Spijkenisse

Spijkenisse
Town and former municipality
Square in Spijkenisse
Flag Coat of arms
Location in South Holland
Coordinates:
Country	Netherlands
Province	South Holland
Municipality	Nissewaard
Area
• Total	30.27 km2 (11.69 sq mi)
• Land	26.12 km2 (10.08 sq mi)
• Water	4.15 km2 (1.60 sq mi)
Elevation	−1 m (−3 ft)
Population (May 2014)
• Total	72,545
• Density	2,777/km2 (7,190/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Spijkenissenaar
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	3200–3209
Area code	0181
Website	www.spijkenisse.nl

Dutch Topographic map of Spijkenisse (place), as of Sept. 2014

Spijkenisse (Dutch pronunciation: [spɛi̯kəˈnɪsə]) is a town and former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. After an administrative reform in 2015 it is part of the municipality of Nissewaard.

The former municipality had a population of 72,545 in 2014, and 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.

The former municipality also included the communities of Hekelingen, Den Hoek and Beerenplaat.

History

Archeological 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 (landform)) and nesse (nose) meaning "pointy nose" in reference to a spit of land protruding along the river.

Spijkenisse formed as a farmers 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 the area came under the control of the Count of Holland.

In the 16th century the village suffered several floods. In the 17th and 18th centuries it endured destructive fires which hampered its economic growth.

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 Connexxion.

Districts

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

Health

• Spijkenisse Medisch Centrum (former Ruward van Putten ziekenhuis)

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
	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 De Eilanden
	Penta College CSG Scala Rietvelden	OSG De Ring van Putten
	PENTA college CSG De Oude Maas

Notable residents

• Afrojack (Nick van de Wall) (born 1987), DJ and producer
• Jan Campert (1902-1943), poet and writer
• Vato Gonzalez (Björn Franken) (born 1983), DJ and producer
• Medy van der Laan (born 1968), politician
• Emiel Mellaard (born 1966), athlete
• Sied van Riel (born 1978), DJ and producer
• Spinvis (Erik de Jong) (born 1961), artist

International relations

Spijkenisse is twinned with the following cities:

• Thetford (Groot-Brittannië) since1962
• Hürth (Duitsland) since1966

Gallery

• 

  Historic map of Spijkenisse

• 

  The medieval village church is the oldest building in Spijkenisse.

• 

  nl in Spijkenisse.

• 

  Mannetjes op de krom by nl

• 

  The library "Bookmountain"

• 

  De Rokade

• 

  Maasboulevard

External links

• Official website