Alkmaar

In 2004, it was celebrated that Alkmaar has held city rights for 750 years. The city rights were granted on June 11, 1254, by William II of Holland. At that time, the city mainly served as a border fortress and base in the fight against the West Frisians. This celebration concluded on November 13 with the nationwide arrival of Saint Nicholas on Pakjesboot 12 in the cheese city.

In 1429, the Blood Miracle is said to have taken place in Alkmaar, during which blood stains miraculously appeared on a piece of textile. In 1492, the Revolt of the Cheese and Bread People took place in Alkmaar.

In 1573, Alkmaar was besieged by the Spaniards, who had camped in Oudorp. However, the people of Alkmaar kept them at bay with boiling tar and burning bundles of twigs; see also the Eighty Years' War. This event, which led to the well-known expression "Victory begins at Alkmaar," is still celebrated every year on October 8 during the Alkmaars Ontzet.

The North Holland Canal, which opened in 1824, was constructed precisely around Alkmaar. Due to the growth of Alkmaar, it now runs right through it. In 1865 and 1867, the infrastructure was further improved with the opening of the railway lines between Alkmaar-Den Helder and Alkmaar-Uitgeest-Haarlem, respectively.

In the 20th century, new residential neighborhoods emerged around Alkmaar, and in 1972, Oudorp, Koedijk-Zuid, and Sint Pancras-Zuid were added to the territory of Alkmaar. The city also began to play an increasingly important role in accommodating the population surplus in the Randstad and those looking for homes due to the renovation of old urban neighborhoods, especially in Amsterdam. Alkmaar obtained growth core status and was therefore designated as one of the first "overflow cities" at that time. A consequence of this is the development of the Huiswaard district. Currently, Alkmaar is the 3rd city (based on population) in the province of North Holland.

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