Editing Vlaardingen

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Vlaardingen
| settlement_type         = [[Town]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Vlaardingen Oude haven.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Old harbour in the centre of Vlaardingen
| image_flag              = Flag of Vlaardingen.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Vlaardingen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
| nickname                = Haringstad (Herring town)
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0622 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Vlaardingen in a municipal map of South Holland
| map_caption             = Location in South Holland
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|54|N|4|21|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[South Holland]]
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web 
 |url = https://www.vlaardingen.nl/Bestuur_Organisatie/College_van_B_W/Samenstelling_B_W/Burgemeester_Annemiek_Jetten
 |title = Burgemeester Annemiek Jetten
 |trans-title=Mayor Annemiek Jetten
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Vlaardingen
 |access-date = 2 May 2017}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Bert Wijbenga]]
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Vlaardingen}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Vlaardingen}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Vlaardingen}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 3133AV
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 25 August 2013}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 1
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Vlaardingen}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Vlaardingen}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Vlaardinger
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 3130–3138
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 010
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.vlaardingen.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Vlaardingen-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Map of Vlaardingen, Sept. 2014]]
[[File:Vlaardingen-centrum foto2 2014-03-09 10.58.jpg|Vlaardingen, town centre from the sky|upright=1.35|thumb]]
[[File:Vlaardingen, zicht op de haven met toren van de Grote Kerk op de achtergrond RM37423 foto5 2015-0802 11.52.jpg|View of the port|upright=1.35|thumb]]
'''Vlaardingen''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈvlaːrdɪŋə(n)|-|Nl-Vlaardingen.ogg}}) is a large town and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in [[South Holland]] in the [[Netherlands]]. It is located on the north bank of the [[Nieuwe Maas]] river at the confluence with the [[Oude Maas]]. The municipality administers an area of {{convert|{{Dutch municipality total area|Vlaardingen}}|km2|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|{{Dutch municipality land area|Vlaardingen}}|km2|abbr=on}} is land, with {{formatnum:{{Dutch municipality population|Vlaardingen}}}} residents in {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}}.

==Geography==
The town is divided into a northern part (locally known as the "Holy") and a southern part by the [[A20 motorway (Netherlands)|A20 motorway]]. On the east the town is separated from [[Schiedam]] by the [[A4 motorway (Netherlands)|A4 motorway]]. Other places nearby are the small town [[Maassluis]] to the west, the village [[Schipluiden]] and the city [[Delft]] to the north, the town [[Schiedam]] and city [[Rotterdam]] to the east and the town of [[Spijkenisse]] in the south-west, on the other side of the river [[Nieuwe Maas]]. The A20 connects <!-- the port of --> [[Rotterdam]] to the village [[Hook of Holland]]. The [[:File:Beneluxtunnel zz c tm e.jpg|Beneluxtunnel]] (the tunnel that runs under the Nieuwe Waterweg) connects the A20 to the [[A15 motorway (Netherlands)|A15]].

The centre of the town is on the west side of the old harbour, which was originally a stream ('De Vlaarding') from the peat lands north and east of the town, running to the Meuse estuary.

==History==
The area around Vlaardingen was already settled by about 2900 to 2600 BC. In 1990, a skeleton dated around 1300 BC was dug up in the edge of Vlaardingen. Some human nuclear [[DNA]] was identified, the oldest found anywhere in the Netherlands. In [[Roman Age|Roman times]] a stronghold or [[vicus]] named ''Flenio'' may have been on the site of modern Vlaardingen.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0064%3Aentry%3Dflenio-geo |title=Flenio |publisher=Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography |year=1854 |access-date= 27 May 2024}}</ref> Between roughly 250 AD and 700 AD the region seems to have been uninhabited, like much of the west of the Netherlands. In 726 or 727 the area is again mentioned as ''In Pagio Marsum'', where a small church was established, around which Vlaardingen formed. The church is mentioned on a list of churches [[Willibrord]], the ''Apostle to the Frisians'', inhered to the [[Abbey of Echternach]].

In 1018, Vlaardingen was a stronghold of [[Dirk III, Count of Holland|Dirk III]], who levied an illegal toll on ships on the Meuse river. An army sent by [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|German Emperor Henry II]] to stop this practice was defeated by Dirk III in the (First) [[Battle of Vlaardingen]]. In 1047, his successor [[Dirk IV, Count of Holland|Dirk IV]] repelled another such attack (Second Battle of Vlaardingen). The first of these battles was commemorated in 2018 by a [[historical reenactment]]

A flood disaster of December 21, 1163 (Saint Thomas Flood), ended the growth of Vlaardingen. The [[Count of Holland|Counts of Holland]] moved away and its development stagnated.

In 1273, Vlaardingen was granted [[town privileges]] by [[Floris V, Count of Holland]]. Older town privileges are possible, but not provable.

In 1574, during the [[Eighty Years War]] of Dutch independence, a group of [[Les Gueux|Watergeuzen]] burnt down Vlaardingen as commanded by [[William the Silent|William of Orange]] to prevent the Spanish from capturing the town. Vlaardingen later became a shipbuilding area and a significant harbour for the [[herring]] fishing industry. The fishing boats (originally "haringbuizen", later also "sloepen" and "loggers") ceased to use Vlaardingen in the years after [[World War II]].

In 1855, the former municipality of [[Zouteveen]] was merged into the municipality [[Vlaardingerambacht]] which in turn was merged with Vlaardingen in 1941 during the German occupation of the Netherlands.

Because of industrialization in and close to Vlaardingen, the town suffered from heavy air pollution and, sometimes, pathogenic smog during the 1970s. One day, a high school had to be closed because of the smog. Many environmental groups arose in and around Vlaardingen as it was seen as one of the most polluted cities of the country.
 
Vlaardingen consists of eight districts/neighbourhoods:
#Vlaardingen Centrum
#Westwijk
#Vettenoordse polder (includes industry)
#Vlaardingen Oost
#Ambacht/Babberspolder
#Holy Zuid
#Holy Noord
#Broekpolder

==Politics==
Seats in the town council after the [[2022 Dutch municipal elections|municipal elections in 2022]]:<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Vlaardingen municipal election 2022 |url=https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20220316/731164|access-date=24 May 2024|website=verkiezingsuitslagen.nl|language=nl}}</ref>
* People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ([[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]), 4 seats
* Vlaardingen Ahead 2000/Livable Vlaardingen (VV2000/LV), 4 seats
* Groenlinks ([[Green party|GL]]), 4 seats
* ONS.Vlaardingen, 4 seats
* Socialist Party ([[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]]), 4 seats
* Christian Democratic Appeal ([[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]), 3 seats
* Labour Party ([[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]), 2 seats
* Democrats 66 ([[Democrats 66|D66]]), 2 seats
* General Elderly Alliance ([[General Elderly Alliance|AOV]]), 2 seats
* Christian Union/Political Reformed Party ([[ChristianUnion|CU]]/[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]]), 2 seats
* Town Interests Vlaardingen (SBV), 1 seat
* [[Denk (political party)|DENK]], 1 seat
* HEEL DE STAD, 1 seat
* Beter voor Vlaardingen, 1 seat

The mayor is Bert Wijbenga (VVD).<ref name="mayor_now"/>

==Economy==
[[File:Vlaardingen Vulcaanhaven ertskranen.jpg|thumb|The 2 {{Interlanguage link multi|Vlaardingse ertskranen|nl}} in the {{Interlanguage link multi|Vulcaanhaven|nl}}.]]

A [[Unilever]] research centre is located in Vlaardingen (located next to the former [[Sunlight (cleaning product)|Sunlight]] factory, later called Lever [[Fabergé (cosmetics)|Faberge]] Sourcing Unit Vlaardingen). There are still some ship repair business(es) in Eastern Vlaardingen beside the [[Nieuwe Maas]] River. The {{Interlanguage link multi|Vulcaanhaven|nl}} was for many years the largest privately owned artificial harbour in the world. The last major herring factory, Warmelo & Van Der Drift, left Vlaardingen in the middle of 2012 to relocate to [[Katwijk aan Zee]].<ref>[http://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/20-02-2012/laatste-grote-haringbedrijf-vertrekt-uit-vlaardingen News on the regional TV station website]</ref> There are still some ferry terminals ([[DFDS Seaways]], sailing to [[Felixstowe]] and [[Immingham]] and [[P&O Ferries]] sailing to [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]]).

==Attractions==
===Monuments===
[[File:Vlaardingen 1867.png|thumb|Vlaardingen in 1867]]
Historical buildings in the town include the ''Grote Kerk'' (Big Church), the ''[[Weigh house|Waag]]'' (Weighing Bridge) next to the church and the old town hall (used for weddings), all on the ''Markt'', the former marketplace, the ''Visbank'' (Fish Auction) at the harbour and the ''Oude Lijnbaan'' (Old [[Ropewalk]], where ropes were made). The ''Grote Kerk'' was probably established between 1156 and 1164 and has been expanded, damaged and rebuilt. To the north of the old harbour is the old [[Aeolus]] windmill, which operates and sells ground cereals. The harbour <!-- now seems to be occupied mainly by recreational and antique boats --> is a [[marina]] and [[open-air museum]] with old ships. At the harbour is the ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Museum Vlaardingen|nl}}'' (before: '' Visserijmuseum'' and the ''Visserij en Vlaardings Museum''), a museum dedicated to commercial sea fishing and [[Folklore|lore]]. A war memorial to the crew of a [[Vickers Wellington|Wellington bomber]] from [[No. 142 Squadron RAF]] killed when it was shot down over Vlaardingen in March 1942 has been erected in ''Wijkpark Holy-Noord'' in June 2012.

On ''Emaus Cemetery'' in [[Vlaardinger Ambacht]] six members of the resistance group "[[Dutch resistance|Geuzen]]" are buried. They were executed in March 1941. Nine adjacent headstones are symbolic for nine other members of the "Geuzen" who were also executed and buried elsewhere.

===Events===
The "Vlaardings Loggerfestival"<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.vl-loggerfestival.nl/ The Loggerfestival website]</ref> (''Logger'' is a traditional ship used for [[herring]] fishery, the customary English name is ''[[lugger]]'') is held on the first Saturday of June. The festival used to be called "Haring en Bierfeest" (translation: [[herring]] and [[beer]] festival), but in 2003 the mayor decided to rename it. In 2015, the name "Haring en Bierfeest" reappeared again.

Since 1987, the ''[[Geuzenpenning]]'' is an award that is yearly bestowed by a local foundation in cooperation with the town's municipality to human rights activists from all over the world.

==Notable residents==<!-- Please respect date order, only people with an article -->
People who are born in or (have) lived in Vlaardingen:

=== Counts of Holland ===
* [[Floris I, Count of Holland]] (ca.1017–1061) [[Count of Holland]] then called [[Frisia]], 1049-1061
* [[Dirk IV, Count of Holland]] (ca.1025–1049) was [[Count of Holland]] 1039–1049, then called [[Frisia]]
* [[Dirk V, Count of Holland]] (1052–1091) was [[Count of Holland]] 10611091, then called [[Frisia]]
* [[Floris II, Count of Holland]] (ca.1085–1121) [[Count of Holland]] 1091–1121 
[[File:Bos Dutch politician kabinet Balkenende IV.jpg|140px|thumb|Wouter Bos, 2007]]

=== Public service ===
* [[Gerard Callenburgh]] (1642–1722) was a Dutch admiral and town councillor and [[Burgomaster]]
* [[Koos Vorrink]] (1891–1955) a Dutch politician 
* {{illm|Cornelis Moerman|nl|}} (1893–1988) a [[general practitioner]] who devised [[Moerman Therapy]]
* [[Catharina Halkes]] (1920–2011) a Dutch theologian and [[Feminist theology|feminist]]
* [[Dirk Hoogendam]] (1922–2003) a Dutch war criminal
* [[Geert Mak]] (born 1946) a Dutch journalist and a non-fiction writer about history
* [[Agnes van Ardenne]] (born 1950) a retired Dutch politician and diplomat
* [[Wouter Bos]] (born 1963) a retired Dutch politician, former [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]] 2007–2010
* [[Kees van der Staaij]] (born 1968) a Dutch politician
* [[Arjan El Fassed]] (born 1973) a former Dutch politician, human rights activist, aid worker and director of Open State Foundation
[[File:Bassie &amp; Adriaan.png|140px|thumb|Bassie & Adriaan, 1990]]

=== The arts ===
* [[Dolf van der Linden]] (1915–1999) a Dutch conductor of popular music 
* [[Bassie en Adriaan]], (brothers, born 1935 & 1942) actors in their own children's TV show<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103357/  IMDb Database] retrieved 07 January 2020</ref>
* [[Gerrit Berveling]] (born 1944) a Dutch Esperanto author
* [[Threes Anna]] (born 1959) a novelist, theatre and film maker<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2519777/  IMDb Database] retrieved 08 January 2020</ref>
* [[Hans Neleman]] (born 1960) an international photographer and film director from [[Connecticut]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2508625/  IMDb Database] retrieved 08 January 2020</ref>
* [[Martyn LeNoble]] (born 1969) a Dutch bassist and a founding member of the alternative rock band [[Porno for Pyros]]
* [[Karen Mulder]] (born 1970) a Dutch model, singer and former [[supermodel]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0611721/  IMDb Database] retrieved 07 January 2020</ref>
* [[Rik van de Westelaken]] (born 1971) a Dutch TV presenter<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2887811/  IMDb Database] retrieved 08 January 2020</ref>
* [[Rajacenna|Rajacenna van Dam]] (born 1994) a Dutch [[Hyperreality|hyper realistic]] pencil drawing artist

[[File:Aad van der vaart.jpg|140px|thumb|Aad van der Vaart, 2011]]

=== Science & business ===
* [[Ericus Verkade]] (1835–1907) a Dutch businessman, founded [[Verkade]] manufacturing company
* [[Hans Bos]] (born 1950) a Dutch biochemist, cancer researcher and academic
* [[Aart de Geus]] (born 1954) co-founder and CEO of [[Synopsys]]<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Pretz |first=Kathy |date=March 14, 2023 |title=The Maestro Behind Design-Software Behemoth Synopsys |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/aart-de-geus-profile |magazine=[[IEEE Spectrum]] |issn=0018-9235 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321204231/https://spectrum.ieee.org/aart-de-geus-profile |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Roel Pieper]] (born 1956) a Dutch IT-entrepreneur
* [[Aad van der Vaart]] (born 1959) a Dutch professor of [[Stochastic process|stochastics]] at [[Leiden University]]
* [[Menno Schilthuizen]] (born 1965) a Dutch evolutionary biologist, ecologist and academic researcher
* [[Jim Stolze]] (born 1973) a tech-entrepreneur at [[Amsterdam Science Park]] and with [[TEDx]]

=== Sport ===
[[File:Caroline Vis.jpg|140px|thumb|Caroline Vis, 1989]]
[[File:Mark Huizinga (2008-08-25).jpg|140px|thumb|Mark Huizinga, 2008]]
* Joy De Zeeuw (born 2006) professional tennis player
* [[Andries Hoogerwerf]] (1906–1977) a middle-distance runner in the [[1928 Summer Olympics]], later a scientist and conservationist in the [[Dutch East Indies]] 
* [[Rudie Liebrechts]] (born 1941) a Dutch former speed skater and racing cyclist
* [[Paul-Jan Bakker]] (born 1957) a former [[Netherlands national cricket team|Dutch cricketer]]
* [[Juliette Bergmann]] (born 1958) a Dutch female bodybuilding former champion
* [[Wim Koevermans]] (born 1960) a former football central defender with 340 club caps
* [[Harald Wapenaar]] (born 1970) a Dutch former football goalkeeper with 341 club caps
* [[Caroline Vis]] (born 1970) a retired professional tennis player
* [[Frank Kooiman]] (born 1970) a retired Dutch football goalkeeper with about 310 club caps
* [[Wilma van Hofwegen]] (born 1971) a former freestyle swimmer, team silver medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Serge Zwikker]] (born 1973) a Dutch-American former basketball player.
* [[Mark Huizinga]] (born 1973) a Dutch judoka champion and gold medallist at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] and bronze medallist at the [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996]] and [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Daniëlle de Bruijn]] (born 1978) a water polo player, team gold medallist at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] 
* [[Edith Bosch]] (born 1980) a Dutch judoka, silver medallist at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] and bronze medallist at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008]] and [[2012 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Chantal Achterberg]] (born 1985) a Dutch rower, team bronze medallist at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]] and team silver medalist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Carlo van Dam]] (born 1986) a Dutch racing driver
* [[Junior Strous]] (born 1986) a Dutch racing driver
* [[Ian Maatsen]] (born 2002) a Dutch football player, who plays for [[Aston Villa]]

==Twin town==
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} [[Moravská Třebová]] in the [[Pardubice Region]], Czech Republic. 
|}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Vlaardingen oude stadshuis 2006-04-02 14.59.JPG|{{center|Old town hall 1650}}
File:Vlaardingen Visbank 2006-04-02 15.07.JPG|<!-- Vlaardingen, monumental building: -->{{center|Visbank, covered fish market}}
File:Vlaardingen brug achter de Visbank 2006-04-02 15.24.JPG|<!-- Vlaardingen, bridge: -->{{center|Oude Havenbrug}}
File:Vlaardingen windmill.jpg|{{center|1790 windmill Aeolus}}
File:Villa IJzermans PICT3951.jpg|{{center|Villa "IJzermans" 1884 ship owners mansion}}
File:Vlaardingen 5-5-2005 8-46-42.jpg|{{center|Villa "Francina" 1899 [[Art Nouveau]] mansion}}
File:Raadhuis Vlaardingerambacht in 1978.jpg|{{center|Municipal archive building, former town hall [[Vlaardingerambacht]]}}
File:Vlaardingen_plezierjachten_in_haven_2006-04-02_15.32.JPG|<!-- Vlaardingen, the fishing-port -->{{center|View of the harbour}}
File:Vlaardingen, bedrijfspand H van Toorn bij de Grote Kerk foto3 2011-06-26 10.34.JPG|{{center|Office building: H van Toor}}
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Vlaardingse Vaart Bridge]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
* {{in lang|nl}} {{Official website|http://www.vlaardingen.nl/}} ([http://www.vlaardingen.nl/default/homesidebar/English/English/id_135489 English version])
* {{in lang|nl}} [http://www.geschiedenisvanvlaardingen.nl/ The history of Vlaardingen website]

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Vlaardingen
|North     = 
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Schiedam]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = ''[[Het Scheur]]'', ''[[Nieuwe Maas]]''<br>[[Rotterdam]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Maassluis]]
|Northwest = [[Midden-Delfland]]
}}
{{South Holland Province}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vlaardingen| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Populated places in South Holland]]