Nederland - Appingedam, hanging kitchens

Although almost nobody in the Netherlands would call Appingedam a city, it became its city rights already in the year of 1327. For sure the city is much older, but its date of origin is not known exactly. Together with the capital Groningen and Winschoten it is one of the three cities in the province of Groningen and located in the northern part of the Netherlands.
The name ‘Appingedam’ derived from two hamlets, ‘Appinge’ and ‘Damme’, which formed the later city; although others refer to the river ‘Apt’, in which a ‘dam’ was built.

Appingedam’s is quite famous for its hanging kitchens ('hangende keukens') and do attract many visitors. During the Golden Age the city had warehouses along the Damsterdiep. In the 17th century these warehouses were converted into private houses and due to a lack of space white painted kitchens were built over the water of the Damsterdiep. Also very practical, because the housewives could collect the water for cooking directly from the canal and after the washing up they threw the water out of the kitchen window back into the canal. Many of these houses along the Solwerderstraat are still used as private residences.

By far the best views of the ‘hanging kitchens’ are from the Vrouwenbrug (Women’s Bridge) over the Damsterdiep.