Monnickendam

Monnickendam is a town in the Zaanstreek-Waterland region in the province of North Holland, Netherlands.



Understand
With about 10,000 inhabitants (2012), Monnickendam is a rather small place, not far from the huge city of Amsterdam. Its history however, is long and rich and today it is a monumental little place. Some 74 buildings have gained national heritage site status, many in the centre.

The town received city rights in 1355, providing it with a number of benefits and the village quickly grew larger. Large fires destroyed most of the city in the late 15th and early 16th century, the last one leaving no more than 80 house intact. Nevertheless, the town was rebuilt and flourished the rest of the 16th century, when the production of cheese and the smoking of fish brought economic wealth, together with the emerging shipyards. Since the current IJsselmeer was still a sea (Zuiderzee) then, and it was connected to Purmerend and Alkmaar through rivers and lakes, Monnickendam could be easily reached by large vessels. Trade developed between the village and the countries around the Baltic Sea. Many of the historic buildings today have their origin in those prosperous times.

Later, dams and dikes that were built to protect the region from the water, brought an end to Monnickendam's connection to outer sea and an area of economic downfall began. From those days on, like other towns in the region, cattle stock and the production of dairy became the town's primary activity. A canal was dug to allow so called "tugboats" to reach Amsterdam.



Get in
The main access road is the N247, which connects the village directly to Amsterdam in the south and passes along Broek in Waterland in between. To the north, that same N247 connects Monnickendam to Edam-Volendam and ultimately, close to Hoorn, to the A7/E22

Bus connections are ample, many of them passing by on their way from Amsterdam to other destinations in the area. Some of them only stop on the side of town, on the Bernardbrug only, but that's still an easy walking distance. Coming from Amsterdam, line 115 runs directly between Monnickendam and Amsterdam, and will bring you right up to the church. Alternatively:
 * Line 110, 118 and 210 pass by on their way from Amsterdam to Edam and back
 * Line 111 passes by on its way from Amsterdam to Marken and back
 * Lines 114 and 117 pass by on their way from Amsterdam to Hoorn and back

A great way to get to Monnickendam is by bike. There are many cycle routes that will take you there:
 * From Purmerend train station - Volendam Cycle Route (45 or 37 km).

Get around
This small town can be explored well on foot, but a bike is a good alternative.

Bikes can be hired at the bike shop near the Museum De Speeltoren or from Zag Zag (see below.)

Canoes can also be hired from Zag Zag (see below).

See
Just wandering or biking through town will quickly show the main merits of this place. Make sure not to miss:

Do

 * Exploring the surroundings if of course often done by bike, but the abundance of water in the region make boat trips a lovely activity too. They will not help you to get around Monnickendam itself so much, but from the town's harbour plenty of boat options are available for a trip through Waterland. If your budget allows, a traditional sailing boat is nice, but smaller electric boats are available too. Renting agencies are plentiful and the local tourist information office can he helpful in choosing the one best fitting your wishes. However, call ahead.

Buy
Foreign language newspapers and magazines are for sale in the bookshop on Kerkstraat heading away from the Bell Tower.

There is an ATM the opposite side of the water from De Wergh, by the bridge, marked "Geld opnemen".

Good local beers from the local microbreweries are for sale in the Zuid Delicatessen on Zuideinde 16.

Go next
Nearby destinations include:
 * Amsterdam
 * Broek in Waterland
 * Edam
 * Hoorn
 * Marken
 * Volendam