It is a part of the municipality of Wormerland, and lies about 13 km northwest of Amsterdam.

Important skirmishes between Spanish troops and the Geuzen took place in Wormer during the Eighty Years' War.

They were crushingly defeated by a combined force of locals, Geuzen and filibusters, bringing an end to the Spanish tyranny in the Waterland area.

At least 130 bakeries in the town were once supplying the countless ships of the Dutch East India Company.

Other important industrial activities in the town during this period were the production of starch and the processing of whale blubber.