Ridderkerk () is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of in and covers an area of of which is covered by water.

The municipality of Ridderkerk also includes the following towns, villages and townships: Bolnes, Oostendam, Rijsoord and Slikkerveer.

Ridderkerk has a museum called De Oudheidkamer, covering the history of the town. The centre of Ridderkerk has a central square for events and there is a theater.

Public transport

;Waterbus:

  • At the Waterbus stop "de Schans" one can board the number 20 Waterbus to Dordrecht, Papendrecht, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, Alblasserdam, Krimpen aan den IJssel or Rotterdam.
  • At the Waterbus stop "de Schans" one can also take line 6 to: Krimpen aan de Lek and Kinderdijk.

;Buses:

  • The bus services are mostly operated by RET and they run to Rotterdam, Barendrecht and Dordrecht. There are two Arriva bus services to Zwijndrecht and Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht.

thumb|Topographic map of the municipality of Ridderkerk

Notable people

140px|thumb|Lee Towers, 2017

140px|thumb|Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, 2012

  • Leen van der Waal (1928–2020), politician, former Member of the European Parliament
  • Jan van der Graaf (1937–2022), church administrator
  • Rien Kaashoek (born 1937), mathematician and academic
  • Luuk Kroon (1942–2012), naval officer, Commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy 1995-1998
  • Bas Belder (born 1946), politician, former Member of the European Parliament
  • Lee Towers (born 1946), singer
  • Gert Oostindie (born 1955), historian and professor
  • Martin van Beek (1960–2018), politician, former senator
  • Robbert Dijkgraaf FRSE (born 1960), mathematical physicist and politician, string theorist and minister
  • Jos Wienen (born 1960), politician, former alderman of Ridderkerk, mayor of Haarlem
  • Johan Schot CBE (born 1961), historian working on science and technology policy
  • Cora van Nieuwenhuizen (born 1963), politician, former minister
  • Flora Lagerwerf-Vergunst (born 1964), judge and politician, former senator
  • Bart Jan Spruyt (born 1964), historian, journalist and conservative writer
  • Liesbeth Zegveld (born 1970), lawyer, legal expert and professor
  • André Flach (born 1976), Dutch politician

Sport

  • Gerrit Lagendijk (1941–2010), professional football player and agent
  • Wietske de Ruiter (born 1970), female former field hockey striker, team bronze medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics
  • Maurice Lim (born 1984), figure skating champion
  • Jordy Buijs (born 1988), footballer, over 250 club caps
  • Kevin Strootman (born 1990), footballer, nearly 300 club caps
  • Bart Deurloo (born 1991), male artistic gymnast
  • Tim Eekman (born 1991), professional footballer, almost 200 club caps
  • Mick van Buren (born 1992), footballer, 150 club caps

<gallery mode=packed>

File:Detail kaart Ridderkerk 1584.jpg|Ridderkerk in 1584

File:Ridderkerk kerksingel.jpg|Ridderkerk Kerksingel

File:Ridderkerk, Singelkerk Sint Joris RM32494 foto8 2015-08-01 14.35.jpg|Ridderkerk, church: Singelkerk Sint Joris

File:Ridderkerk kunstwerk motorrijder.jpg|Ridderkerk kunstwerk motorrijder

File:Ridderkerk kunstwerk ontmoetingspoort.jpg|Ridderkerk kunstwerk ontmoetingspoort

</gallery>

References

  • Official website

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