Introduction
Town and former municipality in North Holland, NetherlandsBussumTown and former municipalityBussum across from city hall
FlagCoat of armsLocation in North HollandCoordinates: 52°17′N 5°10′E / 52.283°N 5.167°E / 52.283; 5.167CountryNetherlandsProvinceNorth HollandMunicipalityGooise MerenArea • Total8.15 km2 (3.15 sq mi) • Land8.09 km2 (3.12 sq mi) • Water0.06 km2 (0.023 sq mi)Elevation1 m (3.3 ft)Population (2019) • Total33,595 • Density4,150/km2 (10,800/sq mi)DemonymBussumerTime zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postcode1400–1406Area code035Websitewww.bussum.nl
Map of the former municipality of Bussum, June 2015
Bussum (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbʏsʏm] ⓘ) is a commuter town to the east of Amsterdam, and former municipality in the Gooi region in the south east of the province of North Holland in the Netherlands near Hilversum. Since 2016, Bussum has been part of the new municipality of Gooise Meren.
Bussum had a population of 33,595 in 2019 and covered an area of 8.15 km2 (3.15 sq mi).
History
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For a long time Bussum was a hamlet situated in the heathlands of the Gooi and was first mentioned in 1306. At this time, Bussum was shown on maps as a large heathland with many small farms, sheep pens and forests. Since Bussum was situated near the fortified town of Naarden it was governed by Naarden from 1369. In 1470 Bussum had about 250 inhabitants, which made it the smallest village in the Gooi.
Bussum became independent from Naarden in 1817, yet it was not until the arrival of a railway line in 1874 that Bussum began to flourish. Two train stations were built in the town, that still exist today: Naarden-Bussum and Bussum Zuid (Dutch for Bussum South), both on the connection between Amsterdam and Hilversum. The stations and the road network fostered the town's status as a satellite town of Amsterdam, allowing for reverse commute also to Hilversum. From 1898 until 1907, Bussum housed the first Dutch socialist colony after the example of Thoreau's Walden, set up by the writer and psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden. In 1951, Bussum hosted the first Dutch national TV broadcast and the national TV studios were located there until 1964.
Bussum merged with the local municipalities of Naarden, Muiden and Muiderberg on 1 January 2016. In October 2014, the combined town councils chose the name Gooise Meren for the new municipality, the other options being Naarden-Bussum and Naardingerland.
Local government
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The last municipal council of Bussum consisted of 23 seats, which at the 2014 election were divided as follows:
VVD - 5 seats
List nr 6 (blank list) - 5 seats
D66 - 4 seats
PvdA - 3 seats
CDA - 2 seats
GroenLinks - 2 seats
Gooise Ouderen Partij - 2 seats
Elections were held in November 2015 for a council for the new merged Gooise Meren municipality that commenced work in January 2016, replacing Bussum council.
Notable residents
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See also: Gooise Meren § Notable people
Freddy Wittop (1911–2001), international costume designer
Karel Thole (1914–2000), painter and illustrator
Paul Biegel (1925–2006), author
Willem Duys (1928–2011), radio and television presenter and record producer
Thierry Veltman (1939–2023), artist
Tineke Lagerberg (born 1941), swimmer
Ronnie Tober (born 1945), singer and entertainer
Charles de Lint (born 1951), Canadian author and musician
Huub Rothengatter (born 1954), racing driver
Raoul Heertje (born 1963), comedian
Anneloes Nieuwenhuizen (born 1963), field hockey defender
Ruud Hesp (born 1965), football goalkeeper
Ellen Elzerman (born 1971), swimmer
Thekla Reuten (born 1975), actress
Wopke Hoekstra (born 1975), Dutch politician
Joël Drommel (born 1996), football goalkeeper
Transport
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The town of Bussum has two railway stations: Naarden-Bussum and Bussum Zuid.