Municipalities of North Holland

Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 47. Chapters: Haarlem, Hilversum, Zandvoort, Bergen, North Holland, Enkhuizen, Alkmaar, Texel, Hoorn, Den Helder, Amstelveen, Andijk, Heemskerk, Waterland, Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude, Anna Paulowna, Aalsmeer, Wieringen, Edam-Volendam, Medemblik, Blaricum, Opmeer, Heiloo, Bloemendaal, Stede Broec, Beemster, Beverwijk, Zijpe, Uitgeest, Niedorp, Zeevang, Purmerend, Muiden, Weesp, Laren, Ouder-Amstel, Schagen, Velsen, Diemen, Wieringermeer, Zaanstad, Graft-De Rijp, Wervershoof, Heerhugowaard, Naarden, Bussum, Schermer, Harenkarspel, Langedijk, Castricum, Wormerland, Oostzaan, Heemstede, Uithoorn, Landsmeer, Wijdemeren, Drechterland, Government of Amsterdam, Koggenland. Excerpt: Haarlem (Dutch pronunciation: ), in the past usually Harlem in English, is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic. Haarlem lies in the northern part of the Randstad, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in Europe. By the end of 2010 Haarlem had a total population of 150,611. The municipality of Haarlem also comprises part of the village of Spaarndam, a newer housing estate of this village forms part of the neighboring municipality of Haarlemmerliede en Spaarnwoude. The city is located on the river Spaarne, about 20 km west of Amsterdam and near the coastal dunes. It has been the historical center of the tulip bulb-growing district for centuries and bears the nickname 'Bloemenstad' (flower city), for this reason. Many government-owned buildings are national heritage sites, such as the local police headquarters located on the Koudenhorn 2 (where the Spaarne river joins the Nieuwe Gracht). Originally built as the Dutch Reformed "Diaconie" (poor house and orphanage) in 1768, it was built to house up to 900 people, indicating the extent of the economic crisis in Haarlem that existed in the 18th century as a result of losing shipping power to Amsterdam.Haarlem has a rich history dating back to pre-medieval times, as it lies on a thin strip of land above sea level known as the strandwal (beach ridge), which connects Leiden to Alkmaar. The people on this narrow strip of land struggled against the waters of the North Sea from the west, and the waters of the IJ and the Haarlem Lake from the east. Haarlem was able to become wealthy with toll revenues that it collected from ships and travellers moving on this busy North-South route. However, as shipping became increasingly important economically, the city of Amsterdam became the main Dutch city of North Holland during the Dutch Golden Age. The town of Halfwe