Oostzaan

Oostzaan
Municipality
Street in Oostzaan
Street in Oostzaan
Flag of Oostzaan
Flag
Coat of arms of Oostzaan
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Oostzaan in a municipal map of North Holland
Location in North Holland
Coordinates: 52°26′N 4°53′E / 52.433°N 4.883°E / 52.433; 4.883
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Holland
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorMarvin Polak (VVD)
Area
[2]
 • Total
16.08 km2 (6.21 sq mi)
 • Land11.53 km2 (4.45 sq mi)
 • Water4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total
9,689
 • Density840/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
1510–1511
Area code075
Websitewww.oostzaan.nl
Map of municipality of Oostzaan, 2022

Oostzaan (Dutch pronunciation: [oːstˈsaːn] ⓘ) is a municipality and a town in the Zaanstreek, Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The municipality had a population of 9,689 in 2021. Oostzaan has a total area of 16.08 km2 (6.21 sq mi) of which 4.55 km2 (1.76 sq mi) is water.

Oostzaan—together with Westzaan and Assendelft—are considered the "mother towns" of the Zaanstreek (the region around the River Zaan), of which they are the three oldest towns. Oostzaan also played a role in the VOC and WIC shipping and shipbuilding.

17th century Oostzaan was the home of the pirate Claes Compaen. Originally a privateer for the Dutch Republic, he soon began to act as a pirate, capturing several hundred ships.[5] A street in Oostzaan is named after him.

The town has a Reformed church with a cruciform groundplan, the Great Church (1760), which contains two ship models that recall the days when Oostzaan was an important sea-faring community. In the Oostzijderveld area of Oostzaan stands a windmill, De Windjager (The Wind Hunter).

  1. ^ "Burgemeester" [Mayor] (in Dutch). Gemeente Oostzaan. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 1511BD". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ Bruyneel, M. (2005). "Privateers and Pirates: Claes Gerritszoon Compaen (1587-1660)". Isle of Tortuga. Retrieved 6 May 2024.