Monnickendam
Monnickendam () is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Waterland, and lies on the coast of the Markermeer, about southeast of Purmerend. It received city rights in 1355 and was damaged by the fires of 1500 and 1513. History. "Monnikendam" was also the name of a number of warships - mainly built at the port of that name - during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. The town was founded by monks, the name Monnickendam translates as 'Monk's dam'. Monnickendam was a separate municipality until 1991, when it was merged into Waterland . Although it is a small fishing village today, it was an important port in earlier centuries. It possesses a seventeenth-century weigh house, once used by merchants and port officials, and a bell tower that dates from 1591. The fourteenth century church of St. Nicholas, renovated in 1602, is particularly notable. The synagogue was built in 1894. Jewish families named Monnikendam trace their roots to this town. The town was the site of an artist's colony in the early twentieth century. Economy. Monnickendam hosts a number of industries, many related to its history and proximity to the Markermeer. Notably , the city is home to the Royal Hakvoort Shipyards that has operated for over a century, first catering to the local fishing industry by building vessels for their purpose, and later moving into luxury and pleasure crafts. Other notable organisations include Leguit + Roos, specialising in the renovation and restoration of historical buildings that are plenty in the Waterland area. In recent developments, the derelict business quarter of Galgeriet was demolished in order to make space for the development of new residential buildings. The Dutch government has subsidised this development with € 6,420,240, with the hope of creating 700 homes  as well as additional commercial spaces to both alleviate the ailing demography and provide an impetus for further economic growth. Demographics. In 2001, the town of Monnickendam had 9,546 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was , and contained 3,766 residences. The wider statistical area of Monnickendam has a population of around 9,680.