Remember De Rijp. This village and former island whispers tales of herring, whales, and a devastating fire. Imagine it bustling with ships ready to sail the high seas.
De Rijp is located in the Dutch province of North Holland. Today it is part of the municipality of Alkmaar. Once, it was an island between the Schermer and Beemster polders.
Before these polders were created De Rijp thrived due to its herring industry. Now De Rijp is known for its rijksmonuments including North Holland’s oldest wooden houses.
Let’s journey back. Before the lakes were drained De Rijp was a port town. Its merchant ships navigated trade routes far and wide. The town boasted a medium-sized herring fleet. Larger ships even hunted whales near Spitsbergen.
After Alkmaar’s and Egmond’s polders proved successful plans emerged to drain the lakes surrounding De Rijp. In 1605 De Rijp separated from Graft. It became a relief center for the Beemster polder’s drainage. Jan Leeghwater, born in De Rijp, led the project. He even designed De Rijp’s Town Hall.
Look closely at De Rijp’s coat of arms. Two herrings symbolize the town’s fishing legacy. The polders shifted the town’s economy. Ships had to travel farther to reach open water. Yet, herring remained vital.
Inside the Grote Kerk is a stained-glass window. Enkhuizen’s coopers guild donated it. It shows barrels used by herring packers in De Rijp in 1655.
In 1654 disaster struck De Rijp. A fire devastated the town’s southern side. It spared only the north side including the City Hall. The herring fleet survived. Its success enabled the church’s reconstruction.
When the church reopened in 1655 various guilds donated stained-glass windows. Towns like Medemblik Alkmaar and Amsterdam contributed. These windows are now national treasures. They underwent restoration in the 1990s. Safety glass now protects them much like in Gouda.
Notice the glass panel depicting coopers crafting barrels. Another shows the herring fleet in full sail.
De Rijp is the birthplace of Jan Leeghwater. He was a famous water engineer. The town honors Jan Janszoon Weltevree with a modern statue. He was the first European to arrive in Korea with the VOC. In Korea, he is known as Pak Yon.
Today De Rijp provides a peaceful escape. Its historic sites and scenic landscapes are perfect. They offer visitors a quieter side of the Netherlands. Take in the historic town center. Admire the Town Hall built in 1630. De Rijp offers so much to discover.