[5] An alternative explanation for the name of the locality is that it originally meant common lands for grazing cattle.

[8] A legend says that a miraculous red banner called Magnusvaan was included in the walls of the St. Michaëlsdom church.

It had miraculous powers to avert lightning and storms, to repel evil spirits, and make one invincible.

Willibrord the apostle to the Frisians, had a dream where an angel pointed out the spot where the red flag lay buried.

[9] Another story called Magnuskeren says that Magnus Forteman received a charter from Pope Leo III and emperor Charles recording seven keren, Seventeen Statutes, Twenty Four Landlaws (Landrechten Keuren) and 36 Synod Laws.

On Easter day in the year 1064 Ruurd Jans Harliga killed Sasker Harns in a dispute about who would first make an offering for the poor at the church.

[11] The monks of the monastery dug canals from Almenum to an already existing channel past Vlieland and Texel to provide access to trading vessels.

[12] On 14 December 1287, the devastating St. Lucia's flood permanently altered the landscape creating the Zuiderzee and bringing the Wadden Sea coast to Harlingen, and thereby giving it the opportunity to become a seaport.

Nearby villages Berdingadorp, Medumwart, Dikesherna and parts of the Gerbranda estate lands were lost due to sea encroachment.

[13] Schelte Roorda beat Douwe Edes Gerbranda to death in 1453 in Bolsward, and sought sanctuary in the Almenum church.

The church contained a tomb of D. Georgius of Espelbach, grietman of Barradeel, and mayor of Harlingen who died 19 March 1575 at the age of 63.

[16] The St. Michaëlsdom church was demolished in 1771 and replaced by a new cross-shaped structure called the Grote Kerk which stands till this day.

[21] Villages included in the municipality were Midlum, Achlum, Koningsbuurt, and what are now eastern and northern parts of Harlingen.

Using the name nowadays there is a home for the elderly called Almenum across the other side of the van Harinxmakanaal,[22] and a hotel in nearby Harlingen.