West-Graftdijk

West-Graftdijk
Village
Farm houses at the Dwarsweg and Ringdijk
West-Graftdijk Location in the Netherlands Show map of Netherlands West-Graftdijk Location in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands Show map of North Holland
Coordinates: 52°33′N 4°48′E
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Holland
Municipality	Alkmaar
Area [1]
• Total	3.01 km^2 (1.16 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	−1.7 m (−5.6 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	745
• Density	250/km^2 (640/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	1486[1]
Dialing code	072

West-Graftdijk is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Alkmaar, and lies about 10 km south of the city of Alkmaar. The village has a small historical church, and to the north there is the bird area Eilandspolder.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1578 as "Graefdyeck ofte Vuylen Graft", and means "dike on (de Vuylen) Graft River". West- has been added to distinguish from Oost-Graftdijk.[3] West-Graftdijk developed on the former island Schermereiland [nl] in the second half of the 16th century after a dike was built around the lake.[4]

The Dutch Reformed church is an aisleless church with wooden tower which was built on a terp (artificial living hill) in 1651. The church was extensively modified in 1792.[4] West-Graftdijk was home to 465 people in 1840.[5]

Gallery

• 
  Farm in West-Graftdijk
• 
  Dutch Reformed church
• 
  House in West-Graftdijk
• 
  Houses in West-Graftdijk

References

1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
2. "Postcodetool for 1486MC". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
3. "West-Graftdijk - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 April 2022.
4. Ronald Stenvert & Saskia van Ginkel-Meester (2006). "West-Graftdijk" (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
5. "West-Graftdijk". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 April 2022.