Grootschermer is a village in the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

province of North Holland. Since January 1, 2015 it has been a part of the municipality of

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 ...

, and lies about 12 km southeast of the city centre of Alkmaar. The village was first mentioned in the first half of the 11th century as Skirmere, and means "big white/clear lake". Grootschermer developed in the 13th century when a

dike Dyke (UK) or dike (US) may refer to: General uses * Dyke (slang), a slang word meaning "lesbian" * Dike (geology), a subvertical sheet-like intrusion of magma or sediment * Dike (mythology), ''Dikē'', the Greek goddess of moral justice * Dikes, ...

was constructed around the Eilandspolder. It was partially a

peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficien ...

excavation settlement. Until 1811, it consists of two linear settlements. The Dutch Reformed church is aisleless church with wooden tower which dates from 1762. It was restored between 1978 and 1980. The former town hall is a stepped gable building in

mannerist Mannerism, which may also be known as Late Renaissance, is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Ita ...

style from 1639. Between 1938 and 1939, the former court house from Noordschermer was added to the back of the building. Grootschermer was home to 415 people in 1840. It used to be the capital of Zuid- en Noord-Schermer, but was merged into

Schermer Schermer () is a former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The name came from "''skir mere''", which means "bright lake" (ref. Groenedijk, 2000). Since 2015 it has been a part of Alkmaar. The municipality of Scher ...

in 1970. In 2015, it became part of the municipality of

Gallery

File:Grootschermer Molen De Havik.jpg, Windmill De Havik File:Grootschermer, idyllic place.jpg, Canal view File:Dorpkirk Grootschermer.JPG, Protestant church File:Traditional "Stolpfarm" in NoordHolland polder "Schermer" - panoramio.jpg, Farm in Grootschermer

References

Populated places in North Holland Alkmaar {{NorthHolland-geo-stub