Almkerk

Almkerk is a village in the municipality of Altena, Netherlands. It is located about 7 km south of Gorinchem.

Almkerk
Village
Centre of Almkerk
Centre of Almkerk
Coat of arms of Almkerk
Coat of arms
Almkerk is located in North Brabant
Almkerk
Almkerk
Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
Almkerk is located in Netherlands
Almkerk
Almkerk
Almkerk (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 51°46′18″N 4°57′37″E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
MunicipalityAltena
Area
[1]
 • Total23.03 km2 (8.89 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
0.2 m (0.7 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total3,720
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
4286[1]
Dialing code0183

History

The village was first mentioned in 1292 as Almekercke, and means "church on the Alm river". The Alm used to be a distributary of the Meuse. The mouth of river had been dammed before 1230 in Giessen.[3] Almkerk developed on the river bank of the Alm. The Altena Castle was located east of the village.[4]

The polder mill Oude Doornse Molen was built around 1700. The wind mill was in service until 1965. In 1940 and 1944, the polder was inundated by the Dutch and German armies respectively, and Oude Doornse Molen later removed the water again. The mill also removed the water after the North Sea flood of 1953.[5]

Almkerk was home to 320 people in 1840. In 1879, Almkerk absorbed the former municipality of Emmikhoven. The Dutch Reformed church was destroyed in 1945, and rebuilt in 1951. Until 1973, Almkerk was a separate municipality. Since 2019, it is part of the municipality of Altena,[6] however the town hall is located in Almkerk.[7]

Sights

On the eastern edge of Almkerk, the motte of the former Altena Castle is visible from the road. The castle was probably build in the 12th century. In the 17th century, there was still a tower.[4]

Notable people
  • Street view
    Street view
  • Restaurant in Almkerk
    Restaurant in Almkerk
  • Dutch Reformed church
    Dutch Reformed church
  • Ruins of the church (1947)
    Ruins of the church (1947)

References
  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. "Postcodetool for 4286AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. "Almkerk". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  4. Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert (1997). Almkerk (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9945 6. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  5. "Oude Doornse Molen". Molen database (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  6. "Almkerk". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. "Gemeente Altena". Gemeente Altena (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
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