Editing Edam, Netherlands (section)

== The old city centre ==
The old town centre, within the borders of the old city walls, is nowadays protected by the government, both the main structures and architectural details. A number of notable buildings survive in good condition.

=== St. Nicolas church ===
Grote Kerk or St. Nicholaaskerk, of cathedral dimensions,  was probably built at the beginning of the 15th Century. In both 1602 and 1699 the church suffered extensive fires after [[lightning]] strikes to the tower. Consequently, when rebuilt (in 1701) the height of the tower was significantly reduced. St Nicholas church is one of the largest 3-ridged churches in Europe. Built on [[Foundation (engineering)|piles]], the weight of the church was an important consideration and the vaulted ceiling is a wooden copy of a stone ceiling. The church also contains many stained glass windows donated as gifts from neighbouring towns or by the flourishing Edam guilds (such as the guild of ships' carpenters) after the fire in 1602.

=== The town hall ===
Built in 1737 the town hall is on a somewhat larger scale than the rest of Edam. The entrance with its heavy double doors and [[sandstone]] surrounds are in the [[Louis XIV style]] and a wooden tower completes the picture. The town hall is still in active use for marriage ceremonies.

=== The Edam Museum ===
Opposite the Town hall, across the dam, is Edam's oldest brick house. This was built around 1530 as a private house and converted to a museum in 1895. The house represents typical Dutch construction of the period, and the internal layout is completely original. The house has a deeper kitchen with mezzanine living quarters above it. The kitchen leads to a floating cellar; a brick box room floating freely on [[ground water]]. According to folklore the cellar was built by a sea captain who missed the sea. However, it is more likely that cellar was built simply to keep the contents dry, while at the same time not requiring waterproof [[Foundation (engineering)|foundations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.edamsmuseum.nl/home/9|title = Edams Museum|date = 10 February 2019}}</ref>

=== Carillon ===
Records suggest that the Church of Our Dear Lady was present on the site since 1350 and its tower dates from the 15th and 16th centuries. Though the church was demolished in 1882 the late [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] Carillon tower survives. In 1972 the tower threatened to fall, but it was shored up with steel girders and subsequently completely restored. The bells, protruding from the open lantern, were made by Pieter van den Ghein in 1566 and still ring out a short melody every 15 minutes. This melody may be varied: for example typical [[Saint Nicholas]] songs ring out on December 5.