Beverwijk
Beverwijk is a municipality and town in the province of North Holland, Netherlands, located between Alkmaar and Haarlem near the North Sea Canal and protected by coastal dunes.[1] As of 2024, it has a population of 42,866 residents across the main town of Beverwijk and the locality of Wijk aan Zee.[2] Originating as a medieval pilgrimage and market site with rights granted in 1276, Beverwijk transitioned from agriculture to industry in the 20th century, notably with the 1918 establishment of steel production at what became Tata Steel and the development of the Pijp harbour for trade including potatoes.[1] The area features significant port activities and medium-sized enterprises, though industrial emissions have led to documented environmental concerns such as elevated levels of PAHs and metals in local dust deposition.[3] Notable landmarks include the Grote Kerk and the expansive De Bazaar covered market, while regional dunes and beaches provide recreational contrast to its industrial character.[1]Geography and Environment
Location and Physical Features
Beverwijk is a municipality situated in the province of North Holland, Netherlands, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Amsterdam within the Randstad metropolitan area.[4] Its central coordinates are roughly 52°29′N 4°39′E.[5] The municipality borders the North Sea Canal to the south, a 26.5-kilometer-long shipping channel constructed between 1865 and 1876 that links Amsterdam to the North Sea port at IJmuiden, facilitating maritime access while dividing Beverwijk from southern inland areas.[4] The physical landscape consists of flat, low-elevation terrain averaging 2 meters above sea level, characteristic of Dutch polder regions reclaimed from former wetlands and subject to flood management via dikes and drainage systems.[6] Western portions incorporate coastal dunes extending from the North Sea shoreline, including the beach settlement of Wijk aan Zee, where elevations rise modestly to form natural barriers against marine ingress.[7] This dune-polder mosaic reflects historical land reclamation efforts, blending agricultural lowlands with protective sandy ridges proximate to the sea, approximately 3 kilometers from the town center.[4]
Climate and Natural Setting
Beverwijk is situated in North Holland province at coordinates approximately 52.48°N, 4.66°E, with an average elevation of 2 meters above sea level, typical of the low-lying Dutch coastal plain. The municipality's natural landscape includes flat polders, agricultural lands, and urbanized zones, but its western extent incorporates significant coastal features around the village of Wijk aan Zee, where expansive sand dunes and forests adjoin the North Sea shoreline. These dunes, part of the broader Kennemerland dune system, function as a primary natural defense against marine flooding, support biodiversity, and provide recreational areas for hiking and cycling.[8][9][1] The area exhibits a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen classification Cfb), moderated by its proximity to the North Sea, resulting in mild seasonal variations without extreme heat or cold. Annual average temperatures hover around 10.8°C, with winter lows typically between 0°C and 4°C in December and January, and summer highs averaging 18–21°C from June to August. Precipitation is relatively uniform year-round, totaling about 915 mm annually, with higher chances of rainy days (up to 58% in May) contributing to the region's consistently damp conditions.[10][11][12]Demographics
Population Distribution
The municipality of Beverwijk had a total population of 43,040 residents as of 2025, distributed across an urban core in Beverwijk proper and a smaller coastal enclave in Wijk aan Zee, approximately 5 km to the west.[13] Beverwijk proper accounted for 40,915 inhabitants, comprising over 95% of the municipal total, while Wijk aan Zee housed the remaining roughly 2,125 residents, reflecting its status as a low-density seaside village.[14] This uneven distribution underscores the municipality's primarily urban character, with population density averaging 2,196 inhabitants per square kilometer over 19.06 km² of land.[15] Within Beverwijk proper, residents are concentrated in designated neighborhoods (wijken), which vary in size and function from central commercial zones to suburban residential areas. The largest neighborhoods by population in 2025, based on Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data, are as follows:| Neighborhood | Population (2025) |
|---|---|
| Centrum | 6,495 |
| Meerestein | 6,455 |
| Broekpolder | 5,955 |
| Kuenenkwartier | 5,710 |