Surprising Volendam Trivia: Highlights from the “Dit wist u nog niet” Series
Planning a trip and craving memorable stories to share over dinner on the harbour? This guide to Surprising Volendam Trivia curates the standout nuggets from our “Dit wist u nog niet” series—short, conversation-worthy facts that bring the fishing village to life. From football firsts and culinary traditions to Monday wash day and musical fame, you’ll find plenty to enrich your stay at Hotel Old Dutch on Volendam’s dike.
Quick facts at a glance
- Smallest place with a pro club: Volendam is the smallest town in the Netherlands with a professional football club. FC Volendam has played professional football since 1954 and reached the cup final in 1958 and 1995.
- From Follendam to Volendam: The village name traces back to a dam built for Edam’s old harbour in 1357—the settlement that formed there was called Follendam, later Volendam.
- Monday is wash day: Every Monday, Volendam’s narrow lanes are strung with twisted ropes holding freshly laundered clothes to dry.
- Bart Smit began here: The well-known toy chain started in 1931 in Volendam, opened by Thames and Gaartje Smit, and named for their son Bart.
- A true eel tradition: Classic Volendam dishes include Volendammer zooitje (cooked eel in milk with vinegar, salt, boiled potatoes, and black pepper) and the local sauce butter ’n eek (butter and vinegar), often served with fish.
- Soundtrack of a village: Beyond famous singers, groups like Band Zonder Naam, The Cats, Left Side, and Maribelle hail from here—part of Volendam’s celebrated musical identity known as the palingsound.
- A night remembered: In the New Year’s night of 2000–2001, Café De Hemel suffered a tragic fire caused by sparklers igniting dry decorations; the event is still commemorated.
The stories behind the trivia
Football and identity: a small town with big credentials
Volendam’s scale surprises many when they learn it’s the smallest Dutch place with a professional club. FC Volendam has been part of paid football since 1954, with milestone cup finals in 1958 and 1995. For visitors, this heritage adds depth to a stroll through town—you’re walking a place where community and sport intertwine.
From Follendam to Volendam: how the village took shape
In 1357, Edammers dug a shorter waterway between the Purmermeer and the Zuiderzee. A dam then closed off Edam’s old harbour, creating an area where fishermen, farmers, and workers settled. The site became known as Follendam, evolving into Volendam. This practical water-management decision still shapes the village you see from our harbourfront today.
Monday wash day: living tradition in the lanes
On Mondays, residents string twisted ropes across narrow alleys and hang clean laundry to dry. It’s simple, communal, and distinctly Volendam—an enduring ritual that turns ordinary streets into airy galleries of everyday life.
Eel cuisine: Volendammer zooitje and butter ’n eek
Volendam’s fishing roots show on the plate:
- Volendammer zooitje: cooked eel in milk with a touch of vinegar and salt, served with boiled potatoes and black pepper.
- Butter ’n eek: a classic local butter-and-vinegar sauce, frequently paired with fish.
If you love authentic flavors, you’re in the right place. At Hotel Old Dutch’s Restaurant Le Pompadour, you can enjoy specialties from the sea—alongside seasonal stewed eel, baked sole, fried oysters, and premium meats—at lunch or dinner, with a terrace right on the harbour.
Retail roots: the birth of Bart Smit
In 1931, Thames and Gaartje Smit opened a toy shop in Volendam and named it after their son Bart—a humble beginning that grew into the Bart Smit brand. It’s a local reminder that national names can start on small streets.
The palingsound and a chorus of names
Volendam’s musical signature, the palingsound, is world-famous in Dutch pop culture. Beyond well-known solo artists, groups such as Band Zonder Naam, The Cats, Left Side, and Maribelle emerged from this compact community. To explore the story behind the sound—and everyday life from 1850–1950—add the Volendams Museum to your list.
A night remembered: Café De Hemel
New Year’s night 2000–2001 saw a devastating fire at Café De Hemel, started when sparklers ignited dry Christmas decorations. The tragedy remains part of local memory and is still commemorated—approach the subject with the respect it deserves when speaking with residents.
A cheat sheet you can screenshot
| Trivia | Key takeaway |
|---|---|
| Smallest pro-club town | FC Volendam since 1954; cup finals in 1958 and 1995 |
| Name origins | From Follendam after Edam’s old harbour was dammed in 1357 |
| Monday ritual | Wash day with ropes and fresh laundry across narrow lanes |
| Bart Smit roots | Opened in 1931 by Thames and Gaartje Smit; named after son Bart |
| Eel classics | Volendammer zooitje and butter ’n eek as local staples |
| Palingsound | Musical identity with groups like The Cats and more |
| Café De Hemel | Fire in 2000–2001 New Year’s night; still commemorated |
Practical takeaways for your trip
- See Monday wash day: Plan a walk through the narrow alleys on a Monday to spot the traditional drying lines.
- Taste Volendam: Try fish specialties at Restaurant Le Pompadour—including seasonal stewed eel—alongside meat dishes like tournedos, veal entrecôte, and côte de boeuf.
- Sail to Marken: The Volendam–Marken Express crossing takes about 30 minutes. Want to bundle it in? Our Haven Arrangement includes a boat trip to Marken, plus breakfast and a 3-course dinner.
- Deepen your music knowledge: Visit the Volendams Museum to step into historic living rooms and learn about the palingsound’s evolution. The museum also offers an annual thematic exhibition.
- Make rainy days count: For indoor ideas, browse our guide to the best activities in Volendam in bad weather.
- Learn local flavors: Read our blog Everything about herring to understand this quintessentially Dutch fish before you taste it on the dike.
Related reads to explore next:
- Why you should visit Volendam
- What is the palingsound?
- The Volendammerdag (annual cultural day)
- The most picturesque streets of Volendam
- The origin of the clog
- Recipes: Gestoofde paling (stewed eel), Butter en eek, and Zootje van paling
Quick answers (for instant look-ups)
- What is Volendammer zooitje? A traditional dish of cooked eel in milk with vinegar and salt, served with boiled potatoes and black pepper.
- When did FC Volendam begin professional play? In 1954, with cup final appearances in 1958 and 1995.
- Why is the village called Volendam? After Edam’s old harbour was dammed in 1357, a settlement called Follendam formed; it evolved into Volendam.
- What happens on Mondays in Volendam? Wash day: narrow lanes are spanned with ropes holding fresh laundry to dry.
- Who started Bart Smit, and when? Thames and Gaartje Smit, in 1931, naming the shop after their son Bart.
Plan your harbourfront stay
Make these Surprising Volendam Trivia moments part of your own story with a room directly on the dike at Hotel Old Dutch—steps from the harbour, terraces, shops, and sights, with Amsterdam around the corner. Many rooms overlook the IJsselmeer or the village, some have a private balcony, and all listed room types feature king-size beds. You’ll enjoy lunch and dinner at Restaurant Le Pompadour (pets are welcome in the restaurant), and you can unwind at our on-site wine bar, It’s Wine. Traveling as a team? We also offer a separate conference room equipped for business meetings.
Prefer a package? Consider:
- Summer Arrangement: two days in a double room with breakfast and dinner.
- Haven Arrangement: two days including a boat trip to Marken, breakfast, and a 3-course dinner.
- Weekend Arrangement: two fully catered days in the hotel.
Ready to turn trivia into experiences? Book your stay at Hotel Old Dutch today, or contact us for details:
- Email: info@olddutch.nl
- Phone: +31 299 39 98 88
- WhatsApp (quick questions): +31 299 399 888
Enjoy your time on the dike—and keep these facts handy for your next harbour conversation.