Hem (
West Frisian: ''Him'') (population estimate: 1230) is a village in the municipality
Drechterland
Drechterland () is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia. The municipality was formed in 1979, in a merger of the former municipalities of Hoogkarspel, Westwoud and Oosterblokker. Its ...
, located in the north west of the
Netherlands
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, 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.
The village was first mentioned around 1312 as Hem, and means "silted land in a bend of a stream".
Hem developed in the 12th century as 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.
The tower of the Dutch Reformed church dates from around 1500. The
baluster
A baluster is an upright support, often a vertical moulded shaft, square, or lathe-turned form found in stairways, parapets, and other architectural features. In furniture construction it is known as a spindle. Common materials used in its c ...
and spire were constructed after a 1897 fire.
The matching church was demolished in 1972 after a fire.
The Catholic St Lucas Church is an aisleless church from 1930.
Hem was home to 591 people in 1840.
Notable people
*
Alice Besseling
Alida Cornelia Maria "Alice" Besseling (23 October 1944 – 22 January 2014) was a city council member for the CDA in the Dutch city of Alphen aan den Rijn, and a local and social activist who was instrumental in the recognition of the Jewish ce ...
, politician
Gallery
File:Hemmerbuurt 243, Hem.JPG, Farm Elba Hoeve
File:Hem4.jpg, Former forge
File:Hemmerbuurt 125, woonhuis, Hem.JPG, Farm in Hem
File:Overzicht toren met balustrade en een achtzijdige naaldspits - Hem - 20406694 - RCE.jpg, Tower of the former church
References
Populated places in North Holland
Former municipalities of North Holland
Drechterland
{{NorthHolland-geo-stub