Hem, Netherlands

Hem (West Frisian: Him) (population estimate: 1230) is a village in the municipality Drechterland, located in the north west of the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.

The village was first mentioned around 1312 as Hem, and means "silted land in a bend of a stream". Hem developed in the 12th century as a peat excavation settlement.

The tower of the Dutch Reformed church dates from around 1500. The baluster and spire were constructed after a 1897 fire. The matching church was demolished in 1972 after a fire. The Catholic St Lucas Church is an aisleless church from 1930. Hem was home to 591 people in 1840.

Notable people

 * Alice Besseling, politician