No fewer than one in three houses in the old town of Monnickendam has been purchased by Amsterdam residents in the past 25 years. This is evident from figures requested by NH from data analysis company Matrixian. The born and bred Monnickendam residents are happy with the arrival of the wealthy Amsterdam residents. Because those so-called ‘outlanders’ completely renovate the often dilapidated buildings in the monumental city center. “When you see how beautiful it turned out, I am proud to be a Monnickendammer.”
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“A village?!” Everyone present in the Stegh, a striking wooden building on the Monnickendam harbor, starts cheering. A good-natured cheer, yes. Because, say the men of the coffee chat group, Monnickendammers are naturally easy to get along with.
They hear it often in the small town on the Gouwzee. It is a classic mistake, especially among people who were not born in Monnickendam – they are called ‘outlanders’. “We received city rights in 1355,” says Rini de Wijze. He has seen his hometown change enormously since the 1940s. “There used to be a lot of fish smokehouses here, on certain days the entire city center was blue with smoke.”
Expansions and newcomers
In those first years after the Second World War, Monnickendam is still every bit the fishing village it has been for centuries. “Everyone still lived within the old fortress at that time,” explains Monnickendammer and former councilor Simon Verbeek. This will change in the years that follow. “The Oranjewijk was built from 1955 onwards, around 400 homes in eight years. Mainly Monnickendam residents came to live in the social housing.”
And in the more expensive houses? “Especially Amsterdammers,” says Verbeek. “Many companies in Amsterdam-Noord, such as the NDSM and dredging machine manufacturer Verschuren, had houses built in the district.” The later expansions, such as the Markgouw and Poelwijk, are also popular with Amsterdam residents.
Klaas Roos has renovated many of the houses in Monnickendam. His sons continue his handyman business. -NH Media
Around the time that the first pile was driven into the ground for the Oranjewijk, the old city center also welcomed an Amsterdammer: Paul Stoffels. “That was probably one of the first commuters from Monnickendam,” says retired contractor Klaas Roos. “Every day he took the tram, which was still running at the time, to his law office on the Herengracht in Amsterdam.”
Popular city center
Stoffels uses his wealth to thoroughly renovate the monumental house on Kerkstraat – and is therefore the first of many. “I have renovated dozens of houses in the city center of Monnickendam with my construction company. I think 85 percent of them were outsiders.”
A large part of the houses in Monnickendam are bought by Amsterdam residents – Matrixian
And a large proportion of those newcomers come from Amsterdam. Between 1999 and 2022, 25.8 percent of the entire housing stock of Monnickendam will be purchased by Amsterdam residents. In the historic city center that share is even higher: 33.5 percent. Movers from before 1999, including Paul Stoffels and Amsterdam families who ended up in the new housing estates, are not included in the data. The actual number of Monnickendam residents with Amsterdam roots is therefore much higher.
Stoffels is emerging as a champion for the city center of Monnickendam. Partly due to his resistance, far-reaching demolition plans in favor of a motorway will not go ahead. Out of gratitude, the Oud Monnickendam Association appoints him honorary chairman.
“I never wanted to live outside the ring”
Frans Beishuizen, Amsterdam Monnickendammer since 2017
Countless Amsterdam residents have made the ‘leap’ to Monnickendam, following Stoffels. “Especially since the construction of the IJ tunnel,” Klaas Roos suspects. “The real estate agents here already said: Monnickendam and Broek in Waterland will become the Gooi of the North. Well, that has proven to be true.”
Emigrating Amsterdammers
Other places in and around the capital also attract many Amsterdam residents in the period 1999-2022.
Location Share of Amsterdam home buyers Monnickendam 25.8% Edam 18.4% Purmerend 24.3% Naarden 30.3% Muiderberg 33.8%
Bron: Matrixian
Frans Beishuizen lived with his family until 2017 to their complete satisfaction in the Amsterdam Jordaan. “I never wanted to live outside the ring. But I saw more and more friends who lived outside the city and were still very satisfied.” Beishuizen, who served on the municipal council in Amsterdam for four years for the VVD, laughs: “I thought: shouldn’t that also be possible in Amsterdam?”
Frans Beishuizen points out a historical detail in his house in the city center of Monnickendam – NH Media
In Monnickendam they find a house with three times the living space of their Jordanian home – plus a spacious garden. A large-scale renovation of the national monument has now been initiated. “We handle the house with care. We want to restore historical details to their full glory.”
The integration of the newcomers into Monnickendam went smoothly from the start, says Simon Verbeek. “In the Emmastraat, in the Oranjewijk, almost the entire street was Amsterdam. They were responsible for the founding of the handball club.” Beishuizen is also fully involved in his new city. “Our children participate in sports clubs and swimming lessons here.” He adds with a laugh: “For Amsterdam residents it is sometimes difficult to believe, but that is all very possible here.”
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2024-01-29 06:02:19
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