Volendam - North Hollland For a long time, fishing was the main source of income, but when the Afsluitdijk put an end to this in 1932, Volendam’s residents didn’t focus on North Sea fishing like the Urkers, but instead went to work in construction, or devoted themselves to a new sector: tourism. From 1900 onwards, more and more wealthy Americans appeared in the village in search of their overseas roots. Enchanted by this picturesque village, they fell in love and happily stayed a night or two.