Velsen-Noord Live Cam

Dutch provinces bridge the gap between central government and local authorities. Under the Dutch constitution, government is actually exercised by the provincial council, together with the provincial executive. The Queen’s Commissioner chairs both bodies. About 1600 civil servants support the administrators.

This is the biggest administrative body of the province. Once every four years the inhabitants of Noord-Holland elect a new council. The councillors thus elected represent the interests of the inhabitants. The number of Councillors of a province depends on the number of inhabitants. In the case of Noord-Holland, there are 83 councillors. Membership is not a full-time commitment. The provincial councils elect the Dutch Senate (part of the national government) every four years.

The provincial executive consists of 6 members, appointed for 4 years by the council. Together, they are responsible for the daily management of the province. Governing the province is a full-time commitment for the executives.

The Dutch Queen and the ministers from the national government appoint the Queen’s Commissioner for a six-year renewable term. He is chairman of the provincial executive and the provincial council and also plays a significant role in mayoral appointments and regularly makes working visits to municipalities in Noord-Holland. His portfolio includes public order and safety and international affairs.

The provincial government has numerous tasks in various fields.

Like most parts of the Netherlands, Noord-Holland is densely populated. All the inhabitants have their own needs, however, the available space is scarce. The province indicates which land can be used for what (housing and industrial construction, nature reserves, agricultural domains, etc).

Traffic jams are a daily nuisance to many inhabitants of Noord-Holland. The solution is mainly a matter for central government, but the province can do something about it too. By constructing and improving (provincial) roads and waterways, by making sure there is good public transport and by promoting traffic safety. In general, Noord-Holland’s roads, canals and railway network are excellent.

The province grants environmental licences to larger factories and companies. She’s also responsible for the cleaning of polluted grounds. In co-operation with the central government and water authorities, the province keeps the quality of water up. The development and preservation of nature and landscape happens in association with conservationists, agricultural organisations, the central government and other foundations. The province also stimulates organic truck farming.

Despite the economic recession, trade and industry are still prosperous in Noord-Holland. It still attracts international companies. The province stimulates the economic growth through co-operation with business and other relevant groups and organisations.

The province stimulates culture and welfare in Noord-Holland through subsidising authorities in the field of mental welfare, youth welfare work, recreation, practice of sport, museums, theatre and festivals, etc.

Whoever thinks of the Netherlands thinks of windmills, spacious polders, fields of flowering bulbs and girls in clogs selling cheeses. And if there is one Province in the Netherlands where all these are to be found, it is Noord-Holland.

The original Holland, the treasury of the Golden Age, has inherited so much prosperity, historic buildings, art and natural beauty. This is Noord-Holland in excelsis: the Province that has everything for everybody. Whether you want the fellowship of Inner Amsterdam or the solitude of a nature reserve on Texel, whether you want to sail on the seas and lakes, or visit unique museums.

The dunes along the coast constitute one immense nature reserve, where the peace and the unspoilt surroundings induce contemplation. But Noord-Holland is also a watery paradise for sailors, surfers, motor boaters and fishers, thanks to the many waterways, lakes and beaches.

Lovers of flowers can enjoy the extensive fields of flowers to their heart's content in both the north and the south of Noord-Holland and the many flower parades and shows that are held from February to November.

You will find genuine reminders of our seafaring past in the authentic seaports of the 17th Century, such as Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Edam. All these can easily be reached thanks to the modern road network, the many rail links and the presence of Schiphol.

Are you taking a caravan to Noord-Holland? Or were you planning to take a motor-boat through the waterways? Perhaps you would prefer to stay in a hotel. All these are possible in Noord-Holland, from a tent for one to five-star luxury. There are many excellent campsites, bungalow parks and youth hostels. Flats and rooms can be rented everywhere and the number of quality hotels is above the national average.

In Noord-Holland, water-sports enthusiasts have a wide choice of yachting basins. You can even decide to take a sailing holiday en board an old schooner or a hotel ship. Just say what type of holiday you want and Noord-Holland will accommodate you.

Noord-Holland is a continuum of urban and rural places of interest. Because this part of the Netherlands has such a rich history, there are many towns and villages where old buildings revive the glories of the Golden Age. At that time, many of the towns that were once on the Zuider Zee coast were important trading centres for the Dutch East-lndia Company. This can still be seen in the company's warehouses in Enkhuizen and the merchant's houses in Hoorn, Edam, Muiden and Medemblik.

And, of course, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam, Monnickendam and Marken will make your journey through the towns of Noord-Holland a trip into a fascinating past.

You certainly will not be the only person to appreciate the charm of Noord-Holland. The rich patricians of the Seventeenth century also came under its spell. Many of them bought land in the Gooi, on which to build a country retreat for the summer months. If you take a boat on the Vecht, you will be able to admire their magnificence. Pearls on the banks, situated in the shade of luxurious gardens.

But the "gentry" was well able to find beautiful spots elsewhere. We encounter their country estates in particular along the coast, at the safe side of the dunes. Examples are the Oude Hof in Bergen, the Buitenplaats Beeckenstijn in Velsen-Zuid (now a museum with stylish rooms) and the country houses between Haarlem and the dunes (Elswout).

If you are interested in cities, towns and history, we recommend you to visit a museum. There are dozens of museums in Noord-Holland. The famous ones include the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and the Teylers Museum and the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem. There and in many others you will find wide ranging art collections, from a unique collection of Rembrandts to modem abstract sculpture.

Apart from illustrating the history of the district, the Westfries Museum in Hoorn has much to offer on seafaring and trade with the East Indies. The Zuiderzeemuseum in Enkhuizen is both an indoor and an outdoor museum, where you will see 140 old dwellings with authentic Noord-Holland interiors, streets and gardens.