Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht
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Typical house in the town.
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.svg)
Location in South Holland
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | South Holland | ||
| Government | |||
| • Body | Municipal council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 11.90 km2 (4.59 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 10.67 km2 (4.12 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 1.23 km2 (0.47 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | −1 m (−3.3 ft) | ||
| Population
(May 2014)
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| • Total | 29,147 | ||
| • Density | 2,732/km2 (7,080/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Ambachter | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
3340–3344
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| Area code | 078 | ||
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands. It is located on the island of IJsselmonde. The town borders Zwijndrecht, Ridderkerk, and the Noord River. On the other side of the river are Alblasserdam and Papendrecht.
The municipality covers an area of about 11.90 km2 (4.59 sq mi). A small part of this area, about 1.23 km2 (0.47 sq mi), is water. Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht is the only main population center in this municipality.
Contents
What's in a Name?
For a long time, until 1855, the town had a very long name. It was called Hendrik-Ido-Schildmanskinderen-Ambacht en de Oostendam.
Later, it joined with another area called Sandelingen-Ambacht. For a while, its full name was said to be Hendrik-Ido-Oostendam-Schildmanskinderen-Groot-en-Klein-Sandelingen-Ambacht. This was once the longest town name on the mainland of Europe!
Where is Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht?
This map shows the location of Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht in the Netherlands. It helps you see the different parts of the municipality.
A Look Back in Time
People have lived in this area since around the year 1000 CE. For many centuries, farming and raising animals were the only ways to make a living. The land often got flooded during these early times.
Most of the land belonged to the Bishop of Utrecht. However, one part, called Heyenland (now Heerjansdam), belonged to Lord Hendrick I van Brederode. In 1323, the church sold its land to William III of Holland.
Building Dikes and New Lands
To stop the floods and make the land more useful, William III and Hendrick van Brederode built a dike around the land. They also had the land dredged in 1332. Dredging means removing mud and dirt from the bottom of a river or lake.
To pay for this big project, they sold parts of the land to rich families. These families were given special titles and land ownership, following old laws from Zeeland. Among these buyers were Hendrik Ido Wittens and his brother Schiltman Wittens.
They received control over small areas of land near a part of the Waal river. The town of Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht was formed by joining these two areas. Over time, it grew by adding more lands from different lords.
From Farms to Factories
During the Eighty Years' War, which was a long conflict, new industries started along the river dikes. These included places that made bricks (called stonebakery) and built ships (shipbuilding). People also started growing plants (Horticulture) and flax in the polders.
Because of the fast growth of industries like iron factories and shipyards nearby, some families started businesses that took apart old ships. This became a big industry, and the town became known worldwide as the "ship breaking village."
These new industries changed how people worked. Instead of seasonal jobs, people found steady work with better pay. However, these industries later moved to other countries where wages were lower.
Today, Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht is mostly a commuter town. This means that most of its citizens live there but travel to other places for work.
Many old farms and buildings, like the 14th-century Reformed Church, still stand. They remind everyone of the town's long and interesting history.
Sister Cities
Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht has a special friendship with another town:
- Bergen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, including:
- Cornelis Ekkart (1892–1975), a fencer
- Flor Silvester (1923–2008), a graphic designer
- Henk van Lijnschooten (1928–2006), a composer
- Bart Berman (born 1938), a pianist and composer
- Wim van Hanegem (born 1944), a footballer
- Marco Janssen (born 1969), an econometrician (someone who uses math to study economics)
- Wim Jansen (1946–2022), a footballer
- Roeland Pruijssers (born 1989), a chess player
Images for kids
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The Waaltje river in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht.
See also
In Spanish: Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht para niños
