EDAM  , a

town of Holland in the province of North Holland, close to the Zuider Zee, about 13 M . N.N.E. of Amsterdam by steam tramway . It is connected with the Zuider Zee by a fine canal protected by a large sea-lock (1828), and has regular steam-boat communication in various directions . Pop . (1900) 6444 . The many quaint old brick houses form the chief feature of interest in the town . The facades are frequently adorned with carvings and inscriptions, one of which records the legend of the capture of a siren in 1403, who lived for some time among the people of Edam, but escaped again to the sea . The Great Church of St Nicholas, probably founded in the 14th century, was largely rebuilt after a fire in 1602, which, originating in the church, destroyed nearly the whole town . It contains some fine stained glass and carved woodwork of this period . The Little Church (15th century) was demolished in 1883, except for a portion of the nave and the old tower and steeple, from which the bells curiously project . The town hall dates from 1737, and there is a museum founded in 1895 . Edam has some trade in timber, while shipbuilding, rope-spinning and salt-boiling are also carried on .

It gives its name to the description of " sweet-

milk cheese " (zoetemelks kaas) made throughout North Holland, which is familiar on account of its round shape and red rind . Edam took its name and origin from the dam built on the little river Ye which joined the great Purmer lake close by . Free access to the Zuider Zee was obtained by the construction of a new dock in 1357, in which year the town also received civic rights from William V. of Bavaria, count of Holland . Owing to the danger of the extension of the Purmer and Beemster lakes, Philip II. of Spain caused a sluice to be built into the dock in 1567 . In the next century Edam was a great shipbuilding centre, and nearly the whole of Admiral de Ruyter's fleet was built here; but in the same century the harbour began to get blocked up, and the importance and industrial activity of the city slowly waned .