Schermer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Schermer
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Former municipality
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Polder in Schermer
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.svg)
Location in North Holland
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | North Holland | ||
| Municipality | Alkmaar | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 64.39 km2 (24.86 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 61.39 km2 (23.70 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 3.00 km2 (1.16 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | −3 m (−9.8 ft) | ||
| Population
(May 2014)
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| • Total | 5,507 | ||
| • Density | 90/km2 (200/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
1636, 1840–1847
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| Area code | 072 | ||
Schermer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsxɛrmər]) is a former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The name comes from "skir mere", which means "bright lake". Since 2015 it has been a part of the municipality of Alkmaar.
The municipality of Schermer included not only the Schermer polder, but also the polders of Oterleek, Mijzenpolder and Eilandspolder.
History
Around 800 AD, the area that was the municipality of Schermer was covered in peat, and a small river called the Schermer flowed through it. Because of peat-digging and storm floods, this small river had by 1250 developed into an inland lake with an open connection with the Zuyderzee. In the 17th century private investors started draining the largest part of the lake, leaving the southern part, the Alkmaardermeer, intact. In 1635, 47.7 km2 (18.4 sq mi) of polder was drained, whereupon the land was divided among the shareholders. In 1970, the village of Zuid- en Noord-Schermer was merged into Schermer.
Population centres
The municipality of Schermer included the following small towns and villages: Driehuizen, Grootschermer, Oterleek, Schermerhorn, Stompetoren, Zuidschermer. The latter two are located in the Schermer polder.
Topography
Map of the municipality of Schermer, 2013.
