Did you know Assendelft is one of the oldest settlements in North Holland? Signs of settlement here date back to 500 BC. Today, we explore this fascinating town.
Assendelft is now part of the municipality of Zaanstad. It wasn’t always that way. Until 1974, Assendelft was its own municipality. When Zaanstad formed, Assendelft didn’t want to join. It even petitioned to form a new municipality with Krommenie called Assendelft-Krommenie.
The North Sea Canal connects Assendelft to Amsterdam and Velsen. Assendelft sits about 13 km northeast of Haarlem. It is also about 15 km south of Alkmaar. The statistical district of Assendelft holds around 22500 people.
The earliest written form of Assendelft was “Ascmannedilf” in 1063. The name comes from old Germanic words. “Ascomanni” meant Norsemen. “Dilf” likely meant “dug by”. So, Assendelft might mean “dug by the Norsemen.”
Assendelft boasts the longest village street in the Netherlands named Dorpsstraat. It runs 7.2 kilometers from the North Sea Canal to Krommenie. Only Valthermond has a longer village street at 8.3 kilometers. However, Valthermond’s street is called Zuiderdiep, not Dorpsstraat.
In the Middle Ages, the Van Assendelft family played a vital role. They were lords of the schoutambacht. They lived in the castle.
Assendelft residents have some interesting nicknames. They are called “Gortzakken” and “Spanjolen”. “Spanjolen” comes from their pro-Spanish stance during the Eighty Years’ War. Other Zaan towns favored the Geuzen.
Assendelft also has a unique claim to fame with its local chicken breed. It’s called the Assendelfter. This ancient pencilled breed relates to the pencilled Hamburg chicken.
Assendelft’s water tower dates back to 1885. It is the oldest existing water tower in North Holland. Though it’s no longer a water tower. One feature is its straight, tube-shaped body. It once held a cast-iron reservoir at the top. In 1922, a concrete water reservoir replaced the original. The exterior received an updated look. The water tower is now privately owned. It has been fully restored. It now houses office space and catering facilities.
Two notable churches stand in Assendelft. The Roman Catholic Sint-Odulphuskerk is at Dorpsstraat 572. The Reformed Church of Assendelft is at Dorpsstraat 364. It belongs to the Protestant community.
The area around Assendelft once played a military role. It formed part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam. Fort Zuidwijkermeer and three gunpowder houses were built on the Noorder IJ- and Zeedijk. Only two gunpowder houses remain. Also, a defense dike with dams protected the area with controlled flooding. Two roads still reflect this military history: Genieweg and Communicatieweg.
Assendelft offers a glimpse into the past. From its ancient roots to its unique culture, it’s a place of intriguing stories. Take a moment to appreciate the history woven into the fabric of Assendelft.