Editing Purmerend (section)

==History==
{{see also|Lordship of Purmerend, Purmerland and Ilpendam}}

===Early history===
[[File:Slot Purmersteijn.jpg|thumb|left|Medieval drawing of the fortified castle Slot Purmersteijn]]
Purmerend was created out of the small [[fishing]] [[village]] Purmer, which was situated on the land between the Purmermeer (''Purmer Lake''), the Beemstermeer (''Beemster Lake'') and the Wormermeer (''Wormer Lake'') on the south bank of the river {{ill|Where (canal)|lt=De Weere|nl|Where (water)}}, which used to connect the former Purmermeer and Beemstermeer.

Purmerend was founded by a rich banker and landowner from [[Amsterdam]], [[Willem Eggert]]. [[Count]] [[William VI of Holland]] (''Willem VI van Holland'') gave him permission to build a fortified [[castle]], [[Slot Purmerstein]], in 1410. The castle was completed in 1413.<ref name="ref3">{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.waterlandziekenhuis.nl/frames.html?readform&page=http://www.waterlandziekenhuis.nl/paginas/4CC61895197C4C43C1256F6D002E9636 Waterlandziekenhuis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829005422/http://www.waterlandziekenhuis.nl/frames.html?readform |date=2005-08-29 }}</ref> This led to the foundation of the town of Purmerend. The castle was demolished in 1741, after it had fallen into decline.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.kasteleninnoordholland.nl/Kasteelbeschrijvingen/PurmersteinPurmerend.htm Kasteleninnoordholland.nl] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724154845/http://www.kasteleninnoordholland.nl/Kasteelbeschrijvingen/PurmersteinPurmerend.htm |date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref> 

In 1434 Purmerend was given [[city rights]] and in 1484 “[[Market town|marktrechten]]”, (the right to organise two “''jaarmarkten''” annual markets and a “''weekmarkt''” weekly market) by Count [[Jan van Egmond]].<ref name="ref3"/><ref name="ref2"/><ref>[http://www.purmerendsmuseum.nl/uk/museum_and_collection/history/ Museum of Purmerend] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211141343/http://www.purmerendsmuseum.nl/uk/museum_and_collection/history/ |date=February 11, 2012 }}</ref> This meant merchants from outside of Purmerend could sell in the market. Before 1484 only food for its own population could be sold.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.purmerendsmuseum.nl/nl/museum_en_collectie/purmerend_marktstad/ Purmerendmuseum.nl] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818185016/http://www.purmerendsmuseum.nl/nl/museum_en_collectie/purmerend_marktstad/ |date=August 18, 2007 }}</ref>

===17th century===
By 1500 Purmerend had grown considerably, as can be seen on maps from this period. The town had a rectangular shape and was crossed by two roads: one leading north–south, the other east–west. The draining of the Beemster Lake in 1612 and the Purmer Lake in 1622 resulted in a great loss in [[fishing]] grounds to Purmerend. However, the new and fertile soil favoured [[agriculture]] and [[livestock]] [[animal husbandry|breeding]], making Purmerend prosperous again. Purmerend now became the centre of an agricultural region, the [[produce]] of which was sold on the markets of Purmerend.

===19th century===
From 1819 till 1824 the [[Noordhollandsch Kanaal]] was constructed. It was dug along existing waterways like the Oude Vaart, which connected Purmerend to the [[IJ (Amsterdam)|IJ]] opposite Amsterdam, and along canals that connected Purmerend to Alkmaar. On 20 July 1821 the large {{lang|nl|Schutsluis Purmerend}} (Purmerend Lock) was completed just west of the city center.{{sfn|Rigter|1924|p=109}}

The Noordhollandsch Kanaal brought increased prosperity to Purmerend. In 1840 the company Brantjes en Comp, trading in wood, was founded. The Firma Dirk Bakker also started to import wood. Meanwhile, Firma Pont from Edam diverted her imports over Purmerend via the {{lang|nl|Where}} river. Ships from Norway, Sweden, Russia and America then started to make direct trips to Purmerend to bring wood. Sometimes 12 of these were present at the same time.{{sfn|Rigter|1924|p=110}}

The increased commerce and shipping led to the creation of an industry that catered for ships. In turn Purmerend merchants started to equip [[whaler]]s. In 1866 the establishment of a tow service with 7 tugboats by Gebroeders Goedkoop was one of the last highlights of this period. By about 1880 this boom period for Purmerend was ending, because the new [[North Sea Canal]] diverted traffic elsewhere.{{sfn|Rigter|1924|p=111}}

===20th century===
During [[World War II]] Purmerend was occupied by [[Wehrmacht|German forces]] on 14 May 1940. After five years of occupation, the city was liberated by Canadian and other allied forces on Wednesday 9 May 1945.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.nieuwsbank.nl/inp/2005/05/05/R058.htm Nieuwsbank.nl]</ref>

===21st century===
Purmerend was named Kermisstad van Nederland (''[[Funfair]] City of the Netherlands'') in 2003.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.plaatsen-gids.nl/Purmerend/ Plaatsen-gids.nl]</ref> The city is also well known for its cattle market, the so-called ''koemarkt'' (“cow market”), where cattle are sold and traded, mostly [[cows]] and [[sheep]]. ({{Coord|52.50823|4.94985}}) After the outbreak of many cattle diseases between 1995 and 2001 the cattle market was closed, but reinstated on a smaller scale in January 2002.<ref name="ref2">{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.purmerend.nl/eCache/INT/102.html Purmerend.nl] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090701052519/http://www.purmerend.nl/eCache/INT/102.html |date=July 1, 2009 }}</ref>

After 400 years in a location in central Purmerender, in 2008 the cattle market was moved to the "Baanstee Oost" industrial area, on the north side of Purmerend. This was done for various reasons, including reduced traffic congestion and more parking space in the city centre, as well as more room for auction grounds and ease of moving trucks at the new site.