Veendam (Dutch pronunciation: [veːnˈdɑm]) is a town and municipality with a population of 27,752 in the province of Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands. Veendam was established in 1648 as a peat colony by Adriaan Geerts Wildervanck. A Holland America Line cruise ship, the MS Veendam, is named after the city. The municipality includes Westerdiepsterdallen, the smallest town in the Netherlands.