Editing Alblasserdam

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Alblasserdam
| settlement_type         = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Alblasserdam kerk.jpg
| image_alt               = Church in background white pedestrian bridge in foreground
| image_caption           = Church in Alblasserdam
| image_flag              = Alblasserdam vlag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = Coat of arms in flag, the flag's top half is yellow, the bottom half red
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Alblasserdam.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = Lion rampant, top half yellow on red background, bottom half red on yellow background
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0482 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Alblasserdam in a municipal map of South Holland
| map_caption             = Location in South Holland
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[South Holland]]
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.alblasserdam.nl/alblasserdam?waxtrapp=whmurDsHapObkOnMGIRC
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130624173830/http://www.alblasserdam.nl/alblasserdam?waxtrapp=whmurDsHapObkOnMGIRC
 |url-status    = dead
 |archive-date = 24 June 2013
 |title       = Portefeuilleverdeling
 |trans-title = Task distribution
 |language    = nl
 |author      = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |work        = Bestuur en Organisatie
 |publisher   = Gemeente Alblasserdam
 |access-date  = 15 June 2013
}}
</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = Jaap Paans
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Alblasserdam}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Alblasserdam}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Alblasserdam}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |title=Postcodetool for 2951 ED 
 |language=nl 
 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland 
 |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis 
 |access-date=16 June 2013 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool 
 |archive-date=21 September 2013 
}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 4
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Alblasserdam}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Alblasserdam}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Alblasserdammer
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 2950–2954
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 078
| twin1                   = 
| twin1_country           = 
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.alblasserdam.nl}}
| footnotes               =
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|52|12.6|N|4|40|0|E|region:NL|display=inline, title}}
}}
[[File:gem-Alblasserdam-OpenTopo.jpg|275px|thumb|''Topographic map of Alblasserdam, Sept. 2014'']]
'''Alblasserdam''' ({{IPA|nl|ɑlˌblɑsərˈdɑm|lang|Nl-Alblasserdam.ogg}}) is a town and municipality in the western [[Netherlands]], in the province of [[South Holland]]. It covers an area of {{convert|{{Dutch municipality total area|Alblasserdam}}|km2|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|{{Dutch municipality water area|Alblasserdam}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water, and has a population of {{formatnum:{{Dutch municipality population|Alblasserdam}}}} as of {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}}. Alblasserdam is officially a part of the [[Drechtsteden]] region. A portion of the small village of [[Kinderdijk]], which boasts the largest and most famous concentration of windmills in the [[Netherlands]], is part of Alblasserdam.

==Etymology==
The name ''Alblasserdam'' is derived from its location near the creek [[Alblas]] where a dam was built. Inhabitants of Alblasserdam are called ''Alblasserdammers'' (singular: ''Alblasserdammer'').

==History==

=== 13th-19th century ===
The town of Alblasserdam was first mentioned in the chronicles of Melis Stoke in 1299, but the municipality wasn't formed until 1447. Before that, it was part of [[Oud-Alblas]].

Because of its location on the [[Noord (river)|Noord]] river, one of the busiest waterways in Western Europe, water has played a major role in Alblasserdam's history. The river was important for its development and makes it an advantageous location for industry. Alblasserdam's strategic location also brought it negative consequences. For example, between 1350 and 1821, the [[Alblasserwaard]] [[polder]] flooded 32 times.

===20th century===
During [[World War I]], mayor [[Simon Berman]]<ref name=geinstalleerd/> and the local government of Alblasserdam kept busy with 60 [[Belgian people|Belgian]] refugees within the municipal boundaries.<ref name=opstellen/> An ad hoc municipal fund for the unemployed was established.<ref name=opstellen/>

Alblasserdam suffered during the [[Rotterdam Blitz|German raid on Rotterdam]] on 11 May 1940, when its town centre was severely damaged. The historic Kerkstraat (Church Street) and the characteristic dike construction along the river, however, were spared. 
The invaders placed [[Netherlands in World War II|the Netherlands under German occupation]].

The [[North Sea flood of 1953]] also affected a portion of Alblasserdam. The [[Delta Works]] program included reinforcements to the dikes and improvement of the locks. Therefore, water no longer poses a direct danger to Alblasserdam. 
In 1987, the custom yacht builder [[Oceanco]] started building yachts in the 80 metre+ range.

In 1999 the town celebrated its 700th anniversary.

===21st century===
Bert Blase served as mayor from 1999 to 2014, when he was appointed as mayor of [[Vlaardingen]]. Subsequently, the mayor of [[Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht]], Jan Heijkoop, also acted as mayor Alblasserdam.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.alblasserdam.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/college-van-b-w|title=College van burgemeester en wethouders - Bestuur en Organisatie Alblasserdam}}</ref> On March 30, 2023 Jan Willem Boersma was installed as mayor of Alblasserdam, succeeding Jaap Paans, who had been the mayor of Alblasserdam since July 1, 2015.

==Public transportation==
*Waterbus route 1:
**[[Rotterdam]] Willemskade - [[Krimpen aan den IJssel]] Stormpolder - [[Ridderkerk]] De Schans - Alblasserdam Kade - [[Dordrecht]] Merwekade.

[[File:Fop Smit.jpg|125px|thumb|Fop Smit]]
== Notable people ==
* [[Fop Smit]] (1777–1866) a Dutch naval architect, shipbuilder and shipowner; founded what became [[Smit International]] 
* [[Simon Berman]] (1861–1934) the Mayor of Alblasserdam, 1914-1923
* [[Cornelis van Eesteren]] (1897-1988) a Dutch architect and urban planner
* [[Koos Schouwenaar]] (1902–1941) a Dutch rower, competed at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]] 
* [[Patrick van Kerckhoven]] (born 1970) a [[darkcore]] or [[gabber]] DJ and producer

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:Wantij ship Waterbus Alblasserdam 2018.jpg|Wantij ship Waterbus Alblasserdam
File:Kinderdijk in a sunny day - panoramio.jpg|Kinderdijk
File:Pool side house, kinderdijk - panoramio.jpg|Pool side house, kinderdijk
File:Windpump at Molens Kinderdijk - panoramio.jpg|Windpump at Molens Kinderdijk
</gallery>
== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name=geinstalleerd>{{Cite news|title=Geinstalleerd|trans-title=Installed|quote=Woensdag is de edelachtb. heer S. Berman als burgemeester van Alblasserdam geïnstalleerd. Door den waarnemenden burgemeester en oudste raadslid werden hartelijke woorden gesproken, waarvoor de burgemeester zijn vriendelijken en warmen dank bracht, terwijl hij dén wensch uitsprak, dat even spoedig een geschikte woning gevonden worde, opdat hij als burgervader in Zijne gemeente kan wonen. Van de gelegenheid tot receptie werd druk gebruik gemaakt. Alhoewel de afhaling niet feestelijk geschiedde, was van verscheidene gebouwen toch de driekleur uitgestoken.|work=[[Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant]]|date=1914-06-11|volume=36|number=5952}}</ref>

<ref name=opstellen>{{Cite book|first=Pieter|last=Boersma|title=Alblasserdam's heden en verleden, in honderd opstellen beschreven|trans-title=Alblasserdam's present and past, described in hundred essays|publisher=[[Wolters Kluwer|Noorduyn]]|location=[[Gorinchem]]|year=1939|quote=Kort na de in functie treding van Burgemeester S. Berman, brak [[World War I|de wereldoorlog]] uit. Vele nieuwe vraagstukken ontstonden daardoor en het Gemeentebestuur kwam voor uitzonderlijke moeilijkheden te staan. Zoo waren een 60-tal [[Belgium|Belgische]] vluchtelingen ingekwartierd en in verband met de tijdsomstandigheden dorst Burgemeester Berman het aan om des Zondags de herbergen te sluiten. Het was dezen Burgemeester overigens ernst met het eerbiedigen van Gods heilige ordinantiën. Trouw woonde hij de godsdienstoefeningen der Ned. Herv. Kerk bij, aldus der burgerij het goede voorbeeld gevende. Er werd tijdelijk een gemeentelijk werkloozenfonds gesticht.}}</ref>

}}

== External links ==
*{{commonscat-inline}}
*{{Official website|http://www.alblasserdam.nl }}

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Alblasserdam
|Northeast = [[Molenlanden]]
|Southeast = [[Papendrecht]]
|Southwest = [[Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht]] / ''[[Noord (river)|Noord]]''
|West      = [[Ridderkerk]] / ''[[Noord (river)|Noord]]''
}}

{{South Holland Province}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Alblasserdam| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Populated places in South Holland]]
[[Category:Alblasserwaard]]
[[Category:Drechtsteden]]