Edam

Visit to Edam, find the Attractions in Edam

The Edam Museum
Although not the oldest monument, the Raadhuis (Town Hall) located on the Dam Square 1, is well worth a mention. According to a commemorative stone in the hall, it was built by Jacob Jongh, the master in-house carpenter. On 18 May 1737, the first stone was laid by Mr Roelof Boot. The council chamber, the former alderman’s room, survives largely in its original state. The wallpaper, painted in 1738 by W. Rave, pictures the crowning of Saul and Solomon’s First Right. The building is home to Edam’s tourist office. The top floor also houses an annexe of the Edam Museum.

Edams Museum
The main part of the museum can be found on the Dam Square, located in Edam’s oldest stone house, dating from approximately 1540. In 1895 the house was restored and furnished as a museum. A remarkable point of interest in the Edam museum is part of the house itself, the famous floating cellar. Legend has it, it was apparently the sailor who had the house built, who was the innovator of this buoyant basement.

The Great Church
The Great Church in EdamThe Great Church, dedicated to St. Nicolas, patron saint of master mariners and sailors, was built at the beginning of the 15th century as a cruciform church, with a nave and small side aisles. At the end of the 15th century, these side aisles were widened, to form a hall church. At the beginning of the 16th century, the original small choir was demolished, to make way for the current extended choir. A town library (Librije) was added a short time after this. As with so many churches, this one was also scourged by fire. This happened in 1602 and restoration began immediately after the disaster.

On this occasion, the church received new fenestration, including a total of 31 donated, beautiful stained-glass windows to many of the elevations, comparable to the famous windows of Gouda. The organ was constructed and installed in 1662-1663 by Barent Smit, organist and organ builder from Hoorn. On 25 April 1979, the Great Church was once again officially consecrated, after further restoration work, started in 1962, was finally completed.

The Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church in Edam is located in the centre of the town, on the ‘dark side’ of the Voorhaven. Originally located on this site was the Gasthuis van de Heilige Geest (Hospital of the Holy Spirit), for the care of the poor. The hospital was founded around 1400 by Floris van Alcemade. Later, possibly after the reformation, the building became the town hall. In 1738 the town completed the new town hall, started a year earlier. The location of this new building was the Dam Square, itself constructed in 1624. The site of the old town hall was then given to the Lutheran congregation, who erected a new church on this spot in 1739-1740. It was a year later, in 1741, before the church was brought into use. This hall church, built between houses, has a stately façade, with three large, round arch windows. The church organ was built by the renowned organ builder Bäts from Utrecht.

Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicolas
Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicolas The Roman Catholic Church of St. Nicolas is also located on the Voorhaven. This so called Public Works’ church, commissioned by the Department of Public Works in 1824/1825, was further extended between 1846/1857, to become the church building you see today, with three naves. The central nave, transept and priest’s choir are covered with a barrel vault, the side aisles with cross vaults; all in white plasterwork.

The Proveniershofje and the Orphanage
The Proveniershofje and the OrphanageThe Proveniershofje is a rest house dating from 1555 and located opposite the Great Church. Also located here before 1555 were the houses of the Beguines. The Beguines took on the responsibility for educating the young of Edam and nursing the sick. A few years ago, the Beguine houses were comprehensively renovated and are now home to some of Edam’s more senior citizens. Over 400 years ago, in 1558, the priest Matthias Tynicy Matthiasz, who is commemorated in the very name of the street: the Matthijs Tinxgracht, founded the orphanage located on the same street as the Great Church. A building where, during the eighties, the local social services had their base.

The way the building looked before it was altered at the end of 1700 is hardly recognisable today. However, a sign of its past can still be seen in the form of the old coloured stone tablet, framed by a fake Greek temple, which still adorns the façade. This pictures orphaned boys playing an old fashioned game known as ‘kolf’. Above the small gate on the side of the Matthijs Tinxgracht, two orphans are depicted in attire, which can still sometimes be seen in some Frisian towns.

Carillon Tower
Carillon TowerThe Carillon Tower is a remnant of the Church of Our Dear Lady. Built in the 15th century, it was demolished in 1883. The Small Church was a late gothic building, with two equally high naves. The building suffered so much from neglect, that only the part leaning against the tower could be conserved. These days it houses the Association for the Conservation of the IJsselmeer.

The Kwakel Bridge
The Kwakel Bridge The Kwakel bridge at the end of the Schepenmakersdijk, a favourite subject for painters and photographers alike, is one of the very few remaining balance bridges, with only one boom. A yoke splits the hanging chain into two, to which the bascule is fixed. This bridge is very old indeed and was already featured on the famous Map of Edam by Johan Blaeu.

The Mill
The Mill The Mill is an octagonal ‘binnenkruier’ (a windmill of which the inside works are moveable), located on the Broekgouw, with a sail span of 22 meter, and was probably founded in the 17th century. The Mill’s cladding and roof are thatched. In days gone by, the mill was used to drain the South polder.
As it is impossible to describe everything in a nutshell, a walk through Edam is highly recommended. Although difficult to describe in words, here you will discover that even in the hubbub of the present day, the atmosphere of the old has been uniquely and carefully preserved.

Grote Bult (Big Hunch)
Big Hunch (Grote Bult)This is one of the oldest parts of town, even though one can hardly recognise it from the houses and buildings. Also here, you will find the so-called Dienaarssluisje (little Servant’s Lock).
On the right side of the lock is the 15th century shipyard, at which even today historic ships are restored to their former splendour.

Oldest wooden house
Oldest Wooden HouseAt the corner of the Eilandsgracht (Island’s Canal) and the Breestraat (Broad Street) stands the oldest wooden house of Edam.
It is remarkable that this house has survived the many fires that have raged through Edam during the centuries. It is all the more remarkable, because in order to prevent the fires the city council had proclaimed only to build in stone. Clearly, even these stringent rules could not deter this wooden house to survive until now.

In the Netherlands, the house is a very rare example of gothic wood building and is presumed to have been built around 1530 AD. Indicative for this presumption is the awning, decorated with a gothic arcade and rosettes.
The house is totally built from wood, apart from the latter day extension at the rear, which is constructed in stone. The façade, with its up and downwards opening shutters, are still original. The door, with its beautiful lock is presumably also from the house’s oldest days. The house has been restored around 1980.

Gallery/Museum Artimare
Gallery/Museum ArtimareThis building was designed by C.P. Peters, rijksbouwmeester (State Building Master). Peters was also responsible for building the main post office in Amsterdam. He used to be a student of P.J.H. Cuypers, the architect of the Rijksmusem (State Museum) and the Central Station, both in Amsterdam. And the similarity between these buildings is easily spotted.

The building has neo-renaissance features, light yellow sandstone girders and a straight tower, which especially characterises the building.
Artimare has a special attraction: the mermaid of Edam. This Seawaif has for more than 600 years played her part in the Dutch cultural history and was renowned far beyond the borders of the Netherlands. Through the centuries, lots of respectable gentlemen have written about her, among them historians, physicians, clergy, teachers, physicists and philosophers. In the year 1403, she was finally captured by two milk maids and was brought to Edam. Later, she was claimed by the city of Haarlem.

The spectacular and lively representation of this medieval saga makes a visit more than worthwhile.

Fort Edam (Fortress Edam)
Fortress Edam Fort Edam has been built at the beginning of the 20th century as the most north-easterly part of the Stelling van Amsterdam (i.e. the ring of fortifications around Amsterdam) and has since 1996 been listed as Unesco World Heritage. The grounds around the fortress, featuring an original store house and keeper’s house, the surrounding area (the lines of fire) and the surrounding polders have hardly been touched. For a long time, the fortress’ grounds remained inaccessible. That is the reason why the grounds developed into a unique terrain with a huge cultural, historical and natural value. Website Fort Edam

Gemeenlandshuis (Common Lands House)
Common Lands House at the end of Schepenmakersdijk (Shipbuilders’ Dijk), behind the wooden fence, you will see the Gemeenlandshuis, built in 1785. The Gemeenlandshuis consists of three buildings, grouped around a court. The court is rich in colour with its paths of yellow and purple cobble stones, the bright red geraniums and the statues on pedestals, representing the four seasons.