Uithoorn

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Uithoorn

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imagesize = 230px
image_caption = Thamer church


flag_size = 120x100px
image_shield = Coat of arms of Uithoorn.pngshield_size = 120x100px


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = North Holland
leader_name = H.L. Groen
leader_party = GroenLinks
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 19.49
area_land_km2 = 18.30
area_water_km2 = 1.20
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 26970
population_density_km2 = 1474
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 52.23
latNS = N
longd = 4.83
longEW = E
website = [http://www.uithoorn.nl www.uithoorn.nl]

Uithoorn (pronunciation|Nl-Uithoorn.ogg) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.

Population centres

The municipality of Uithoorn consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: De Kwakel, Uithoorn.

History

The name "De Uithoorn" (or also "De Vuythoorn") was used at the end of the Middle Ages for the location of the lower courts of the deanery of Saint John. The village formed around its courthouse.

People depended on agriculture and animal husbandry. Agriculture became increasingly more difficult due to the steady soil subsidence. From circa 1600 on, peat extraction became important and resulted in the formation of large ponds, which in turn would be made into polders later on.

During the Franco-Dutch War in the "disaster year" of 1672, Uithoorn was on the front lines and fortifications were built.

During the Batavian Republic period, the neighbouring village of Thamen was merged with Uithoorn. Its economy was limited but improved in the middle of the 19th century when some industries (including chemical) were established in the area. The reclamation of a few large ponds provided extra agricultural land at the end of the same century.

Circa 1885, several fortifications were built around Uithoorn as part of the Stelling van Amsterdam. In 1915 the railway was built through town.

After World War II, Uithoorn developed quickly: in 1948 the Thamerdal neighbourhood was built, followed by Zijdelwaard in 1960, Legmeer in 1972, Meerwijk-West and Meerwijk-Oost from 1985 on. In 1991 a new shopping centre was built in the town centre, at the expense of many original buildings.

Local government

The municipal council of Uithoorn consists of 21 seats, which are divided as follows:

* VVD - 6 seats
* CDA - 5 seats
* Gemeente Belangen - 5 seats
* PvdA - 3 seats
* D66 - 1 seat
* GroenLinks - 1 seat

References

* Statistics are taken from the [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem475nh.htm SDU Staatscourant]

External links

* [http://www.plattegronden.nl/uithoorn/index.html A map of Uithoorn]
* [http://www.plattegronden.nl/gemeenteaalsmeer/index.html A map of the entire municipality]