Spijkenisse

Spijkenisse (Dutch pronunciation: [spɛi̯kəˈnɪsə] (listen)) is a city in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. Following an administrative reform in 2015, it is part of the municipality of Nissewaard; it had a population of 72,500. It covered an area of 30.27 km2 (11.69 sq mi) of which 4.15 km2 (1.60 sq mi) was water. It is part of the Greater Rotterdam area.

Spijkenisse
City
City centre of Spijkenisse
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 51°51′N 4°20′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
MunicipalityNissewaard
Area
 • Total30.27 km2 (11.69 sq mi)
 • Land26.12 km2 (10.08 sq mi)
 • Water4.15 km2 (1.60 sq mi)
Elevation−1 m (−3 ft)
Population
 • Total72,500
Demonym(s)Spijkenissenaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
3200–3209
Area code0181
Websitewww.nissewaard.nl

History
Topographic map of Spijkenisse, as 2014

Archaeological research has shown that the area around Spijkenisse has been inhabited for many thousands of years. The people then depended on fishing on the Meuse and hunting in the swamps.

The oldest reference to the name Spickenisse is from a source from 1231. This name comes from the words spieke (spit) and nesse (nose) meaning "pointy nose" in reference to a spit of land protruding along the river.[3]

Spijkenisse formed as a farming and fishing village at a creek along the Oude Maas. Initially it belonged to the Lord of Putten (whose coat of arms is now used by the city) but in 1459 the fiefdom Putten, including Spijkenisse, was transferred to Philip III, Duke of Burgundy. In 1581, after the Dutch declaration of independence, the area came under the control of the States of Holland and West Frisia.[4]

In the 16th century the village suffered several floods. In the 17th and 18th centuries it endured destructive fires which hampered its economic growth. In the 20th century, it heavily urbanised as part of the Greater Rotterdam area. Nowadays, Spijkenisse also includes the community of Hekelingen, as well as Den Hoek and Beerenplaat.

Public transportation

Spijkenisse has a connection to the city of Rotterdam by Rotterdam Metro lines C and D, through Spijkenisse Centrum, Heemraadlaan, and De Akkers stations. The metro is operated by RET.

There are also several bus services operated by EBS and 1 line of Connexxion to Ouddorp.

Districts
  • De Akkers
  • Centrum
  • De Elementen
  • De Hoek
  • Gildenwijk
  • Groenewoud
  • Hoogwerf
  • Maaswijk
  • Schenkel
  • Schiekamp
  • Sterrenkwartier
  • Vierambachten
  • Vogelenzang
  • Vriesland
  • Waterland

Health
  • Spijkenisse Medisch Centrum (former Ruwaard van Putten hospital)

Schools

Primary schools
Roman Catholic Protestant Public Calvinist
De Akkers Het Anker Annie MG Schmidt De Morgenster
De Klinker Het Baken De Vuurvogel
De Maasoever De Bron
Monseigneur Bekkersschool De Duif De Vogelenzang
De Wegwijzer De Hoeksteen De Krullevaar
Paus Johannes De Marimba De Meander(tot 2012)
De Rank De Montessori
De Schakel Jan Campert
De Piramide
De Toermalijn
De Veenvlinder

Secondary school
Roman Catholic Christian Public
Wereld MAVO Charles de Foucauld PENTA college CSG Scala Molenwatering OSG My College
PENTA College CSG Scala Rietvelden OSG De Ring van Putten
PENTA college CSG De Oude Maas

Notable residents
Emiel Mellaard, 1987
Sport

International relations

Spijkenisse is twinned with the following cities:

  • The medieval village church is the oldest building in Spijkenisse.
  • Windmill "Nooitgedacht" in Spijkenisse.
  • Mannetjes op de krom by Bert Kiewiet
  • The library "Bookmountain"
  • The Rokade
  • Ice in the harbour of spijkenisse
  • The Maasboulevard
  • Sculpture "droomboot" (dream boat)
  • Outfall sluice

References
  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  2. "Postcodetool for 3201EL". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  3. "Gemeente Spijkenisse". Spijkenisse.nl. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. Spijkenisse Online - geschiedenis Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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