Castricum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Castricum
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Street in Castricum
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.svg)
Location in North Holland
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | North Holland | ||
| Government | |||
| • Body | Municipal council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 60.37 km2 (23.31 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 49.67 km2 (19.18 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 10.70 km2 (4.13 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | ||
| Population
(May 2014)
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| • Total | 34,263 | ||
| • Density | 690/km2 (1,800/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Castricummer | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
1489, 1900–1906, 1920–1921
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| Area code | 0251 | ||
Castricum is a town and a municipality (like a local government area) in the Netherlands. It's located in the province of North Holland.
Castricum is a popular place for tourists. Many people visit its beautiful beach and the nearby dune landscape. You can also find the Lake of Alkmaar-Uitgeest close by, which is great for activities like sailing and windsurfing.
Contents
History of Castricum
Castricum has an interesting past. A famous event happened here on October 6, 1799. A large battle took place, known as the Battle of Castricum. In this battle, a combined army from France and the Netherlands defeated an army from Britain and Russia.
Later, on January 1, 2002, two nearby municipalities, Akersloot and Limmen, joined with Castricum. This made the municipality of Castricum larger.
Towns and Villages in Castricum
The municipality of Castricum includes several towns, villages, and districts. These are:
- Castricum
- Akersloot
- Bakkum
- De Woude
- Limmen
Getting Around Castricum
The town of Castricum has its own train station, called Castricum railway station. From here, you can easily travel to other cities. For example, a train ride to Amsterdam takes about 28 minutes.
Castricum aan Zee: The Seaside Resort
Castricum aan Zee is the part of Castricum right on the North Sea coast. It used to be known as Bakkum aan Zee. This area is mostly filled with holiday homes, camping sites, and a few houses.
Duincamping Bakkum
One of the most famous spots here is Duincamping Bakkum. It's the oldest campsite in the Netherlands! The land where the dunes are was once owned by Sophie, Princess of Albania. In 1906, some nature lovers asked her if they could camp there. She said yes, and over time, it grew into a permanent campsite.
Atlantic Wall Bunkers
During World War II, in 1942, a large defense system called the Atlantic Wall was built. This wall was meant to protect against an invasion by Allied forces. As part of this, 104 bunkers were built in the dunes of Castricum. Many of these bunkers have been taken down, but some are still hidden under the sand. In fact, a previously unknown bunker was discovered buried in the sand in 2020!
Famous People from Castricum
Many interesting people have connections to Castricum and its surrounding villages.
- Willem Jacobszoon Coster (1590 in Akersloot – 1640) was a Dutch colonial governor.
- John Ton (1826 in Akersloot – 1896) was an American abolitionist. He helped people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad in Illinois.
- Willem Schermerhorn (1894 in Akersloot – 1977) was an important Dutch politician. He served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1945 to 1946.
- Theo van den Boogaard (born 1948 in Castricum) is a well-known Dutch cartoonist.
- Henk Jaap Beentje (born 1951 in Bakkum) is a Dutch botanist who works at the famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- Sefa Jeroen Vlaarkamp (born 2000 in Alkmaar) is a Dutch musician known for his "frenchcore" music.
Sports Stars
Castricum has also produced talented athletes:
- Arjan de Zeeuw (born 1970 in Castricum) is a retired Dutch football player.
- Kees Luijckx (born 1986 in Beverwijk) is a Dutch footballer.
- Teun Koopmeiners (born 1998 in Castricum) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Atalanta Bergamo.
Gallery
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Weide van Brasser, Castricum
See also
In Spanish: Castricum para niños
