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Appingedam
n Daam (Gronings) | |
|---|---|
 Nicholas Church (left) and renaissance town hall (right) in Appingedam | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
.svg) Location in Groningen | |
  Appingedam Location in the Netherlands  Appingedam Appingedam (Netherlands) | |
| Coordinates: 53°19′N 6°52′E / 53.317°N 6.867°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Groningen |
| Municipality | Eemsdelta |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24.58 km2 (9.49 sq mi) |
| • Land | 23.78 km2 (9.18 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.80 km2 (0.31 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 11.085 |
| Demonym | Appingedammer Locally known as "Damsters" |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 9900–9903 |
| Area code | 0596 |
Appingedam (Dutch: [ˌɑpɪŋəˈdɑm] ; Gronings: n Daam [n̩ˈdaːm]) is a city and former municipality in the northeastern Netherlands. Although there is no certainty as to the exact age of Appingedam, historical research demonstrates that the place in which the city would eventually be built had been inhabited for over a millennium. Specifically, the area in which the earliest traces of human settlements have been reported is the Wierde, a quarter located in the northern part of the city centre. Today, a narrow, winding street by the same name runs along the waterfront as a living testimony to the times gone by. The characteristic landmarks of the old Wierde are still recognisable today: the historical East-West Canal, called “Diep,” dug to the south of the Wierde, diked on both sides, still defines the unique layout of the downtown Appingedam.
Little is known about the exact age and origin of the name of Appingedam. It came into existence on the banks of the Delf, the present Damsterdiep, around 1200. The name originates from a dam built in the Appe or Apt. In 1327, Appingedam received city rights from the free Frisians of the Upstalboom near the East Frisian city of Aurich. Appingedam and Aurich still have friendly liaisons via a partnership called the Städtepartnerschaft or stedenband, in German and Dutch respectively. Appingedam is located in the region Fivelingo, which in the Middle Ages was a part of Frisia.
In the Late Middle Ages, Appingedam, being a seaport, was an important trading competitor to Groningen. When Groningen received the staple right, Appingedam rapidly lost its trading position. Later on Delfzijl outstripped Appingedam with its newer and bigger seaport.
Nowadays Appingedam still looks indispensable as a small city. Many original medieval premises can be found in the centre. The most famous sight is the hanging kitchens above the Damsterdiep. Appingedam was home to the Appingedammer Bronsmotorenfabriek that produced large ship's engines for the shipyards in the area.
- ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- ^ "Postcodetool for 9901CM". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
- ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.