

Science and business

* Jan Verbruggen (1712–1781) a Dutch master gun-founder and an artist *

David de Gorter David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

(1717–1783) a Dutch physician, botanist and academic *

Gerbrand Bakker Gerbrand Bakker may refer to: * Gerbrand Bakker (physician) (1771–1828), Dutch physician and professor * Gerbrand Bakker (novelist) Gerbrand Bakker (born 28 April 1962) is a Dutch writer. He won the International Dublin Literary Award for ''Th ...

(1771–1828), physician, professor at the University of Groningen * Harm Bart (born 1942) a Dutch mathematician, economist and academic

Sport

Corry Vreeken Maria Cornelia Vreeken (born 22 December 1928), née Corry Bouwman, also Corry Vreeken-Bouwman, is a Dutch chess player who holds the title of Woman Grandmaster (WGM, 1987). She is a five-time winner of the Dutch Women's Chess Championship (196 ...

(born 1928) a Dutch chess Women's Grandmaster * Nel Zwier (1936–2001) a Dutch high jumper, competed at the

1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...

Eljo Kuiler Elselina Johanna "Eljo" Kuiler (born 6 April 1946) is a former diver from the Netherlands. She competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX ...

(born 1946) a former diver, competed at the

1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...

* Wijda Mazereeuw (born 1953) a Dutch swimmer, competed in the 1972 &

1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

Gallery

File:Enkhuizen, NSstation foto2 2010-06-05 09.12.JPG, Enkhuizen, railway station File:Enkhuizen, de Koepoort foto5 2010-06-05 10.03.JPG, Enkhuizen, gate: de

Koepoort The Koepoort or Westerpoort is a city gate in Enkhuizen. The gate used to be the main western entrance of Enkhuizen and is a part of the old fortifications of the city. Description Between 1590 and 1593 Enkhuizen was extended toward the west. A ...

File:Enkhuizen, de Drommedaris RM464878 foto4 2015-10-11 10.53.jpg, Enkhuizen, town gate: de

File:Dromedaris met de Bocht.jpg, Enkhuizen in winter

References

Citations

Sources

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Municipalities of North Holland Populated places in North Holland