Wieringerwaard
Encyclopedia
Wieringerwaard is a polder
and a village
in the municipality
of Anna Paulowna
in the Dutch
province of Noord-Holland. Wieringerwaard was formerly a separate municipality, until it merged with Barsingerhorn
in 1970.
In 2001, the village of Wieringerwaard had 1176 inhabitants. The built-up area of the village was 0.32 km², and contained 502 residences.
The statistical area "Wieringerwaard", which also can include the peripheral parts of the village, as well as the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 1500.
and the Slikkerdijk of the Zijpe
. In 1970, Wieringerwaard became part of the municipality of Barsingerhorn
, but in 1990 it was separated from this municipality and added to the municipality of Anna Paulowna.
The area was already inhabited before 1610. In the two centuries before the All Saints' Flood of 1170
there were already Frisians
in the area, later called West Frisians. After the many storms which raged around the 12th century the area became uninhabitable. After the area was drained in 1610 it became populated again. In the northern part of the area settlements slowly formed. Eventually, a ribbon shaped village formed between the 1621 lock in the Slikkerdijk and the ditch named De Kolk. This village was named after the polder. After a new lock was constructed on the other side of De Kolk, at the Pishoek and the Waardkanaal, a settlement center arose there. This center was named Nieuwesluis.
In 1742, on top of the Noorderdijk, a windmill
was built. The settlement center which arose there was named De Molens, and five other windmills appeared around the same time and ensured the draining of the polder. More houses appeared around these mills than in the ribbon shaped village. With the construction of the church in 1812, that tendency became stronger, and "Wieringerwaard" meant the village round the mills, and the placename De Molens disappeared. In 1949, the lock in the Slikkerdijk, which had already been renewed twice, was demolished, which was a reason for the village not to be extended in that direction.
.
Every year at the beginning of May the flower days are held. Flower mosaics made of hyacinths are to been seen in the village on these days.
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...
and a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Anna Paulowna
Anna Paulowna
Anna Paulowna is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. The municipality derives its name from the Anna Paulownapolder, which was laid dry in 1846 during the reign of King William II of the Netherlands and in turn named after his wife, Queen Anna Pavlovna...
in the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
province of Noord-Holland. Wieringerwaard was formerly a separate municipality, until it merged with Barsingerhorn
Barsingerhorn
Barsingerhorn is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Niedorp, and lies about north of Heerhugowaard. It received city rights in 1415....
in 1970.
In 2001, the village of Wieringerwaard had 1176 inhabitants. The built-up area of the village was 0.32 km², and contained 502 residences.
The statistical area "Wieringerwaard", which also can include the peripheral parts of the village, as well as the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 1500.
History
The polder was laid dry in 1610. It border, and also the border of the municipality, were the Zuiderzee, the dike-ditches along the outside of the Westfriese OmringdijkWestfriese Omringdijk
The Westfriese Omringdijk is a dyke system that protected the region of Westflinge, part of the historical region of West-Frisia...
and the Slikkerdijk of the Zijpe
Zijpe
-Population centres :The municipality of Zijpe consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Burgerbrug, Burgervlotbrug, Callantsoog, Groote Keeten, Oudesluis, Petten, Schagerbrug, Sint Maartensbrug, Sint Maartensvlotbrug, 't Zand....
. In 1970, Wieringerwaard became part of the municipality of Barsingerhorn
Barsingerhorn
Barsingerhorn is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Niedorp, and lies about north of Heerhugowaard. It received city rights in 1415....
, but in 1990 it was separated from this municipality and added to the municipality of Anna Paulowna.
The area was already inhabited before 1610. In the two centuries before the All Saints' Flood of 1170
All Saints' Flood (1170)
The All Saints' Flood of 1170 was a catastrophic flood in the Netherlands that took place in 1170. Large parts of the Northern Netherlands, and Holland territories were overflowed. This is the flood that created the Zuiderzee...
there were already Frisians
Frisians
The Frisians are a Germanic ethnic group native to the coastal parts of the Netherlands and Germany. They are concentrated in the Dutch provinces of Friesland and Groningen and, in Germany, East Frisia and North Frisia, that was a part of Denmark until 1864. They inhabit an area known as Frisia...
in the area, later called West Frisians. After the many storms which raged around the 12th century the area became uninhabitable. After the area was drained in 1610 it became populated again. In the northern part of the area settlements slowly formed. Eventually, a ribbon shaped village formed between the 1621 lock in the Slikkerdijk and the ditch named De Kolk. This village was named after the polder. After a new lock was constructed on the other side of De Kolk, at the Pishoek and the Waardkanaal, a settlement center arose there. This center was named Nieuwesluis.
In 1742, on top of the Noorderdijk, a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
was built. The settlement center which arose there was named De Molens, and five other windmills appeared around the same time and ensured the draining of the polder. More houses appeared around these mills than in the ribbon shaped village. With the construction of the church in 1812, that tendency became stronger, and "Wieringerwaard" meant the village round the mills, and the placename De Molens disappeared. In 1949, the lock in the Slikkerdijk, which had already been renewed twice, was demolished, which was a reason for the village not to be extended in that direction.
Curiosities
As well as het Witte Kerkje there are more curiosities in Wieringerwaard, such as many monumental farms. The windmill named De Hoop, which was built in 1742 and which was converted to a corn mill in 1972, is open for visitors every Saturday, weekday only on appointment. Wieringerwaard also has a water towerWater tower
A water tower or elevated water tower is a large elevated drinking water storage container constructed to hold a water supply at a height sufficient to pressurize a water distribution system....
.
Every year at the beginning of May the flower days are held. Flower mosaics made of hyacinths are to been seen in the village on these days.