Nederland: historische gebouwen en bouwwerken

Naarden is already officially mentioned in documents from around 900. Naarden was granted its city rights in 1300. Around 1350 the city was destroyed. Because at its original location it also suffered from the nuisance of the former Zuiderzee, it was decided to rebuild the city a few kilometers away on a sand ridge between Naardermeer and Zuiderzee. Naarden was then also given ramparts and walls to protect the residents against enemy troops. Nevertheless, in 1572 the city suffered a terrible massacre by the Spaniards during the Eighty Years' War. The citizens, who escaped this, brought new life into the city. Proof of this was the beautiful town hall from 1601, which was built in the Dutch Renaissance style with a double stepped gable; an architectural style dating from the Golden Age, when the Netherlands was the economic and political center of the world. The tympanum above the entrance contains, besides the statues, the city coat of arms of Naarden also the motto of faith (PiP3): Godt regiert al anno 1601 (God rules since 1601). Nowadays the city hall of Naarden - a Dutch state monument - is used for city meetings, weddings and cultural activities.

The Fort bij Nigtevecht (Fort near Nigtevecht) was completed in 1904. The purpose of the fort (part of the Stelling van Amsterdam *) was to defend the accesses to Amsterdam, formed by the Merwedekanaal (nowadays Amsterdam-Rhine Canal) and the river Vecht. It also protected the sluices between these two waters. A second battery is located in the defence line wall near the fort. The fort has also three mounds, which are the remnants of anti-aircraft artillery positions that were installed in 1927. During the mobilization from 1915 till 1918 about 300 soldiers slept in the fort. In World War II, the Germans used it for storage. The fort - hidden in the green - is located on a quiet location near the Amsterdam-Rijn Kanaal. One can walk around wfor free. A large part of this stronghold was made waterproof and restored by Stichting Herstelling , a Dutch foundation that offers work experience to the jobless. Fort bij Nigtevecht is owned and managed by Natuurmonumenten , a Society for Preservation of Nature Monuments in the Netherlands. * The Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam) is a 135 kilometers long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. It was built between 1883 and 1920 and consisted of 46 armed forts and batteries, acting in concert with an intricate system of dikes, sluices, canals and inundation polders. It is a major example of a fortification based on the principle of temporary flooding of the land, aimed at protecting the Dutch capital against a possible foreign attack. The Stelling van Amsterdam is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.

The beach of Noordwijk was lit already in 1444, when after sunset a big fire was set to show the fisher boats the way to the coast. The first (wooden) lighthouse was built in the 19th century. The present lighthouse dates from 1921. The remarkable white plastered tower - originally built out of red brick - has a height of 25,5 metres, which means the light itself is 33 metres above sea level. The tower has six flowers and 108 stair steps to the top. It is an unmanned lighthouse.

One of the most prominent buildings in Ootmarsum is the (former) town hall with its beautifully decorated facade and with the town coat of arms above the entrance. The town hall was built in 1778 on the same site where the Huys der Stadt had also stood since 1564. The new town hall was designed by architect Egbert Schrader. It became a town hall without a turret. A copper weather vane was put on the ridge of the roof. Only much later - in 1839 - was a turret put on the town hall. Ootmarsum was a separate municipality until 2001, when it became a part of Dinkelland. Two years later, the town hall was sold by the new municipality. The building then had various functions, but as a national monument it will always remain in Ootmarsum.

After World War I the Netherlands decided to set up their own international communication network. This enabled a permanent connection with the Dutch East Indies. A search was made for an uninhabited, remote area for placing a broadcasting station. This was found in the Veluwe, where 450 hectares of land was purchased from Staatsbosbeheer (Dutch State Forest Commission). About 150 labourers from Amsterdam levelled the terrain. The antenna terrain was constructed as a circular plain with a diameter of approximately 1.200 meters, a ring of five 212 meters high masts around a central mast at the foot of the transmitter building. The radio transmission centre was officially put into operation in May 1923, initially for Morse telegraph traffic. Not only buildings were built for the broadcasting system, but also houses, workshops and a water tower were erected. The entire village was named after its function: Radio Kootwijk. In the late 1920s, around 200 people lived in Radio Kootwijk. The village was remote and there was no regular bus connection with villages in the area. That is why the community arranged a school bus, a market bus, a football bus and even a church bus on Sundays. The village also had its own fire brigade, garbage collection service, electricity and water via the water tower and pumps. The architect of the main building - officially called “Building A”, but well known by its nickname “De Kathedraal” - was architect Julius Luthmann, who worked for the Dutch Government Building Agency. The building could, for example, not be built in wood because of the fire hazard of overheating due to radiation from the transmitters. The sending station therefore consists of reinforced concrete, in the form of a sphinx (the architect was interested in Egyptian mythology). The style from which it is executed is a mixture of German expressionism and the Amsterdam School, with some Scandinavian influence. Luthmann worked with the sculptor Hendrik van den Eijnde for the decoration. As of 1962 the transmitter station provided long-distance connections for the maritime industry from the Netherlands. In 1998 the station finally closed it doors. The buildings and corresponding terrain went back to the hands of the Dutch State Forest Commission. Nowadays it is used as venue and scenery for several cultural events and productions. Visitors are welcome on certain days.

Radio Kootwijk – 'the Cathedral', a former transmitting station.

If visiting nowadays De Rijp or nearby Graft it is almost impossible to imagine that herring, whale and merchant ships from these villages could sail directly to the sea. These nautical activities brought unprecedented prosperity to the villages. The magnificent city halls of the Rijp and Graft (PiP) and the homes of wealthy ship owners bear witness to the style and glory of the past steeped in a long tradition of whale and herring fishing. After draining of the surrounding lakes the herring industry disappeared and it was done with the wealth of the villages. The town hall of De Rijp was designed by architect-engineer Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater and is dating back to 1630 (the one in Graft is from 1613). The building survived a huge fire in 1654 that damaged most of the town. Nowadays is no longer used by the government, but there are still wedding and other official meetings. The ground floor was a weigh house, now housing the local tourist information centre. (On the foreground of the picture the so called Dambrug)

The stadhuis (town hall), of Roermond is situated on the market square. The building has a long history, as already in 1399 there is talk of a ' raithuys ' (medieval for raadhuis = town hall). In 1554 a deliberately lit fire destroyed three quarters of the city, including the town hall. In the late 17th century the rebuilt town hall was renovated and extended with a couple rooms. From then on it served also as a meeting place for the government of the Overkwartier van Gelre (Upper Guelders). In 1876, the facade of the town hall was plastered by concrete, which was very popular in that time. The facade was further embellished by reinstatement of the old entrance door. The three dormers with the weapons van Limburg, Roermond and Gelre also dating from that time. After World War II the city and town hall were severely damaged, but again it was rebuilt. Eight years later the building had to be renovated completely as it was in a seerious state of disrepair. In 1955 the restoration of the old part of the town hall was completed. The main external change was the facade; the concrete layer was removed and the facade with its characteristic pilasters, cornices and fries was lined with tuff. (PiPs: The town hall has a tower with a carillon. This carillon was donated in 1982 by companies and private inhabitants to mark the 750th anniversary of the city of Roermond. In 1995, the chimes were supplemented by a group of moving images that revolve around the tower of the town hall every afternoon at 12.00 pm.)

The 18th century was Schiedam's Golden Age: the cessation of liquor imports from France made possible the emergence of the Schiedam gin distillery. Jenever from Schiedam was exported all over the world from dozens of distilleries and distilleries. The jenever industry gave Schiedam the nickname 'Black Nazareth', because the soot from the distilleries and glass factories colored the city black. The Schiedammer Korenbeurs (Corn Exchange) or Koopmansbeurs is a Dutch national monument, which was built between 1786- 1792. Malt wine, grains and alcohol were traded in the Korenbeurs . This trade was directly related to the Schiedam distilleries for jenever. The building has been repaired and renovated several times over the years. Since 2015 the building houses the public library of Schiedam. The covered courtyard has become a courtyard garden, a green atrium with tall trees and plants. The library has a reading table with a remarkable chandelier, made of dozens of gin glasses

Stedelijk Museum Schiedam (Municipal Museum Schiedam) was founded in 1899 and has been located in the Dutch national monument Sint Jacobsgasthuis since 1940. (A gasthuis is a combination of retirement home and hospital, a place one can visit from the age of 40.) This hospital was built in 1787 in a symmetrical, neo-classical style after a design by architect Italian Jan Guidici. It was built on the site of an even older hospice which was founded around 1547. The property housed poor elderly people until 1934 and that function is apparent from its floor plan: in the centre of the building there is a large chapel with a wing on either side. The left wing was used as a men's wing and the right as a women's wing. After a renovation (2013) the former neoclassical chapel (PiP) has been transformed into the main entrance for the museum. It also houses a café and a museum shop.

Sneek: Water gate (Waterpoort) seen from Hoogend.

Sneek was founded in the 10th century and became Sneek became several city rights in the 13th century, which became official in 1456. Sneek was (and still is) one of the eleven Frisian cities. This was also the beginning of a period of blooming trade for the city that would last until about 1550. In 1492 construction of a moat and wall around the city began. In those days Sneek was the only walled city in Friesland. The Waterpoort (Water gate) was probably built at the same time as the city wall. The gate served to close off access by water to the town. The water gate was built on the Hoogendsterpijp (a pijp is a narrow water passage). In 1613 the gate was converted into an ornamental gate because it no longer had a military function. From then on, the gate had its current appearance. The architect is unknown. In 1757 a thorough rebuilding followed and in 1785 the gate was given a guard. The gate consists of two octagonal towers, with in between a bridge across the waterway and above the bridge a gatekeeper's house. In 1877 it was restored according to a design by the nationally renowned architect Isaac Gosschalk, who undid the 18th-century changes and restored the early 17th-century state. He gave a free interpretation of the original middle section, which strongly determined the current appearance of the Waterpoort . Sneek had four other water gates and two land gates, all of which were demolished in the 19th century. The Waterpoort remained and is now the symbol of Sneek, known worldwide and the pride of the city.

Jacob de Graeff, mayor of Amsterdam, built around 1650 a countryhouse along a road - ‘Zoesdijc’ - between the villages of Baarn and Soest, which was called ‘Hofstede aen Zoestdijck’. Stadholder William III bought the manor in 1674 and used it as a hunting lodge. Many members of the family of Orange-Nassau lived in ‘Soestdijk Palace’ till 1795 during the French invasion, when it was seized as a spoil of war. The building then was used by French soldiers. In 1815 the Prince of Orange, later King Willem II, was presented ‘Soestdijk Palace’, in recognition of his services at the Battle of Waterloo. The palace was expanded by adding two wings, the northern or ‘Baarn-wing’ and the southern or ‘Soest-wing’. Many years the palace was only used as summer home by members of the Dutch royal family. After the investiture of Queen Wilhelmina ‘Soestdijk Palace’ was regularly used again. Her mother, Queen Emma, used the palace as a summer home until her death in 1934. After her death the palace was renovated so that Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard could make it their home after their marriage in 1937. ‘Soestdijk Palace’ became in 1948 their official residence until both of their deaths in 2004. Pending a decision about its future use, ‘Soestdijk Palace’ is a kind of a museum and it is possible to visit the building and the surrounding gardens.

The Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam) is a 135 kilometers long ring of fortifications around Amsterdam. It was built between 1883 and 1920 and consisted of 46 armed forts and batteries, acting in concert with an intricate system of dikes, sluices, canals and inundation polders. It is a major example of a fortification based on the principle of temporary flooding of the land, aimed at protecting the Dutch capital against a possible foreign attack. The Stelling van Amsterdam is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996. The Fort bij Spijkerboor is the largest of the 46 fortresses, located in the Beemster Polder. The fort was built between 1889 and 1911 to defend the Northern Front. It was one of the most modern and heavily armed forts of the Defence Line of Amsterdam, equipped with an armoured turret with a double-barrel 10.5-centimetre cannon. The fort has two storeys because of the height of the dike to be defended. The fort was mobilized during the World War I. At that time there were 300 soldiers stationed. Although this defensive structure remained in the possession of the Dutch army until 1975, it has been mainly used as a prison throughout the years. Over the course of time, inmates have left their mark in the form of beautiful murals. At the heart of the fortress is a chapel, featuring these decorations. Fort bij Spijkerboor can be visited and is a kind of musuem, showing how the soldiers lived there with sleeping quarters, laundry rooms, an army kitchen with huge boilers and even a private loo for the officers !!

The lighthouse on Texel - officially Eierland Vuurtoren (Lighthouse Eierland) - is named after the island of Eierland, on of the two former islands, which were merged together to present island of Texel. The lighthouse is surrounded by a vast dune area, called Eierlandse Duinen and is located on the most northern point of Texel. The lighthouse was built in 1864 after some civilians of Texel attended on the dangers of the waters between Texel and the island of Vlieland (72 ships had wrecked between 1848 and 1860). The tower itself is 37,4 metres high. During the uprising of the Georgians in World War II - they barricaded themselves in the tower - the lighthouse was heavily damaged and had to be ‘rebuilt’. In 1950 it was lighted again. As said the tower is surrounded by a scenic dune area on the mainland side and a very wide beach (especially at low tide). It is a very pleasant walking clockwise ‘around’ the tower from the car park at the end of the ‘Vuurtorenweg’. After finishing your walk have a drink or snack in ‘Torenrestaurant' with great views of the beach and ‘of course’ the sturdy bright red lighthouse. The lighthouse can be visited; from the top one has spectacular views of the North - and Wadden Sea and the nearby island of Vlieland.

In 1818 things were not going very well in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of the current countries Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The kingdom had fought and lost several wars and trade was not at the levels it used to be. There was widespread poverty, particulary in the cities. Government and churches failed to solve the problems, so a group of people from more prosperous circles, under the leadership of a former army officer, set up an organisation in order to combat poverty: De Maatschappij van Weldadigheid (the Society of Benevolence. Orphans, handicapped people, beggars, prostitutes, vagrants and others living in poverty did get a new change by working in a reform housing colony. The first one Frederiksoord was built in 1818. Families were given homes and a piece of land. Men grew their own crops on the land and women spinned yarn. Everything they received was in the form of a loan, which they repaid through work. After a couple of ‘free’ colonies for the poor, the Society also set up unfree colonies for beggars, vagrants and orphans who did not wish to move to the countryside of their own free will. The residents were referred to as ‘patients’, but as a matter of fact they were prisoners.. Veenhuizen - built in 1823 - was the second ‘unfree’ settlement in the Netherlands. The settlement grew and grew and became a large institution. It was run differently and the the ‘patients’ were constantly monitored by guards. The settlement was built on reclaimed peatland. ‘Patients’ were on a tightly controlled daily schedule and work was a form of therapy. Compulsory attendance at a place of worship was also mandatory, no matter where - a catholic or protestant church or a synagoge. In the 20th century the unfree colony inVeenhuizen was converted into an official prison. The colony still serves as a penal establishment with two prisons. One of the former buildings (main picture and PiP’s) nowadays houses the National Prison Museum. The museum also shows what life in the colony of Veenhuizen was like.

The history of Het Armhuis dates back to 1632. In that year it was decided that a kind of home for former sailors should be created. Thanks to a generous donation from the clergyman Abraham Ursinius, the deaconry was able to take on this task. For centuries the house provided shelter to old (seafaring) people, the needy and later also to orphans. Until 1950 it functioned as an Armhuis . After a thorough restoration in 1997, the building was used as a restaurant and gallery (in the meantime the restaurant will be closed on 1 June 2021). Het Armhuis is also an official wedding location on Vlieland.

Het Oude Raadhuis (The Old Town Hall) was built in 1855 to replace a building from 1598. The town hall was built in neo-classical style. Two gable stones still remind one of the old town hall: one with the year 1598 and one with Vlieland's coat of arms on it. The town hall has a hip-roof with chimneys at the corners. On the roof is a bell tower, on which a weather vane in the shape of a ship is placed. The pillars in front of the door bear the two former coats of arms of Oost- and West-Vlieland. The building was registered as a national monument in 1967. In 2001 Het Oude Raadhuis was sold to the Vereniging Hendrick de Keyser (an association aiming to be the guardian of the architectural heritage of The Netherlands by acquiring, conserving, restoring and renting out historic properties). This association had Het Oude Raadhuis restored in 2005. Nowadays the building is used as a wedding venue.