275px|thumb|Topographic map of Alblasserdam, Sept. 2014

Alblasserdam () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It covers an area of , of which is water, and has a population of as of . Alblasserdam is officially a part of the Drechtsteden region. A portion of the small village of Kinderdijk, which boasts the largest and most famous concentration of windmills in the Netherlands, is part of Alblasserdam.

Etymology

The name Alblasserdam is derived from its location near the creek Alblas where a dam was built. Inhabitants of Alblasserdam are called Alblasserdammers (singular: Alblasserdammer).

History

13th-19th century

The town of Alblasserdam was first mentioned in the chronicles of Melis Stoke in 1299, but the municipality wasn't formed until 1447. Before that, it was part of Oud-Alblas.

Because of its location on the Noord river, one of the busiest waterways in Western Europe, water has played a major role in Alblasserdam's history. The river was important for its development and makes it an advantageous location for industry. Alblasserdam's strategic location also brought it negative consequences. For example, between 1350 and 1821, the Alblasserwaard polder flooded 32 times.

20th century

During World War I, mayor Simon Berman On March 30, 2023 Jan Willem Boersma was installed as mayor of Alblasserdam, succeeding Jaap Paans, who had been the mayor of Alblasserdam since July 1, 2015.

Public transportation

  • Waterbus route 1:
  • Rotterdam Willemskade - Krimpen aan den IJssel Stormpolder - Ridderkerk De Schans - Alblasserdam Kade - Dordrecht Merwekade.

125px|thumb|Fop Smit

Notable people

  • Fop Smit (1777–1866) a Dutch naval architect, shipbuilder and shipowner; founded what became Smit International
  • Simon Berman (1861–1934) the Mayor of Alblasserdam, 1914-1923
  • Cornelis van Eesteren (1897-1988) a Dutch architect and urban planner
  • Koos Schouwenaar (1902–1941) a Dutch rower, competed at the 1928 Summer Olympics
  • Patrick van Kerckhoven (born 1970) a darkcore or gabber DJ and producer

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File:Wantij ship Waterbus Alblasserdam 2018.jpg|Wantij ship Waterbus Alblasserdam

File:Kinderdijk in a sunny day - panoramio.jpg|Kinderdijk

File:Pool side house, kinderdijk - panoramio.jpg|Pool side house, kinderdijk

File:Windpump at Molens Kinderdijk - panoramio.jpg|Windpump at Molens Kinderdijk

</gallery>

References

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