Katwijk

Katwijk
Katwijk
	— Municipality —
; Flag	; Coat of arms
	Coordinates: 52°12′N 4°24′E / 52.20°N 4.40°ECoordinates: 52°12′N 4°24′E / 52.20°N 4.40°E
Country	Netherlands
Province	South Holland
	Area(2006)
• Total	31.06 km2 (11.99 sq mi)
• Land	24.65 km2 (9.52 sq mi)
• Water	6.40 km2 (2.47 sq mi)
	Population (1 January 2007)
• Total	60,910
• Density	2,471/km2 (6,400/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website	www.katwijk.nl

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Coastal boulevard in Katwijk

Katwijk ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. It has a population of 61,292.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Location

Katwijk is located on the North Sea, northwest of Leiden and 16 km north of The Hague. The municipality is essentially the area between Leiden and the North Sea. Katwijk lies along the Oude Rijn, which ends at the North Sea in Katwijk aan Zee. It shares its borders with the municipalities of Noordwijk, Teylingen, Oegstgeest, Leiden, and Wassenaar. Katwijk is by far the largest town in the Duin- en Bollenstreek ("Dune and Bulb Region"). The municipality covers an area of 31.06 km² (11.99 mile²), of which 6.41 km² (2.47 mile²) is water.

[edit] Composition

The town consists of a number of districts, including namesakes Katwijk aan den Rijn and Katwijk aan Zee. On 1 January 2005 the various districts had the following populations:

Katwijk aan den Rijn (5,916)
Katwijk aan Zee (22,405)
Hoornes-Rijnsoever (13,845)
Rijnsburg (15,450)
Valkenburg (3,904)

Lying on the coast, Katwijk aan Zee is (and has always been) the larger town. Katwijk aan den Rijn lies just slightly inland. Rijnsburg is east of Katwijk aan den Rijn and to the south is Valkenburg. Hoornes-Rijnsoever is north of Katwijk aan Zee.

Although consisting of historically separate towns (except Hoornes-Rijnsoever) that still today maintain separate identities, the towns have more or less grown together and merged into a single conurbation. The creation of the municipality of Katwijk is a recognition of that fact. The town hall of the current municipality of Katwijk is located in Katwijk aan den Rijn, near the boundary of Katwijk aan Zee. All these districts lie along the Oude Rijn.

[edit] History

Katwijk in 1865.

The name "Katwijk" probably has its origins in the name of a Germanic tribe called the Chatten (Chatti). The Dutch word "wijk" means "area", so the name probably meant something like "the Chatti area".

In Romans times, Katwijk was a place of strategic importance. It was located at the Roman Empire's northern border, at the mouth of the Rhine river, which in Roman times was larger in this area than it is today. There was a good deal of traffic along the Rhine. Katwijk was also a jumping-off point for the voyage to Britain.

Built during the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54), the town's name was Lugdunum Batavorum. The town's name was later associated with the name of the city of Leiden, but this is now thought to be incorrect.

In 1231, the first reference to Catwijck appeared in records.

The history of the modern municipality of Katwijk is essentially the history of its constituent parts, which for each village extends back to Roman times. However, Katwijk aan Zee, Katwijk aan den Rijn and Valkenburg were part of the same heerlijkheid called "Beide de Katwijken en 't Zand" (or something similar). They have been administratively joined for centuries despite their differing characters. Katwijk aan Zee was a fishing town and Katwijk aan den Rijn had an agricultural character.

During World War II, Katwijk aan Zee was heavily damaged. On May 1, 1942, beach access was no longer permitted and large scale evacuation took place. From October 1943 houses were demolished in relation to the construction of the Atlantic Wall.^[1]

On 1 January 2006, Rijnsburg and Valkenburg were also merged into the municipality.

[edit] Public transportation

Katwijk is the largest town in the Netherlands without a railway station. The nearest railway stations are Voorhout and Leiden. Katwijk is connected by bus with Voorhout, Leiden, The Hague, Haarlem, Nieuw Vennep and Zoetermeer. The RijnGouweLijn is planned to connect Katwijk with Gouda.

[edit] People born in Katwijk

Cees de Vreugd, (1952–1998) strongman and powerlifter
Dirk Kuyt, famous Dutch footballer, currently playing at Liverpool F.C.
Esther Ouwehand, Dutch politician, parliamentarian for the Party for the Animals
Elianne Smit, Dutch fashionmodel
Jan Gesink, Dutch nude model and porn actor
Charley Toorop (1891–1955), Dutch painter
Diana van der Tuuk, TV personality
Jeffrey Talan, Former professional footballer and Dutch international

[edit] Tourist attractions

Katwijk is a seaside resort with a wide sandy beach. Its attractiveness is mainly due to its laid-back atmosphere. The boulevard along the shore is not spoiled by large hotels or apartment blocks and has not given in to an excessive commercialisation. Although most buildings lining the boulevard are tourist apartments and pensions, most are just three floors high (and none more than 5) and offer a distinctive 'feel' of the 1950s. Besides the beach, there are a few museums in Katwijk, like the old fisherman's museum Katwijks Museum and the Spinoza-museum. A few kilometers inland there is a narrow gauge museum where a museum steam locomotive ride can be taken around Lake Valkenburg. Katwijk has many hotels and three camping places, mostly situated in the dunes.

[edit] Image gallery

Monument in remembrance of the partial demolition and evacuation of Katwijk during WWII.
Steam tram at tramstop Valkenburgse Meer, with narrow gauge museum at the background
Prins Hendrikcanal
Old Rhine with Turfmarkt square at the background