EDAM, a town in the province of North Holland, close to the Zuider Zee, about 13 m. N.N.E. of Amsterdam. It is connected with the Zuider Zee by a fine canal protected by a large sea-lock (1828). Pop. (1927) Edam took its name and origin from the dam built on the Ye, which joined the Purmer lake close by. Free access to the Zuider Zee was obtained by the construction of a new dock in 1357, when 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 de Ruyters fleet was built here; then the harbour began to get silted up, and commercial and industrial activity slowly waned. The Great Church (St. Nicholas) probably i4th century, was largely re built after a fire in 1602, which 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. The town hall dates from 1737, and there is a museum founded in 1895. Cheese making is important and Edam gives its name to the "sweet-milk cheese" (zoetemelks kaas) made throughout North Holland.