Puttershoek
Encyclopedia
Puttershoek is a town and former municipality in the western Netherlands
. It is located on the banks of the Oude Maas
, on the island Hoeksche Waard
, in the province of South Holland
. On January 1, 1984, the municipality of Puttershoek was merged with several others into Binnenmaas
. With 6,293 inhabitants (1 January 2005) Puttershoek was the largest settlement in the municipality of Binnenmaas
until 's-Gravendeel
joined Binnenmaas in 2007.
Before the St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)
a township named Hoecke was located on the spot of the present-day town. The name Hoecke (meaning Hook) is probably derived from the sharp angle the dike around the former Grote or Zuid-Hollandsche Waard island took here. After the St. Elizabeth's flood, the land was owned by the Lord
s of Putten
, who loaned it to a vassal
lord. The first four vassal lords of Hoecke were all named Pieter. It remains unclear if the name Puttershoek is taken from Pietershoeck, or if it is a reference to the Lords of Putten.
Until the 19th century, Puttershoek was a small and remote village, where reed cutting was the main source of income. However, in 1912 a large sugar beet
processing plant was built in the village, bringing not only employment and a sweet odour during fall, but also employees from the Catholic
North Brabant
province. A thriving Catholic community was founded in the very Protestant village, building one of only two Catholic churches on the Hoeksche Waard island. At the end of 2004, the sugar mill closed its doors, after all production was transferred to Poland
.
After the big North Sea flood of 1953
, a large part of the old town was torn down in favour of a higher and stronger dike. Sadly most of the old town was lost in so doing, many have argued that the whole undertaking could have been done with more care for heritage, but in those days reckless development was all too commonplace. Reckless and sly attitudes towards cultural heritage has not gone away as was made clear when Puttershoek's most outstanding farm hove, "Rustenburg' dating from 1640, mysteriously burnt down in the 1990s. This after several years of wrangling between the neighbouring Sugar Mill and other interests, who were after the land it stood on.
Only the 16th century harbour (the smallest open harbour in the Netherlands), the Schouteneinde street and a part of the old village heart around the Kerkstoep/Arent van Lierstraat are still intact. In the old village heart one can find the old town hall of Puttershoek (recognized by the old town coat-of-arms: three sable lilies on a crest of argent) and the old post office Het Springende Peerd (with step gable and gable stone) that are reminiscent of the times when Puttershoek was a stop on the postway from Rotterdam
to Antwerp. Opposite is the Reformed church, a classic example of Dutch church architecture. Thankfully, a small section of an old thorp, narrow alley way is left intact here giving some sense of the charm that must have been in much of the now lost sections of Puttershoek.
Another place worth a visit is the windmill
De Lelie (the Lily). Every so often, Puttershoek has been the victim of cultural vandalism at the hands of those who show little to no care for this little town, for across the road from the windmill, until 2008 one could find the museum Poldermuseum Zuidhollandse Eilanden, it was once housed in the former steam engine pump building Het Hooft van Benthuizen, the latter which also has been leveled. Many Puttershoekers long to keep what is true to the town but are often not with the means to do a great deal.
Puttershoek has a number of quaint 'corners' (hoeken) or areas which are cultural entities in their own right. These are pockets of Scandinavian homes sent to house those who lost their homes during the 1953 flood. They form still and charming havens within the thorp itself. One of these cultural havens is tucked behind the post war shopping centre. Although the shopping centre is practical, (sadly, in its design) there was no thought of it reflecting Dutch culture, instead it has been a steady development of shops with flats along the trend set by the industrial minded, Bauhaus movement that has swept across most of the Netherlands since World War II
.
The other Scandinavian style quarter is along the "Vliet", this is a 'fleet' or straightened waterway that links Puttershoek to Maasdam and the old and former, River Maas of the pre-middle ages, now landlocked and called the Binnenmaas. This fleet, once, was also linked to the busy Oude Maas upon which the old heart of Puttershoek sits, by way of a shipping lock. When the 'wreckers of Puttershoek' as some call them, leveled much of the town after the 1953 flood (doing more harm than the flood itself), they also ripped out the old characteristic draw bridge and locks that graced the harbour. This fleet gives much needed charm to Puttershoek. It is worth a walk from the harbour, down past the church, past boat houses and to the Scandinavian quarter. In an effort to recapture some of Puttershoek's soul, another ex-Puttershoeker, Johannes Verhoeff, persuaded council to build a bridge where a footbridge once stood across the Vliet, with a replica of the long lost drawbridge that spanned the equally long gone, locks. The council agreed. Now a vista of Puttershoek can be captured on camera looking towards the traditional styled Dutch, drawbridge, the Scandinavian quarter, the church, and harbour.
Puttershoek has a few bars and cafés and a large night club.
who won a gold medal for speed skating
during the 1968 Winter Olympics
. Presently, Verkerk lives in Norway
, but his birth house still hosts the bar his father founded, Het Veerhuis, found at the harbourside.
Some Puttershoekers have found a way to keep a bit of Puttershoek alive elsewhere. Such is the case of ex-Puttershoeker, Pleun Hitzert who migrated to Western Australia where he built a new 'De Lelie' windmill near the Sterling Range. There in the Australian landscape sits a small outpost of Puttershoek; the Lilly windmill and a few Dutch cottages with stepped gables.
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...
. It is located on the banks of the Oude Maas
Oude Maas
The Oude Maas is a distributary of the Rhine River, and a former distributary of the Maas River, in the Dutch province of South Holland. It begins at the city of Dordrecht where the Beneden Merwede river splits into the Noord River and the Oude Maas...
, on the island Hoeksche Waard
Hoeksche Waard
thumb|right|[[Satellite]] [[image]] of the [[Rhine]]-[[Meuse river|Meuse]] [[river delta|delta]], showing the [[island]] of Hoekse Waard The Hoeksche Waard is an island between the Oude Maas, Dordtsche Kil, Hollands Diep, Haringvliet and Spui rivers in the province of Zuid Holland in the...
, in the province of South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
. On January 1, 1984, the municipality of Puttershoek was merged with several others into Binnenmaas
Binnenmaas
Binnenmaas is a municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of 19,245 in 2004, and covers an area of 54.91 km² of which 4.57 km² is water...
. With 6,293 inhabitants (1 January 2005) Puttershoek was the largest settlement in the municipality of Binnenmaas
Binnenmaas
Binnenmaas is a municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality had a population of 19,245 in 2004, and covers an area of 54.91 km² of which 4.57 km² is water...
until 's-Gravendeel
's-Gravendeel
s-Gravendeel is a town and former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The former municipality covered an area of 20.69 km² of which 1.77 km² is water.Its population was 9,023 in January 2007.The municipality of 's-Gravendeel was merged with...
joined Binnenmaas in 2007.
History
St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)
The St. Elizabeth's flood of 1421 was a flooding of an area in what is now the Netherlands. It takes its name from the feast day of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary which was formerly November 19....
a township named Hoecke was located on the spot of the present-day town. The name Hoecke (meaning Hook) is probably derived from the sharp angle the dike around the former Grote or Zuid-Hollandsche Waard island took here. After the St. Elizabeth's flood, the land was owned by the Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
s of Putten
Putten
Putten is a municipality and a town in Gelderland province in the middle of the Netherlands. In 2007 it had a population of 23,024.Putten is surrounded by a great variety of landscapes. To the east of Putten lies the Veluwe, the biggest national park of the Netherlands...
, who loaned it to a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
lord. The first four vassal lords of Hoecke were all named Pieter. It remains unclear if the name Puttershoek is taken from Pietershoeck, or if it is a reference to the Lords of Putten.
Until the 19th century, Puttershoek was a small and remote village, where reed cutting was the main source of income. However, in 1912 a large sugar beet
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
processing plant was built in the village, bringing not only employment and a sweet odour during fall, but also employees from the Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
province. A thriving Catholic community was founded in the very Protestant village, building one of only two Catholic churches on the Hoeksche Waard island. At the end of 2004, the sugar mill closed its doors, after all production was transferred to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
After the big North Sea flood of 1953
North Sea flood of 1953
The 1953 North Sea flood was a major flood caused by a heavy storm, that occurred on the night of Saturday 31 January 1953 and morning of 1 February 1953. The floods struck the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Scotland.A combination of a high spring tide and a severe European windstorm caused a...
, a large part of the old town was torn down in favour of a higher and stronger dike. Sadly most of the old town was lost in so doing, many have argued that the whole undertaking could have been done with more care for heritage, but in those days reckless development was all too commonplace. Reckless and sly attitudes towards cultural heritage has not gone away as was made clear when Puttershoek's most outstanding farm hove, "Rustenburg' dating from 1640, mysteriously burnt down in the 1990s. This after several years of wrangling between the neighbouring Sugar Mill and other interests, who were after the land it stood on.
Architecture and attractions
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
to Antwerp. Opposite is the Reformed church, a classic example of Dutch church architecture. Thankfully, a small section of an old thorp, narrow alley way is left intact here giving some sense of the charm that must have been in much of the now lost sections of Puttershoek.
Another place worth a visit is the 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...
De Lelie (the Lily). Every so often, Puttershoek has been the victim of cultural vandalism at the hands of those who show little to no care for this little town, for across the road from the windmill, until 2008 one could find the museum Poldermuseum Zuidhollandse Eilanden, it was once housed in the former steam engine pump building Het Hooft van Benthuizen, the latter which also has been leveled. Many Puttershoekers long to keep what is true to the town but are often not with the means to do a great deal.
Puttershoek has a number of quaint 'corners' (hoeken) or areas which are cultural entities in their own right. These are pockets of Scandinavian homes sent to house those who lost their homes during the 1953 flood. They form still and charming havens within the thorp itself. One of these cultural havens is tucked behind the post war shopping centre. Although the shopping centre is practical, (sadly, in its design) there was no thought of it reflecting Dutch culture, instead it has been a steady development of shops with flats along the trend set by the industrial minded, Bauhaus movement that has swept across most of the Netherlands since World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The other Scandinavian style quarter is along the "Vliet", this is a 'fleet' or straightened waterway that links Puttershoek to Maasdam and the old and former, River Maas of the pre-middle ages, now landlocked and called the Binnenmaas. This fleet, once, was also linked to the busy Oude Maas upon which the old heart of Puttershoek sits, by way of a shipping lock. When the 'wreckers of Puttershoek' as some call them, leveled much of the town after the 1953 flood (doing more harm than the flood itself), they also ripped out the old characteristic draw bridge and locks that graced the harbour. This fleet gives much needed charm to Puttershoek. It is worth a walk from the harbour, down past the church, past boat houses and to the Scandinavian quarter. In an effort to recapture some of Puttershoek's soul, another ex-Puttershoeker, Johannes Verhoeff, persuaded council to build a bridge where a footbridge once stood across the Vliet, with a replica of the long lost drawbridge that spanned the equally long gone, locks. The council agreed. Now a vista of Puttershoek can be captured on camera looking towards the traditional styled Dutch, drawbridge, the Scandinavian quarter, the church, and harbour.
Puttershoek has a few bars and cafés and a large night club.
Famous residents
The most renowned inhabitant is Kees VerkerkKees Verkerk
Cornelis Arie Verkerk , better known as Kees Verkerk, is a former speed skater from the Netherlands.-Short biography:...
who won a gold medal for speed skating
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
during the 1968 Winter Olympics
1968 Winter Olympics
The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on 6 February. Thirty-seven countries participated...
. Presently, Verkerk lives in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, but his birth house still hosts the bar his father founded, Het Veerhuis, found at the harbourside.
Some Puttershoekers have found a way to keep a bit of Puttershoek alive elsewhere. Such is the case of ex-Puttershoeker, Pleun Hitzert who migrated to Western Australia where he built a new 'De Lelie' windmill near the Sterling Range. There in the Australian landscape sits a small outpost of Puttershoek; the Lilly windmill and a few Dutch cottages with stepped gables.