Around 800 AD a vast forest once stood where the Haarlemmermeer now lies. Lisserbroek however sat higher. A thick peat layer formed over millennia protected it from permanent flooding. This higher ground became crucial for survival. As the surrounding forest was cleared for agriculture and grazing the Haarlemmermeer grew. Storms relentlessly expanded the lake. Lisserbroek though remained a haven. It survived the encroaching waters.
Lisserbroek’s name itself reflects its history. Meaning “swampy land near Lisse” it speaks of its location and early environment. The village’s story is intertwined with the Haarlemmermeer’s fate. Centuries of human activity and natural forces transformed a forest into a vast lake. Villages were swallowed by the water. Only Lisserbroek stubbornly held on.
The 19th century brought a new challenge. Severe storms ravaged the region. In 1838 a particularly violent storm flooded Leiden. The Lisserbroek polder suffered immensely. Its dikes broke three times. The small pumping station labored for months draining the inundated lands. Amsterdam itself faced a potential catastrophe. The fear of a breach between the Haarlemmermeer and the IJ River was real.
This crisis spurred the ambitious project to drain the Haarlemmermeer. This involved digging a ring canal. The Ringvaart. It sliced through Lisserbroek dividing the polder. Before the drainage Lisserbroek was twice its current size. The ring canal’s construction reshaped the landscape altering Lisserbroek’s boundaries forever. The western side remained part of Lisserbroek. The eastern section now belongs to Lisse.
The drained Haarlemmermeer revealed a mudflat. Pioneers arrived to cultivate the land. Life was arduous. They lived in makeshift wooden huts. Mortality rates were high. Alcoholism was rampant. Lisserbroek slowly recovered. The peat industry became significant. The land provided peat for fuel and construction. This industry thrived for 56 years until 1909. It brought prosperity to the village.
Specialized infrastructure developed to support peat extraction. Long trenches were dug. These served as waterways for transporting the peat. A narrow gauge railway the Turfspoor was built. It carried peat to loading points on the Ringvaart. This railway later served the burgeoning bulb industry. Its tracks were eventually removed in 1976.
Turf cutting was seasonal. Workers started before dawn. They worked in teams one using a special shovel the other collecting the turves. The peat was stacked to dry forming distinctive pyramids. These were then stored in turfsheds. The last of these sheds was demolished in 1973. Lisserbroek’s history is a testament to its resilience. It survived floods and peat extraction. Today this quiet village looks forward to a future where more housing is planned. The Turfspoor a reminder of its past. Lisserbroek’s history is one of adaptation. It’s a story of survival. It is a story of transformation.