Velsen (ˈvɛlzə(n)) is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It is located on both sides of the North Sea Canal.
On the north side of the North Sea Canal there is a major steel plant, Tata Steel IJmuiden, formerly known as Koninklijke Hoogovens (the town of IJmuiden is actually located south of the canal). The headquarters of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij is located in IJmuiden.
The Kennemerstrand beach on the south side of the canal is at the end of the Kennemerboulevard, which runs south of the Seaport Marina.
To the south is the beach of Bloemendaal aan Zee. In between is a nude beach.
The municipality of Velsen consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts:
on the north of the North Sea Canal:
Velsen-Noord
on the south of the North Sea Canal:
Velsen-Zuid, Driehuis, IJmuiden, Santpoort-Noord, Santpoort-Zuid and Velserbroek, and the parts Oosterbroek and Buitenhuizen of the recreation area Spaarnwoude.
Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Velsen, June 2015
In Velsen, there are the following connections across the North Sea Canal:
A railway tunnel between the railway stations of Driehuis and Beverwijk.
Road tunnels, from north to south:
Wijker Tunnel
Velser Tunnel next to the railway tunnel.
A ferry
A road across the lock complex
Railway stations: Driehuis, Santpoort Noord, Santpoort Zuid
Also there used to be the Fast Flying Ferry to Amsterdam. There used to be a railway link between IJmuiden and Amsterdam, the IJmondlijn until 1999, when it was closed.
The municipal council of Velsen consists of 33 seats, which are divided now (2022) as follows:
VL - 7 seats
D66V - 6 seats
VVD - 4 seats
GL - 3 seats
PvdA - 3 seats
LGV - 3 seats
CDA - 2 seats
Forza! IJmond - 2 seats
Forum for Democracy - 2 seats
CU - 1 seat
The ruins of a Roman naval base at Velsen discovered starting in 1945 are believed to be ancient Flevum, which is listed as Phleoum, Romanized to Phleum, in Ptolemy (2.10).
Velsen is twinned with
Saint Engelmund of Velsen (died ca.