Netherlands, Spijkenisse

Spijkenisse is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of 30.23 km² (of which 4.07 km² water).

The municipality also includes the communities of Hekelingen, Den Hoek and Beerenplaat.

Spijkenisse is a sister city with Thetford, United Kingdom, and Hürth, Germany. The nickname of the town is: Spijkcity or spikecity.

History

Archeological research has shown that the area around Spijkenisse has been inhabited for many 1000s of years. The people then depended on fishing on the Meuse and hunting in the swamps.

The oldest reference to the name Spickenisse is from a source from 1231. This name comes from the words spieke (Spit (landform)) and nesse (nose) meaning "pointy nose" in reference to a spit of land protruding along the river.

In the 16th century the village suffered several floods. In the 17th and 18th centuries it endured destructive fires which hampered its economic growth.

Public transportation

Erasmus Line (Rotterdam Metro): Rotterdam Central station - Rhoon (m. Albrandswaard) - Poortugaal (ditto) - Hoogvliet (m. Rotterdam) - Spijkenisse.

Caland Line (Rotterdam metro): two lines from the northeast of Rotterdam (Ommoord and Zevenkamp, both in Prins Alexander) and one from Capelle aan den IJssel join; the combined line connects to the main railway network at Schiedam railway station, has a stop in Pernis and joins the Erasmus Line in Hoogvliet; trains on the Caland Line, like those on the Erasmus Line, terminate in Spijkenisse.