Purmerland () is a

village A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town (although the word is often used to describe both hamlets and smaller towns), with a population typically ranging from a few hundred ...

of 395 (January 2007) in the

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Landsmeer Landsmeer () is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Population centres The municipality of Landsmeer consists of the three villages: Den Ilp, Landsmeer, Purmerland. Topography ''Dutch topographic ...

, North Holland, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. It is located just north of

Den Ilp Den Ilp () is a Dutch village. It is located in the municipality of Landsmeer, North Holland, just north of Amsterdam. The village's population was 809 as of January 2007. In the Netherlands, the village is known for its abundant lighting displays ...

and just south of the

housing estate A housing estate (or sometimes housing complex or housing development) is a group of homes and other buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Popular throughout the United States ...

of Weidevenne, part of the city of

Purmerend Purmerend () is a city and municipality in the west of the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and in the region of West Friesland. The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the t ...

. It is directly connected to both of these as Purmerland, like

and

is mainly characterised by ribbon building along the main road. Purmerland was part of the Free and high Lordship of Purmerend, Purmerland and Ilpendam.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1358 as "de Kercke van Purmer", and means "land belonging to Purmer". Although the present size of the village would not suggest it, Purmerland was once a village of some importance. The man standing highlighted at center on Rembrandt's '' Night Watch'' painting is

Frans Banning Cocq Frans Banninck Cocq (sometimes incorrectly spelled as Banning), ''lord of Purmerland and Ilpendam'' (1605–1655) was a burgemeester (mayor), knight and military person of Amsterdam in the mid-17th century. He belonged to the wealthy and powerful ...

. He was

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...

of Amsterdam, ''Lord of Purmerland and Ilpendam'' and Lord of castle

Ilpenstein Ilpenstein Castle (dutch: ''Ilpenstein'', ''Huis te Ilpendam'', ''Hof te Ilpendam'') was a castle of the Free and high Lordship of Purmerend, Purmerland and Ilpendam, located in Ilpendam (Waterland) in the north of the city of Amsterdam. History ...

. During the Dutch Golden Age the country surrounding villages like these was Amsterdam's

breadbasket The breadbasket of a country or of a region is an area which, because of the richness of the soil and/or advantageous climate, produces large quantities of wheat or other grain. Rice bowl is a similar term used to refer to Southeast Asia; and C ...

, as the draining of bogland created bountiful fertile soil. However, the draining of the soil caused it to shrink, until it reached the water level of the

Zuiderzee The Zuiderzee or Zuider Zee (; old spelling ''Zuyderzee'' or ''Zuyder Zee'') was a shallow bay of the North Sea in the northwest of the Netherlands, extending about 100 km (60 miles) inland and at most 50 km (30 miles) wide, with an o ...

only a few miles to the east. Soil erosion thus brought about the demise of Purmerland's limited prominence. Nowadays the population is largely made up of town people seeking a country retreat in a small village now characterised by large mansions which have replaced the original smaller cottages.

References

{{reflist Populated places in North Holland Lords of Purmerland and Ilpendam Landsmeer

History

See also

References