Purmerend

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Purmerend
nickname =
motto =


imagesize =
image_caption =


imagesize =
image_caption =

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flag_size = 125px
image_shield = Coat of Arms Purmerend.svg
shield_size = 125px


mapsize = 275px
map_caption = Location of Purmerend
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flagicon|Netherlands Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = flagicon|North Holland North Holland
subdivision_type2 = Region
subdivision_name2 = flagicon|Netherlands Holland
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Leen Verbeek - (PvdA)
leader_title1 = Aldermen
leader_name1 = J.Th. Engels - (PvdA) J. Krieger - (VVD) V.D.M. Nijenhuis - (CDA) B. Daan - (PvdA)
leader_title2 = Secretary
leader_name2 = Mw. S. Borgers
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 24.56
area_land_km2 = 23.74
area_water_km2 = 0.82
population_as_of = 1 November, 2007
population_total = 78.307
population_density_km2 = 3283
population_blank1_title = Randstad
population_blank1 = 6659300
population_blank2_title = Demonym
population_blank2 = Purmerender
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
latd=52 |latm=30 |lats=18 |latNS=N
longd=4 |longm=57 |longs=51 |longEW=E
postal_code_type = Postcode
postal_code = 1440-1448, 1481AR
area_code = 0299
website = [http://www.Purmerend.nl www.Purmerend.nl]
footnotes =

.

The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population start to grow from around 10.000 to the current 78.307 people (1 November 2007). From the 1960s onwards, Purmerend has seen major expansions. These expansions added new suburbs, providing homes for people working in Amsterdam. This expansion continues to the present date. Purmerend is part of the Randstad, one of the largest conurbations in Europe. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randstad]

History

Early history

Purmerend was created out of the small fishing village the Purmer, which lay on the land between the Purmermeer ("Purmer lake"), the Beemstermeer ("Beemster lake") and the Wormermeer ("Wormer lake"). On the south bank of the river de Weere, which used to connect the former Purmer lake and Beemster lake.

Purmerend was founded by a rich banker from Amsterdam, Willem Eggert. In 1410 he was allowed, by HRH Count William VI of Holland ("Willem VI van Holland"), to build his own fortified castle, Slot Purmersteijn. Construction on the castle was finished in 1413nl icon http://www.waterlandziekenhuis.nl/frames.html?readform&page=http://www.waterlandziekenhuis.nl/paginas/4CC61895197C4C43C1256F6D002E9636] and it remained standing until it was demolished in 1741 after it had fallen into decline. [nl icon http://www.kasteleninnoordholland.nl/Kasteelbeschrijvingen/PurmersteinPurmerend.htm] In 1434 Purmerend was given city rights. And on 21 April 1484 (Some sources claim 14 April 1484) the city was given “marktrechten” (the right to organise two “"jaarmarkten"” annual markets and a “"weekmarkt"” weekly market) by Count Jan van Egmond. [Museum of Purmerend - [http://www.purmerendsmuseum.nl/uk/museum_and_collection/history/] ] This meant merchants from outside of Purmerend could now offer there merchandise for sale on the market. Before 1484 only food products for its own population were allowed to be sold. [nl icon http://www.purmerendsmuseum.nl/nl/museum_en_collectie/purmerend_marktstad/]

The mayor of Purmerend is Leen Verbeek. nl icon http://www.nieuwsbank.nl/inp/2003/03/28/R167.htm] (PvdA)

Born in Purmerend

Notable people born in Purmerend:
* Jan Stuyt (1868), architect
* Pieter Oud (1886), minister of finance and mayor of Rotterdam
* Jacobus Oud (1890), architect
* Mart Stam (1899), architect, urban planner, and chair designer
* Hans Klok (1969), illusionist
* Vincent van der Voort (1975), darts player

ister cities

Purmerend currently has one sister city:
* Jihlava, flagicon|Czech Republic Czech Republic. [nl icon Official Purmerend Website - [http://www.purmerend.nl/eCache/INT/114.html] ] [cs icon Official Jihlava website - [http://www.jihlava.cz/vismo/zobraz_dok.asp?id_org=5967&id_ktg=1190&p1=49317] ] [nl icon Official blog of the Mayor of Purmerend - [http://www.purmerend.nl/eCache/INT/57/819.html] ]

Sources

* Statistics have been taken from the [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem383nh.htm SDU Staatscourant]