Heemstede

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Heemstede
Heemstede train station
Heemstede train station
Flag of Heemstede
Flag
Coat of arms of Heemstede
Coat of arms
Location of Heemstede
Coordinates: 52°21′N 4°37′E / 52.35, 4.62
Country Netherlands
Province North Holland
Area (2006)
 - Total 9.64 km² (3.7 sq mi)
 - Land 9.20 km² (3.6 sq mi)
 - Water 0.44 km² (0.2 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2007)
 - Total 25,555
 - Density 2,778/km² (7,195/sq mi)
  Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Website: www.heemstede.nl

Heemstede (pronunciation ) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.

Contents

[edit] History

Heemstede formed around the Castle Heemstede that was built on the Spaarne River around 1286. Before the year 1296, Floris V, Count of Holland, granted Heemstede as a fiefdom to Reinier of Holy. During the 14th century, a village formed near the castle, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in this period. The most famous resident of this castle was Adriaan Pauw, who bought it in 1620. In 1653, Bennebroek split off from Heemstede, becoming a separate fiefdom.

Growth was slow, and in 1787 Heemstede counted 196 families. Even at that early date Heemstede had already gained the reputation it has today, of being primarily a "bedroom community" for the cities of Haarlem and Amsterdam. Wealthy city families left the cities in the summer, escaping "canal fever" which caused illness from the putrid canals. As a result, many estates were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which (partially) remain until today such as Oud-Berkenroede, Berkenrode, Ipenrode, Huis te Manpad, Hartekamp, Bosbeek, Meer en Bosch, Meer en Berg, and Gliphoeve.

In 1857, the municipality Berkenrode was merged with Heemstede. In 1927, the northern portion of Heemstede, including a large part of the Haarlem Forest, was in turn added to the city of Haarlem.

[edit] Monuments and parks

  • Groenendaal park: Designed by John Hope, it was formed by merging several country estates into one.
  • Vrijheidsbeeld (Freedom Statue), statue by Mari Andriessen to celebrate freedom and commemorate Heemstede victims of WWII. Located on the Vrijheidsdreef in Groenendaal park.
  • Slot Heemstede: The site of the Heemstede castle.
  • Hartekamp: Heemstede summer home of George Clifford on the Bennebroek border, who hired Linnaeus to write his 'Hortus Cliffortianus', a detailed description of the gardens of Hartecamp. George Clifford's house is closed to the public, but the suurounding gardens are used as a campus and are open to visitors.
  • Linnaeusbos (Linnaeus Forest): Originally a part of Hartekamp that was planted by George Clifford and documented by Linnaeus. In 2007 Heemstede will celebrate Linnaeus's 300th birthday.
  • De Naald: The 'needle' is a monument placed by D.J. van Lennep to honor Witte van Haemstede, the savior of Haarlem at a battle which on April 26th 1304 and to honor the wounded of another battle fought against the Spanish on July 8th, 1573. Both battles supposedly took place right at the corner of David Jacob van Lennep's house, where the monument stands.

[edit] Local government

Heemstede City Hall today
Heemstede City Hall today

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

  • VVD - 6 seats
  • CDA - 4 seats
  • PvdA - 4 seats
  • GroenLinks - 3 seats
  • Heemsteeds Burger Belang HBB - 2 seats
  • D66 - 1 seat
  • Nieuw Heemstede - 1 seat

[edit] Railway connections

The municipality of Heemstede contains the train station of Heemstede-Aerdenhout, on the connection between Haarlem and Leiden.

Railway Leiden Centraal to Haarlem (part of line 10), with stations (municipalities in bold) and official station abbreviations:

[edit] Notable people born in Heemstede

[edit] Image gallery

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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