It is known that in 1273 Vlaardingen was granted city rights by Floris V, Count of Holland. Older city rights are possible, but not provable. In 1574, during the Eighty Years War of Dutch independence, a group of Watergeuzen burnt down Vlaardingen as commanded by William of Orange to prevent the Spanish from capturing the town. Vlaardingen later became a shipbuilding area and a significant harbour for the herring fishing industry. The fishing boats (originally "haringbuizen", later also "sloepen" and "loggers") ceased to use Vlaardingen in the years after World War II. In 1855 the former municipality of Zouteveen was merged into the municipality Vlaardingerambacht which in turn was merged with Vlaardingen during the occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War by the Germans in 1941. Because of the industrialization in and close to Vlaardingen, the city suffered from heavy air pollution and, sometimes, pathogenic smog during the 1970s. One day, a high school had to be closed because of the smog. Many environmental groups arose in and around Vlaardingen as it was seen as one of the most polluted cities of the country. Vlaardingen consists of eight districts/neighbourhoods: Vlaardingen Centrum Westwijk Vettenoordse polder (includes industry) Vlaardingen Oost Ambacht/Babberspolder Holy Zuid Holy Noord Broekpolder Politics Mayor: Bert Wijbenga (VVD). Seats in the city council after the municipal elections in 2010: Labour Party (PvdA), 6 seats Vlaardingen Ahead 2000/Livable Vlaardingen (VV2000/LV), 6 seats Groenlinks (GL), 4 seats People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), 4 seats Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), 3 seats Socialist Party (SP), 3 seats Democrats 66 (D66), 2 seats Christian Union/Political Reformed Party (CU/SGP), 2 seats City Interests Vlaardingen (SBV), 2 seats Proud of the Netherlands (TON), 2 seats General Elderly Alliance (AOV), 1 seat Economy A Unilever research centre is located in Vlaardingen (located next to the former Sunlight factory, later called Lever Faberge Sourcing Unit Vlaardingen). There are still some ship repair business(es) in Eastern Vlaardingen beside the Nieuwe Maas River. The was for many years the largest privately owned artificial harbour in the world. The last major herring factory, Warmelo & Van Der Drift, left Vlaardingen in the middle of 2012 to relocate to Katwijk aan Zee. There are still some ferry terminals (DFDS Seaways, sailing to Felixstowe and Immingham and P&O Ferries sailing to Hull). Attractions Monuments Historical buildings in the town include the Grote Kerk (Big Church), the Waag (Weighing Bridge)