Heiloo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heiloo
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Municipality and town
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Heiloo town centre
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.svg)
Location in North Holland
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | North Holland | ||
| Government | |||
| • Body | Municipal council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 19.01 km2 (7.34 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 18.71 km2 (7.22 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 0.30 km2 (0.12 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) | ||
| Population
(May 2014)
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| • Total | 22,620 | ||
| • Density | 1,209/km2 (3,130/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Heilooënaar, Heilooër | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
1850–1852
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| Area code | 072 | ||
Heiloo (pronounced like hey-low) is a cool town and a municipality in the Netherlands. It's located in the province of North Holland. This community is part of the Kennemerland area and is found in the historic region of West Friesland. In 2014, Heiloo was home to about 22,620 people.
Contents
What's in the Name?
The name Heiloo comes from the Dutch words heilige loo, which means "sacred forest." It got this name because Saint Willibrord is said to have done something amazing there around the year 690. He supposedly built a church on a small hill, making the area special.
Cool Places to Visit
Heiloo has some interesting spots! You can see its town hall, which was built in 1926. There's also a church from the 12th century, known as the Witte Kerk (White Church).
The Marian Shrine
A very important place in Heiloo is the Marian shrine, dedicated to Our Lady to Need (Onze Lieve Vrouwe ter Nood). This shrine became popular in the late Middle Ages. Sadly, the original chapel was partly ruined in 1573 during the Spanish Siege of Alkmaar. It was completely taken down in 1637.
Before it was fully gone, an artist from Alkmaar, Gerrit Pietersz. de Jongh, painted a family visiting the ruins. The shrine became popular again in 1713 when a spring started flowing where the chapel once stood. Today, this Marian sanctuary is a major pilgrimage spot in the Netherlands. Many people, especially from the Haarlem-Amsterdam area, come to visit.
Growing Community
In the 1950s and 1960s, Heiloo grew quite fast. Many people from the big city of Amsterdam moved here. A lot of residents now work or go to school in the nearby city of Alkmaar.
Sports Clubs
Heiloo is home to some successful sports clubs!
- FCC Boscrossers: This is the local BMX club. They've had amazing success, with 5 World Champions, 4 European Champions, and many National Champions. One of their stars, Robin Van Der Kolk, won two World Champion titles in 2013 for the 17-24-year-old category.
- AV Trias: This athletics club has also produced top athletes. Two of their members, Lisanne de Witte and Laura de Witte, have even competed in the Olympics!
Train Connections
Heiloo has its own train station, making it easy to travel. You can catch trains to many cities, including Alkmaar, Hoorn, Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, and Eindhoven.
There used to be another train stop near Heiloo called 'Onze lieve vrouwe ter nood'. It was used once a month to bring pilgrims to the chapel. This stop was known as Runxputte until 1914. One of its platforms was removed in 1997 for safety reasons.
Famous People from Heiloo
Heiloo has been home to many notable people over the years.
- Cornelis Ouwehand (1920-1996): An expert in Japanese folklore and an anthropologist.
- Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020): A politician and sociologist.
- Jos Brink (1942–2007): A well-known television and theater personality.
- Guus Janssen (born 1951): A talented composer and pianist.
- Jacques Zoon (born 1961): A famous flautist.
- Maarten van Roozendaal (1962–2013): A Dutch singer, comedian, and songwriter.
- Lars Oostveen (born 1976): Also known as Lawrence Ray, he is a Dutch presenter, producer, and actor.
Sports Stars
Heiloo has also produced many successful athletes:
- Ron Zwerver (born 1967): A retired volleyball player who competed in three Olympic Games.
- Michael Duursma (born 1978): A professional baseball player.
- Laura de Witte (born 1995): A sprinter who has competed at a high level.
- Joris Kramer (born 1996): A Dutch footballer with over 100 club games.
- Thomas Ouwejan (born 1996): A Dutch footballer who plays for Schalke 04.
Gallery
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Sint Paulus Church, Heiloo
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Bridge between the hoekstuk and the vlei, Heiloo
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S.M. Glorieux building, Heiloo
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A local house in Heiloo
See also
In Spanish: Heiloo para niños
