Edam, Cheese and the City, North Holland & Hot melting Edam bruschetta Recipe

HEAVENS ON EARTH

Edam, Cheese and the City

Edam is a city in the northwest Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Combined with Volendam, Edam forms the municipality of Edam-Volendam. Approximately 7,380 people live in Edam. The entire municipality of Edam-Volendam has 28,492 inhabitants. The name Edam originates from a dam on the little river E or IJe where the first settlement was located and which was therefore called IJedam.

Edam is famous as the original source of the cheese with the same name.

The most obvious association with the name ‘Edam’ is its cheese. For centuries the well-known round Edam cheeses have been sent from this town to all corners of the world. The cheese market, once again restored to its place of honor, is enacted weekly during the summer months. And nearby cheese warehouses keep alive the memory of a colourful past.

Edam is a city with a rich history. It began in the 12th century, when farmers and fishermen settled along the little Ye river. With that ‘Yedam’ was a fact. This primitive settlement developed into an increasingly prosperous town well into the 17th century. Shipbuilding played an important role in this growth. Once Edam had 33 ship-yards building many famous ships. A good example is the ‘Halve Maan’, the ship that the Englishman Henry Hudson sailed in 1609 when attempting to discover a northern route to the East Indies. A futile attempt in fact, because he ended up on the island of Manhattan!

Beside shipbuilding, commerce was a major contributor to the thriving development of Edam. Together with Amsterdam, Hoorn and Enkhuizen, Edam was one of the most important commercial towns in Holland. Today Edam is a town with authentic 17th century architecture, convincing proof of its rich past. When walking along the old streets and quiet canals, one can easily imagine how it was in a Dutch town centuries ago. Well preserved gables, squares, bridges and monuments capture and hold the attention of the visitor. A stroll takes one past the tea-houses on the ‘Schepenmakersdijk’, the leaning Carillon tower (1561), the historic museum with the floating cellar, the Dam, the Town hall of Edam to the Great Church. This is one of the largest churches in the Netherlands. It has an extraordinary collection of richly coloured stained glass windows dating from the 17th century.

Edam has more: cosy shopping streets and nice terraces where one can enjoy a drink or a snack. There is the ‘Strandbad’ camping on the edge of the IJsselmeer, countless watersport fans from far and near have found their way to this camping site and public swimming area, just outside the centre of Edam. We could easily continue summing up the attractions Edam has to offer, but prefer to invite you personally to come to Edam and discover for yourself the quiet and beauty of this little IJsselmeer town.

 Hot melting Edam bruschetta Recipe

Serves:2

Prep time:5 mins

Cooking time:5 mins

Total time:10 mins

Skill level:Easy peasy

Costs:Cheap as chips

This posh version of an old favourite Welsh Rarebit uses Edam cheese, chorizo and olive tapenade for a tasty twist.

Ingredients

2 large, thick slices country bread

2tbsp green olive tapenade

100g (3½ oz) Edam cheese (sliced)

8 thin slices of chorizo

Small handful watercress leaves

Olive oil, for drizzling

Top tips: Use the filling ingredients to make a tasty enclosed toasty or panini.

Don't like olives? Spread thick caramelised onion chutney on the bread and simply top with Edam.

Roast baby vine tomatoes with a drizzling of olive oil and serve on top of melting Edam bruschetta.

Swap chorizo for slices of wafer thin ham.

Method

Pre-heat grill. Toast one side of the bread slices until golden. Place un-toasted side up on a baking sheet and spread with olive tapenade.

Top each with slices of Edam and chorizo and finish with a little more tapenade.

Place under the grill until melted and bubbling hot.

Top with peppery watercress leaves, drizzle with a little olive oil and serve straight away.