A walk trough town

[defra]

Hi there!
Not Realy bonsai related so lets post it in tea house!

I was walking trough town today and took some pics, I Tought I'd share a little history with anyone who has interest in such things.
Knowing the town has 1 million visitors each year so I guess there must be something people like about our town

I live in the Netherlands in a small town called Enkhuizen its founded a long time ago and received its city rights in 1356 the town thrived In the Golden age and was important for the United East India Company.
Now there is allot more to tell but I'll post about that later on If people are interested!

below I'll post pictures of points of interest the town offers I'll start with the pics I shot today, I used my phone and am not a great photographer but you will get a good impression of the town I live in.

 

[defra]

Let's start with one of the two parks we have.
It has a big pond that has ducks fish and turtle's as residents also the houses build in the park are originally build for people that worked at a factory that produces plastic close by

And since we all like trees here's a tree first

 

[defra]

And for the non believers yes turtle's!







One of the many ducks


A tree that grows a kind of raftish


Not native to the Netherlands but pretty tough albizia julibrissin in bloom



A old tree which is healing a lost limb


More park

 

[defra]

When you get out of the park you walk straight into the oldest Harbour (we have a few)

it used to be salt water here and that was called the southern sea but nowadays it's a fresh water lake called the ijselmeer enkhuizen is connected with that's because we build the Afsluitdijk to keep dry feets and create more space to live!
(the afsluitdijk is a major dam and causeway. It was constructed between 1927 and 1932 and runs from Den Oever in North Holland province to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of 32 kilometres (20 mi) and a width of 90 metres (300 ft), at an initial height of 7.25 metres (23.8 ft) above sea level.)

Three pics of the old Harbour

 

[defra]

That's it for now ill try to add pics and information once in a while

 

[my nellie]

You live in a very nice environment, @defra !
Good thinking to introduce us to your location. Thanks!

 

[defra]

Did another quick walk before I started work today I continued in the old Harbour.

Couple of the few ale fishing boats that fish on the lake


Old lighthouse(ish)





One of the oldest buildings here, a defensive fortres dated from 1540

 

[defra]

Some more pics from the old Harbour and some old buildings

 

[Warpig]

I really love that shot of that first tree from acrossed the stream. Vary nice. You have my vote to hear more. If nothing else it helps tell your journey.

 

[defra]

Below some history about the defensive fortress called the Drommedaris:

The Drommedaris, has been build in 1540 it was the southern city gate and part of the city wall build around Enkhuizen at that times.

Beside it being a gate it was also a defensive tower that guarded the Harbour of the city and had a view watching over the former southern sea, the building at that time was about half the size in height compared with what it looks like today.

It is possible that the building is named after a VOC-ship that has been used by Jan van Riebeeck when he discovered kaap de goede hoop (cape of good hope).

The city wall was broken down when the city was expanding its size to its current shape and also the Harbour grew bigger but still the drommedaris remained dominating the Harbour with its canons and other defensive structures.

About a hundred years after the build and after the 80 years war against the Spanish in 1649 the drommedaris has been improved and increased in height to its current state
Its not exactly clear why this was done, one of the thoughts is it had something to do with the possible installation of the now famous carillon.

In later times the economic state of enkhuizen declined further and further and the building faced decay, many houses in the city were broken down to sell the bricks, luckily this was not the fate of this historical monument.

For a long period of time it has been used as prison and for the storage of gunpowder but also in the first part of the previous century it was home to the first telegraph and post office of the city.

Anchors:

On the side of the drommedaris there are hanging two anchors on the wall, according to the legend these anchors were recovered after a failed attempt to take over the city in 1537 by the Geldersen.
The city spotted 5 Gelderse ships layed anchor in front of the harbour at night and scared them off which caused the Geldersen to cut the anchors loose to get away in time.
the anchors have been fished up and placed as blessings at the English tower which was broken down In 1829 when the anchors along with the memorial stone were moved to the drommedaris.

The inscription on the memorial stone says:

enChVsaM InsIdIIs taCItIs sVb noCte sILentI obrVere adnIXa est geLrICa perfIdIa

The Romain numbers (in which the D isn't used) when counted together form the year of the failed attempt in 1537.

There might be more to tell about it but this is I believe enough to know about one building

 

[defra]

Some more pics and history

This is one of the two city watergate's and those are also part of the city wall.

Outside the wall was mainly water and farms and since there were no cars back then live stock and food or other things to sell or trade were brought in by boat the water gate had a wooden panel which they could lower to close the town.
The wall itself was build around 1593 the gates and guard houses were build in 1608.

The wall, gate and water in front of it.


The view from the bridge I have to cross to get to the old part of town.


Same point at bridge but the other side.
To keep it also into tree's a little the trees you see at the town wall are Dutch ulmus
In the distance you see the city planted new ones because the Dutch ulmus desease killed quite a number of them


Backside of the gate from inside the old city


Prety view over the water entering trough the gate, this part of town was called the boeren hoek which literally translated to English is: farmers corner.
The trees you see are Platanus × acerifolia


Another Prety view.


Platanus × acerifolia
Prety trees, amazing exfoliating bark


Close up from the bark

 

[Smoke]

I love history and pictures. Well done!

 

[Smoke]

That defence fortress reminds (please don't take this the wrong way) me of some of the grain silos in our midwest. Of course not even a smidge the history or the age of your building. But thats what I thought of when I saw it. never seen a building like that before so my only frame of reference were these.

 

[Carol 83]

That defence fortress reminds (please don't take this the wrong way) me of some of the grain silos in our midwest. Of course not even a smidge the history or the age of your building. But thats what I thought of when I saw it. never seen a building like that before so my only frame of reference were these.

View attachment 259819View attachment 259820View attachment 259821

That looks more like MY town. Nothing quite so picturesque as your town @defra.

 

[Smoke]

That looks more like MY town. Nothing quite so picturesque as your town @defra.

Sure, but I don't even have the grain silo's to look at, so either one is wonderful for me. Don't sell your part of the world short on beauty.

 

[petegreg]

Some more pics from the old Harbour and some old buildings
View attachment 259212

View attachment 259213

View attachment 259214

View attachment 259215

View attachment 259216

View attachment 259217

Beautiful.

 

[0soyoung]

Thank you, @defra

 

[defra]

That defence fortress reminds (please don't take this the wrong way) me of some of the grain silos in our midwest. Of course not even a smidge the history or the age of your building. But thats what I thought of when I saw it. never seen a building like that before so my only frame of reference were these.

View attachment 259819View attachment 259820View attachment 259821

They are made from bricks and are round so I see why you are reminded by it!
in fact I've never seen silos like that so thanks for sharing!

@Carol 83
Smoke is right every place does have its charm but because we live there it becomes normal, I pass by these things on a daily base without looking at it because to me it's just normal

 

[eryk2kartman]

Really nice town, I was as far as Hoorn, we were thinking to go through that bridge over the sea but eventually dropped that plan, i see we missed a lot.
Im very impressed with most Dutch gardens, even smallest aera is nice and tidy with some flowers, plants etc, and the canals water edge in the backgarden.......so cute!

 

[defra]

Really nice town, I was as far as Hoorn, we were thinking to go through that bridge over the sea but eventually dropped that plan, i see we missed a lot.
Im very impressed with most Dutch gardens, even smallest aera is nice and tidy with some flowers, plants etc, and the canals water edge in the backgarden.......so cute!

Hoorn is not that far from here!!
hoorn is comparable with enkhuizen Hoorn is a bit bigger tough,
The bridge over the sea, I'm guessing you were by boat then?
If you ever decide to visit Holland again we have an open air museum full of houses dated from 1600 torn down and rebuild in the museum from all over the Netherlands
if you do let me know so we can meet up I'll give you a free tour!

Good thing you didn't pass my garden lol its a jungle out front