Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Volendam, Netherlands

Harbour of Volendam, the Netherlands. – By Hullie – Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Volendam, Netherlands

Volendam is a fishing town in North Holland in the Netherlands, in the municipality of Edam-Volendam. The town has about 22,000 inhabitants in November 2007 and is twinned with Coventry.

Volendam is located by Lake Markermeer north of the capital Amsterdam and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. It is known for its lovely harbor, the fishing trade, its authentic Dutch character, and its traditional costumes.

Volendam records many catholic residents, who stand out from other Dutch people not just because of their beliefs, but because of their typical costumes and their dialect.

Now let’s look at 10 Fascinating Facts about Volendam

1. Volendam Translates to ‘Full Dam’

At one time, Volendam served as the site of the harbor for the neighboring city of Edam, which was located at the mouth of the IJ bay.

The people of Edam constructed a shorter canal with their own distinct harbor to the Zuiderzee in 1357. As a result, the original harbor was no longer required; it was instead used for land reclamation.

There, farmers and nearby fishermen established themselves, creating the new settlement of Volendam, which is Dutch for ‘full dam.’

2. Renoir and Picasso Spent Time There in The Early Part of the 20th Century CE

A residential area in Volendam – By Peter K Burian – Wikipedia

Volendam evolved into a sort of artists’ retreat in the early 20th century Ce when both Renoir and Picasso spent time. The calming tranquil environment of the village presented a safe harbor for the creative brains of the early 20th Century CE.

Volendam is marked by the irregular appearances of what can only be defined as pompous hobbit houses, which pop up between unusually pointy but otherwise normal-sized buildings. It didn’t evolve with time, and hence artists found it a place worth living for.

3. Palingsound Originated in Volendam

The Cats, ‘Nederland Muziekland’- By Veronica Omroep Organisatie – Wikipedia

The distinctive music of Volendam, known as Palingsound (literally, “eel sound”), is based on the town’s history as a fishing community.

The Palingsound is a genre with a distinct sound. It is known for its typical (close) harmony singers and mellow compositions, wrapped in a blend of country music and Southern European folk music, frequently with obnoxiously loud orchestration.

The Cats, a local band, enjoyed enormous popularity in the Netherlands and other areas of Europe throughout the 1960s CE.

BZN was another well-known band from Volendam. They rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s CE.

The band specialized in this type of genre.1995 saw BZN perform a duet with 10-year-old Jan Smit, who quickly rose to fame on his own.

4. The Volendam New Year’s Fire Killed 14 People and Injured Many Individuals

The Volendam New Year’s fire was a café fire in Volendam during the 2000-2001 New year’s night. The fire began early on New Year’s Day 2001 and caused the death of 14 young people.

There were in all 241 people admitted to the hospital,200 of whom suffered serious burns. On New Year’s Eve, the cafes were packed with more than 350 young people between 13 and 22 years of age.

The fire was caused by a short blaze in the café De Hemel(‘heaven”) which was located on the top floor after a sparkler hit Christmas decorations that hung from the ceiling.

5. The Bulk of The Volendam Population Belongs to The Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church has a strong connection to the village’s rich history and past. Most of the residents in Volendam identify as catholic.

Volendam has historically produced a large number of bishops and missionaries. Today, a community park is a home to the magnificent Chapel of our Lady of the Water.

6. Fc Volendam Is a Football Club Based in Volendam

Volendam fans storming the field to celebrate promotion in 2022 – By Grunn050 – Wikipedia

Volendam-based FC Volendam is a football team that has frequently competed in the Dutch Eredivisie. They play in the top tier of Dutch football from the 2022-23 season following promotion.

The club was founded in Victoria on 1 June 1920 by local fishermen. By 1923, the club was renamed RKSV Volendam. It is simply called Volendam and its orange colors were established after having been red and black the previous years.

In 1977 FC Volendam emerged as an exclusively professional club following a split from its parent club. The club plays its home matches in the 6984-capacity Kras Stadion, where it has been based since 1975.

7. Volendam’s Traditional Costume Is One of The Most Popular Examples of Ancient Dutch Clothing

One of the most well-known examples of traditional Dutch costumes is that of Volendam (klederdracht). Some locals still wear them, and many more have started to do so more frequently. That is because now they are aware of how popular they are with tourists.

One of the most distinctive Dutch traditional costumes is the Volendam Women’s costume. It is frequently seen on postcards and in advertising for tourists. The costume has a high, pointed bonnet.

8. The Town Was a Shooting Location for Vikas Bahl’s 2014 Bollywood Film, Queen

Queen, a 2014 Bollywood movie starring Vikas Bahl, was filmed in Volendam. The actors opened Rani’s Gol Gappa, a restaurant serving Indian Cuisine.

 As Marcello, the proprietor was an Italian named Marco Candea. Mish Boyko played Oleksander (Sikander), Joseph Guitobh played Tim, and Jeffrey Ho played Taka alongside Marco. Kangana Ranaut, an Indian actress, portrayed the Queen.

9. Volendam Has a Variety of Museums

Many tourists visit Volendam on tour boats – By Peter K Burian – Wikipedia

One of the museums is the Volendam Museum which is a historical museum in the Dutch town of Volendam.

The Museum presents a permanent exhibition showing the traditional Volendam costume and traditional historical interiors. The Museum shows what it was like in Volendam between 1850 and 1950.

There is also the Paling sound Museum and eel smokehouse. This museum is dedicated to the well-known “Palingsound,” a kind of music that is unique to Volendam. Hence the name: Palingsound translates to “eel sound” from which many talented Dutch people emerged.

It also explains how to smoke eels the traditional way, so you can try some as well. Smoked eel is delicious.

10. There Is a Cheese Factory in Volendam

There is also a Cheese Factory. The cheese Factory is a cheese factory and Museum rolled into one.

It shows the evolution of cheese-making and how the authentic Volendam cheese was prepared. Naturally, these delicious, freshly made cheeses are available for tasting and purchase.