Huizen (population: 41,974 in 2004) is a town in the western part of the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The municipality covers an area of 23.28 km² (of which 7.51 km² water).

The name "Huizen" is Dutch for "houses" and is linked with the believe that the first stone houses in the region appeared here.

It was originally a coastal village, with a thriving fishing industry. After the draining of the Zuider Zee, the old sea was degraded to a mere fresh water lake, and economical activities shifted towards industry and commerce.

In the 1960s the town was designated to build substantially large residential areas, to overcome the housing shortage in the region. From that moment on, the town took on an influx of people and grew rapidly.

External links

• Official Website
• http://www.sdu.nl/staatscourant/gem/gem245nh.htm
• http://www.plattegronden.nl/huizen/