Bussum (population: 31,300 in 2004) is a town in the northwestern Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The municipality covers an area of 8.11 kmē (of which 0.05 kmē water). Bussum was first mentioned in 1306. In this time, Bussum was a large heathland with many small farms, sheep pens and forests as is shown on old maps. Since Bussum is situated near the fortified town Naarden, it was governed by Naarden from 1369. In 1470, Bussum was inhabited by about 250 people, which made it the smallest village in het Gooi. Bussum became independent in 1817. Yet it was not until the arrival of a railway line in 1874 that Bussum began to flourish.