History
Volendam was originally called FollenDam. Originally the IJ or E, on which the town of Edam was located, came in the Zuiderzee. In 1357 the Edammers dug a shorter connection between Lake Purmer and the Zuiderzee. Then a dam was built in front of the old port of Edam and the old port was closed; hence Follendam. That's how Edam got a new port, the Earhole. Soon farmers and fishermen settled here. Some ground workers were also left behind in the newly created village after the excavation had ended. nvullen...