Spijkenisse is a large town in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. Following an administrative reform in 2015, it is part of the municipality of Nissewaard, and has a population of 72,500. It covers an area of undefined km2 of which undefined km2 is water. It is part of the Greater Rotterdam area.

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that the area around Spijkenisse has been inhabited for several thousand years. The area's prehistoric inhabitants depended on fishing in the Maas and hunting in the surrounding swamps for sustenance. The oldest known reference to the name Spickenisse is in a source from 1231. Spijkenisse is a portmanteau of the words spieke (spit) and nesse (nose) meaning "pointy nose." The name is a reference to the settlement's location on a spit of land protruding into the river. Spijkenisse formed as a farming and fishing village on a creek along the Oude Maas. It originally belonged to the Lord of Putten (whose coat of arms is now used by the town) but in 1459 the fiefdom of Putten, including Spijkenisse, was transferred to Philip III, Duke of Burgundy. In 1581, after the Dutch declaration of independence, the area came under the control of the States of Holland and West Friesland. In the 16th century, the village suffered several floods, and endured destructive fires in the following two centuries which hampered its economic growth. In the 20th century Spijkenisse heavily urbanised as part of the Greater Rotterdam area. Contemporary Spijkenisse includes the communities of Hekelingen, Den Hoek, and Beerenplaat.

Transport

Spijkenisse has a connection to the city of Rotterdam by Rotterdam Metro lines C and D, through Spijkenisse Centrum, Heemraadlaan and De Akkers stations. The metro is operated by RET. On 2 November 2020, at about 00:30, a train ran through buffers at the end of the line and was saved from plunging 10 metres by the "Whale tails" sculpture. There are also several bus services operated by EBS and 1 line of Connexxion to Ouddorp. In 2011, the town built seven bridges designed by Robin Stam, replicating Robert Kalina's fictional designs on the euro banknotes.

Districts

• De Akkers • Centrum • De Elementen • De Hoek • Gildenwijk • Groenewoud • Hoogwerf • Maaswijk • Schenkel • Schiekamp • Sterrenkwartier • Vierambachten • Vogelenzang • Vriesland • Waterland

Health

Schools

Primary schools

Secondary school

Notable residents

International relations

Spijkenisse is twinned with the following cities:

Gallery