Editing Velsen

{{short description|Municipality in North Holland, Netherlands}}
{{For|the cargo ship|SS Velsen}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Velsen
| settlement_type         = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Velserbroek-xndr.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Aerial view of Velsen
| image_flag              = Velsen vlag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Velsen wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0453 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Velsen in a municipal map of North Holland
| map_caption             = Location in North Holland
| coordinates             = {{coord|52|28|N|4|37|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[North Holland]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of regions of the Netherlands|Region]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Amsterdam metropolitan area]]
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.velsen.nl/bestuur-organisatie/college-van-bw/waarnemend-burgemeester-a.e.-koopmanschap.htm
 |title = Waarnemend burgemeester A.E. Koopmanschap
 |trans-title = Interim Mayor A.E. Koopmanschap
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Velsen
 |access-date = 10 September 2015}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[Democrats 66|D66]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Frank Dales]]
<!-- 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|Velsen}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Velsen}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Velsen}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 1971EN
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 23 March 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 6
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Velsen}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Velsen}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Velsenaar
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 1950–1951, 1970–1992, 2070–2082
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 023, 0251, 0255
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.velsen.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Velsen, monumentaal pand aan de Torenstraat RM37085 foto11 2015-08-29 12.47.jpg|Velsen, monumental house|thumb|280px|right]]
'''Velsen''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈvɛlzə(n)|-|Nl-Velsen.ogg}}) is a municipality in the [[Netherlands]], in the province of [[North Holland]]. It is located on both sides of the [[North Sea Canal]].

On the north side of the North Sea Canal there is a major steel plant, [[Tata Steel]] [[IJmuiden]], formerly known as ''[[Koninklijke Hoogovens]]'' (the town of IJmuiden is actually located south of the canal). The headquarters of the [[Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij]] is located in [[IJmuiden]].

The Kennemerstrand beach on the south side of the canal is at the end of the Kennemerboulevard, which runs south of the Seaport Marina.

To the south is the beach of [[Bloemendaal aan Zee]]. In between is a [[nude beach]].

== Population centres ==
The municipality of Velsen consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts:
* on the north of the North Sea Canal:
** [[Velsen-Noord]]
* on the south of the North Sea Canal:
** [[Velsen-Zuid]], [[Driehuis]], [[IJmuiden]], [[Santpoort-Noord]], [[Santpoort-Zuid]] and [[Velserbroek]], and the parts Oosterbroek and Buitenhuizen of the recreation area [[Spaarnwoude]].

[[File:Gem-Velsen-OpenTopo.jpg|thumb|Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Velsen, June 2015]]

== Transport ==
In Velsen, there are the following connections across the North Sea Canal:
* A railway [[tunnel]] between the railway stations of Driehuis and [[Beverwijk]].
* Road tunnels, from north to south:
** Wijker Tunnel
** Velser Tunnel next to the railway tunnel.
* A ferry<ref>[http://www.connexxion.nl/website/subpage.asp?id=1064&command=#pont_velzen www.connexxion.nl]</ref>
* A road across the lock complex
* '''Railway stations''': [[Driehuis railway station|Driehuis]], [[Santpoort Noord railway station|Santpoort Noord]], [[Santpoort Zuid railway station|Santpoort Zuid]]

Also there used to be the Fast Flying Ferry to [[Amsterdam]].<ref>[http://www.connexxion.nl/website/subpage.asp?id=1102 www.connexxion.nl]</ref> There used to be a railway link between IJmuiden and Amsterdam, the [[IJmondlijn]] until 1999, when it was closed.

== Local government ==
[[File:Velsen.gif|thumb|right|240px|Velsen in 1867. The North Sea Canal is shown as planned and partially under construction.]]
The municipal council of Velsen consists of 33 seats, which are divided now (2022) as follows:
* [[Local Party Velsen|VL]] - 7 seats
* [[Democrats 66|D66V]] - 6 seats
* [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] - 4 seats
* [[GroenLinks|GL]] - 3 seats
* [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] - 3 seats
* [[Lively Health|LGV]] - 3 seats
* [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] - 2 seats
* [[Forza! IJmond]] - 2 seats
* [[Forum for Democracy]] - 2 seats
* [[ChristenUnie|CU]] - 1 seat

==History==
The ruins of a Roman naval base at Velsen discovered starting in 1945 are believed to be ancient [[Flevum]],<ref>[https://www.livius.org/pictures/netherlands/velsen-flevum/velsen-view/ Image of Roman Flevum]</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Boffey |first1=Daniel |title=Large Roman fort built by Caligula discovered near Amsterdam |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/roman-fort-built-by-caligula-discovered-velsen-near-amsterdam |access-date=26 December 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=December 26, 2021}}</ref> which is listed as Phleoum, Romanized to Phleum, in [[Ptolemy]] (2.10).{{dubious|date=June 2016}}<!-- Ptolemy places Flevum close to the mouth of the Eems and places Manarmanis harbour even further to west, which would place it under the waves if Flevum were Velsen. -->

==Twin towns==
Velsen is [[twin towns|twinned]] with 
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Bergisch Gladbach]], a city in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], Germany and
* {{flagicon|SRI}} [[Galle]], a port city on the southwestern tip of [[Sri Lanka]]
|}

== Notable people ==
[[File:Pim Fortuyn - May 4.jpg|140px|thumb|Pim Fortuyn, 2002]]
[[File:Lenneke ruiten-1438465427.jpg|140px|thumb|Lenneke Ruiten, 2015]]
* Saint [[Engelmund of Velsen]] (died ca.739) an English-born missionary to [[Frisia]]
* Lieutenant Colonel [[Thomas Colclough Watson]] VC (1867 in Velsen – 1917) a recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]]
* [[Jan van der Hoeve]] (1878 in Santpoort – 1952) a Dutch ophthalmologist who described [[Waardenburg syndrome]] in 1916
* [[Karel Niessen]] (1895 in Velsen – 1967) a theoretical physicist, studied [[quantum mechanics]]
* [[Joop Doderer]] (1921 in Velsen – 2005) a Dutch actor who played [[Swiebertje]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0230182/   IMDb Database] retrieved 11 December 2019</ref> 
* [[Annie Palmen]] (1926 in IJmuiden – 2000) a singer, participated in the [[1963 Eurovision Song Contest]]
* [[Hans de Boer]] (born 1937 in Velsen) a retired Dutch politician and former minister
* [[Cornelis Vreeswijk]] (1937 in IJmuiden – 1987) a Swedish singer-songwriter, poet and actor<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0904061/   IMDb Database] retrieved 12 December 2019</ref> 
* [[Pim Fortuyn]] (1948 in Driehuis – 2002) a controversial politician who was assassinated
* [[Jan Luiten van Zanden]] (born 1955 in IJmuiden) a Dutch economic historian and academic
* [[Peter Klashorst]] (born 1957 in Santpoort) a Dutch painter, sculptor and photographer
* [[Hans van de Ven]] (born 1958 in Velsen) an academic authority on the recent history of China
* [[Bernard Berkhout]] (born 1961 in Santpoort) a family doctor and a jazz clarinetist
* [[Franc Weerwind]] (born 1964) a Dutch politician, Mayor of Velsen 2009 to 2015
* [[Cees Krijnen]] (born 1969 in Velsen) a Dutch artist and a theatre actor<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8020762/   IMDb Database] retrieved 11 December 2019</ref>
* Marie-José van der Kolk (born 1974 in IJmuiden), stage name [[Loona (singer)|Loona]], a singer, songwriter and dancer
* [[Lenneke Ruiten]] (born 1977 in Velsen) a Dutch soprano

=== Sport ===
[[File:Olga commandeur.jpg|140px|thumb|Olga Commandeur, 2008]]
* [[Adriaan de Groot]] (1914 in Santpoort – 2006) a Dutch chess master and psychologist
* [[Gerrit Voorting]] (1923 in Velsen – 2015) a Dutch road cyclist, silver medallist at the [[1948 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Ilja Keizer]] (born 1944 in IJmuiden) a retired middle-distance runner, competed at the [[1968 Summer Olympics|1968]] and [[1972 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Piet Huyg]] (1951–2019) a Dutch footballer, 349 club caps with [[HFC Haarlem]]
* [[Eltjo Schutter]] (born 1953 in Driehuis) a retired Dutch decathlete and gynaecologist, competed at the [[1976 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Olga Commandeur]] (born 1958 in Velsen) track and field athlete, competed in the [[1984 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Ingrid Haringa]] (born 1964 in Velsen) a police officer, former speed skater and racing cyclist
* [[Stella de Heij]] (born 1968 in Driehuis) a former field hockey goalkeeper, team bronze medallist at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]]
* [[René Bot]] (born 1978 in Velsen) a retired footballer with 262 club caps with [[De Graafschap]]
* [[Ronny van Es]] (born 1978 in Velsen) a Dutch retired footballer with 380 club caps
* [[Linda Bolder]] (born 1988 in Velserbroek) a Dutch-born Israeli Olympic judoka
* [[Joël Veltman]] (born 1992 in IJmuiden) a Dutch professional footballer with 160 caps with [[AFC Ajax]] 
;and
* the Lords of [[Van Brederode]], from the 12thC. to the 17thC., a noble family from [[Brederode Castle]] near [[Santpoort]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:Landfront IJmuiden, W.N. 92, Panzersperre 5.JPG|Landfront IJmuiden
File:Santpoort - 2011 - panoramio (4).jpg|Santpoort - panoramio
File:Recreatiegebied Spaarnwoude, sculptuur van Frans de Wit zonder titel foto6 2015-08-29 13.09.jpg|Recreatiegebied Spaarnwoude
File:Zakkenroller (121419823).jpeg|Zakkenroller
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.velsen.nl Official website]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Velsen
 | North     = [[Beverwijk]]
 | Northeast = [[Zaanstad]]
 | Southeast = [[Haarlemmermeer]]
 | South     = [[Bloemendaal]], [[Haarlem]]
 | West      = ''[[North Sea]]''
}}
{{North Holland Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Velsen| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of North Holland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]