Heemstede

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Heemstede

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imagesize = 225px
image_caption = Heemstede train station

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flag_size = 120x100px
image_shield = Heemstede wapen.pngshield_size = 120x100px


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = North Holland
leader_name = T. van der Stroom-van Ewijk
leader_party = VVD
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 9.64
area_land_km2 = 9.20
area_water_km2 = 0.44
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 25555
population_density_km2 = 2778
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 52.35
latNS = N
longd = 4.62
longEW = E
website = [http://www.heemstede.nl www.heemstede.nl]

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

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.

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.

Local government

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

Railway connections

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

Notable people born in Heemstede

* Roepie Kruize (1925-1992) – field hockey player and coach
* Pieter Kooijmans (1933) – jurist and diplomat
* Joost Swarte (1947) – comic artist and graphical designer
* Johan Neeskens (1951) – football (soccer) player and manager
* Astrid Schulz (1939) – model and actress
* Annemieke Fokke (1967) – field hockey player
* Inge Schrama (1985) – actress

Image gallery

References

* Statistics are taken from the [http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gemeentes/gem210nh.htm SDU Staatscourant]

External links

* [http://www.plattegronden.nl/heemstede/index.html A map of Heemstede]