Here at the Bolwerk Haarlem Plaque, history whispers. Let’s journey back through time. This seemingly quiet spot was once a vital part of Amsterdam’s defenses. Today we’re standing where the Bolwerk Haarlem once stood.
The Bolwerk Haarlem, initially named Bolwerk De Palm in 1614, guarded the city. Its name changed in 1672. It was renamed Bolwerk Haarlem due to its location along the Palmgracht extension. The point of the Eerste Marnixplantsoen shows where the Bolwerk stood. It is the only remaining recognizable bastion along the Singelgracht.
A windmill called De Palm, built in 1725, once stood proudly on this bastion. Like other bastion mills, De Palm ground grain. This octagonal post mill was wind-powered. Sadly, fire destroyed it in 1831. It was never rebuilt.
Imagine the bustling activity around De Palm. A lease from 1726 mentions the newly built mill. Cornelis van Beek rented it for 10 guilders per week. His wife Aagje de Ridder, Jan Visvliet’s widow, helped him. Jan had previously used the mill here.
Otto Wolken and Willem Schukkink owned the mill when it burned down. They asked to rebuild it in 1840. They cited unrest in Belgium as the reason for their delay. They had to defend their fatherland. Friends wanted to help Schukkink, who was without resources since the fire.
The new mill would resemble the Gooyer. City officials denied the request after consulting advisors. J.E.van Someren Brand believed the location unsuitable for monitoring excise taxes. Past experiences revealed it was prone to smuggling. Wolken had concealed grains and altered excise documents.
Wolken and Schukkink made a third appeal. They asked for a suitable location to build a mill, subject to royal approval. The city responded that it was not their responsibility. Finding a site was up to the interested parties.
Bolwerk Haarlem also served as a cemetery in 1633. It was used to bury victims of a plague epidemic. Known as the Noorderkerkhof, it closed in 1866 when the Oosterbegraafplaats opened. Each plague epidemic claimed at least 10% of the population. In 1656, over 896 people died and the number rose to over 15,000. The plague of 1666 killed more than 24,200. The graveyard was placed at the city’s edge to prevent contamination.
After 1875, Bolwerk Haarlem transformed into a park. In 1880, the first bridge over the Singelgracht to the Nassaukade was bought second-hand from Rotterdam. The bridge was too low and obstructed passage. It was returned to Rotterdam in 1950.
In 1998, Sigurdur Gudmundsson’s artwork was installed here. The railing-like piece evokes the past. The 1988 sculpture previously stood at Prof. Tulpplein near the Amstel Hotel.
So, as you stand here at the Bolwerk Haarlem Plaque, remember its layered past. From defensive bastion to windmill site, burial ground to plant-filled park. It’s a place where Amsterdam’s story unfolds.