Purmerend (population: 75,831 in 2004) is a town in the north-western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The municipality covers an area of 24.56 kmē (of which 0.82 kmē is water). The mid-sized town is famous for having a traditional cow market (in Dutch "Koeiemarkt") and cheese market (in Dutch "Kaasmarkt"). It received city rights in 1410, and had at one time a castle called Slot Purmersteyn. From the 1960 onwards, Purmerend has seen major expansions. These expansions added new suburbs, providing homes for people working in Amsterdam. This expansion continues to the present date. Public transportation is mainly focused on Amsterdam, with several bus services and a train service via Zaandam.