The Netherlands - Alkmaar
Sights Beverwijk
6
Beverwijk – Hometown
October 6, 2016
Of course a blog about our hometown Beverwijk should not be missing among our blogs!
Beverwijk is a town located 20 km north west of Amsterdam, at the North sea coast. It received city rights
from Count Jan I of Holland in 1298. In that period it was only a relatively small township located at a lake
called Wijkermeer surrounded by dunes. The farmers of the neighboring villages traded their goods with the
merchants at the harbor of the Wijkermeer.
In the 17th century the rich merchants of Amsterdam built their country houses at the border of the
Wijkermeer, for example the House of Akerendam and the House of Scheybeeck.
With the construction of the North sea Canal (1876), which runs from Amsterdam to IJmuiden and the start
of the steel plant Koninklijke Hoogovens (nowadays Tata Steel Europe) in 1918, the character of the town
changed dramatically.
Large numbers of laborers were recruited from other parts of the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Morocco and
Turkey. These laborers brought their wives and children with them and an explosive growth of inhabitants
took place. They were often housed in not always the most beautiful houses and apartment buildings. This
walk will lead you along a great variety of urban architecture.
1. Town Hall
We start our walk as usually at the railway station, coming out of the station, you see at your left hand the
new built Town Hall. It was built in 2011 and is part of the urban renewal program, which purpose is to make
the town ready for the 21st century.
We cross the square and run into one of the country houses of a rich merchant namely the House of
Akerendam.
2. House of Akerendam
In 1637 the Amsterdam’s ship-builder Jan Bicker bought farmland at the border of the lake Wijkermeer and
built the House of Akerendam in Renaissance style. A later owner should rebuilt the house and garden into
the Louis XV-style. In the 19th century the owners built the little tea house. When the house became the
property of the family Sluyterman van Loo, they changed the purpose of the house into a home for elderly
and ill women back in 1916. Today the house and the gardens have a representative and cultural function.
We turn left and walk down the Velserweg, we cross the intersection and see at our right hand the Park and
House of Scheybeeck.
3. House of Scheybeeck
The house was first mentioned in 1584, back then it was a homestead. In 1617 a rich Amsterdam
confectioner bought the homestead and rebuilt the estate into Renaissance style. He was a patron of
famous Dutch writers and poems of that time (f.i. P.C. Hooft, Caspar van Baerle and Joost van den Vondel),
who could hide at Scheybeeck when their poems or plays were too bold for the governor’s taste.
The House had many owners, who all made modifications to the house and the park following the
architectural styles of their times, an example of this is the aviary in the park. Paul Christiaan who bought the
House in 1780 gave it its present look in Louis XVI style.
In the 20
th
century it became the Town Hall until 1965, it is now the property of the company Buko.
This House has a special place in our hearts because we were married here in 2003.
Please take your time to enjoy the Park before walking towards Beeckzanghlaan, where you will find Villa
Beeckzangh. In the Park you will discover a little stream (in Dutch beek), which is supplied by a source in the
dunes.
4. Villa Beeckzangh
The name of the Villa comes from a poem by Joost van den Vondel. If you look closer you will find his statue
on the façade. It was reconstructed by the owner Daniel Koenen, a lawyer from Amsterdam in 1876. The
present owner mrs. M. Koster-Heck strives to preserve the house and the gardens for the next generations.
Standing before the house we turn right and take the first street at our left hand, we find ourselves on a
parking place of the hospital. We continue until we see a petting zoo,
we pass this petting zoo on the right side, until we stand on the Westerhoutweg. At the corner of the
Westerhoutplein, we see the House of Westerhout and its surrounding Park.
5. House of Westerhout
In 1807 it was bought by a man called Lucas Boreel, he transformed the homestead into this grand house. For
many generations it stayed in the Boreel family until 1965 when the municipality bought the house and the
surrounding park. After this it had many purposes, f.i. a restaurant, school of music and cultural center, my
husband has been given his first guitar lessons here.
We continue our walk through the Park, where we encounter again the little stream. At the end of the Park,
we cross the Zeestraat (this road runs all the way to Wijk aan Zee) into the Thomas Meijerlaan. This street
becomes the Zandgat and Bankenlaan.
The Bankenlaan turns right, we continue the Bankenlaan until the Hornlaan, here we turn right until the
Plantage, where we turn left. Here we cross the roundabout and continue to follow the Plantage. At your right
you see a small shopping center and a supermarket.
We continue the Plantage until the Boeweg, where we turn left and immediately right again into the
Arendsweg. In front of you, you will find a Roman Catholic Church called the Goede Raadkerk. We continue
the Arendsweg until we cross the Baanstraat, where we turn into the Torenstraat. At the end of this street we
see the Grote kerk (Big Church) and the Wijkertoren.
6. Grote Kerk (Big Church) and Wijkertoren
At the place where a woman had seen an apparition of Saint Agatha, a
wooden chapel was built, this in honor of Saint Agatha. Later on the chapel
was replaced by a church with the same name. This church forms the center
of the town Beverwijk. During the Eighty Years’ War (1576), the Spanish
troops destroyed the church. The inhabitants rebuilt the church between
1592-1648. After the reformation the church became a Protestant church
and the named changed into the Grote Kerk (Big Church). In the year 1924
the last major renovation took place. The style of the church is late gothic.
The Wijkertoren, the tower which is attached to the Grote Kerk, was
fortunately not destroyed by the Spanish. It was the remaining part of the
old church, it was built in 1475. Today it still forms a landmark for the
inhabitants of Beverwijk and its surroundings. In the early days, the sailors
on the Wijkermeer could see the time on the clock of the Wijkertoren. On
the clock face was written Fugit Hora, what means the hour flies by. In 1912
a fire destroyed the top of the tower, after the renovation of the tower, the
clock face was moved inside the tower.
We continue our walk by turning into the Kerkstraat which becomes the Peperstraat. We follow the
Peperstraat until the Breestraat. Here we turn right into the Breestraat, the Breestraat forms the main
shopping district of Beverwijk. Here we see at the left side of the street, the Saint Agatha Church.
7. The Saint Agatha Church
The Roman Catholics needed a new church after the former Saint Agatha Church turned into a Protestant
church. This new Saint Agatha Church was built and designed by Joseph and Pierre Cuypers jr. in 1924.
(These architects were famous for their Roman Catholic buildings at their time in the Netherlands). The style
of the church is Expressionistic with Byzantine influences. The large dome forms the center with eight
smaller domes surrounding it. The weeks before Christmas, there is always a beautiful Christmas crib to
admire.
We walk down the Breestraat until we again stand on the square in front of the Town Hall.
Here our walk ends, we hope you have enjoyed the walk through our hometown.
Tip 1: If you visit Beverwijk during the weekend, you can visit The Bazaar, Europe
largest indoor market halls. Including an Oriental market, where it feels if you are in
Turkey or Morocco.
Tip 2: In summertime we recommend you to follow the Zeestraat, which brings you
to a village called Wijk aan Zee, here you can take a dip into the North Sea.
Tip 3: Stop for a coffee and some pastry at Breestraat no. 7, here you will find a very
nice Pastry shop called Leek.
Beverwijk - The Netherlands
Hotel tip Beverwijk:
Being in our hometown, we did of course sleep at home. When you are looking for a
nice hotel in the neighborhood, we recommend Strandhotel Het Hoge Duin in Wijk
aan Zee, this village belongs to the community of Beverwijk but lies at the North Sea
coast. From the hotel you have a nice view over the North Sea, the address is Rijckert
Aertszweg no. 50.
If you are interested in this hotel or a hotel in the vicinity of Beverwijk, please check
here for more information, availability and best offers.
Strandhotel Het Hoge Duin
Sights Beverwijk
1. Town Hall Beverwijk
2. House of Akerendam
3. House of Scheijbeeck
4. Villa Beeckzangh
5. House of Westerhout
Park of Westerhout
6. Grote Kerk and Wijkertoren
7. Saint Agatha Church
Breestraat
Petting zoo
Beverwijk – Hometown
October 6, 2016
Of course a blog about our hometown Beverwijk
should not be missing among our blogs!
Beverwijk is a town located 20 km north west of
Amsterdam, at the North sea coast. It received
city rights from Count Jan I of Holland in 1298. In
that period it was only a relatively small township
located at a lake called Wijkermeer surrounded
by dunes. The farmers of the neighboring villages
traded their goods with the merchants at the
harbor of the Wijkermeer.
In the 17th century the rich merchants of
Amsterdam built their country houses at the
border of the Wijkermeer, for example the House
of Akerendam and the House of Scheybeeck.
With the construction of the North sea Canal
(1876), which runs from Amsterdam to IJmuiden
and the start of the steel plant Koninklijke
Hoogovens (nowadays Tata Steel Europe) in 1918,
the character of the town changed dramatically.
Large numbers of laborers were recruited from
other parts of the Netherlands, Italy, Spain,
Morocco and Turkey. These laborers brought their
wives and children with them and an explosive
growth of inhabitants took place. They were often
housed in not always the most beautiful houses
and apartment buildings. This walk will lead you
along a great variety of urban architecture.
1. Town Hall
We start our walk as usually at the railway station,
coming out of the station, you see at your left
hand the new built Town Hall. It was built in 2011
and is part of the urban renewal program, which
purpose is to make the town ready for the 21st
century.
We cross the square and run into one of the
country houses of a rich merchant namely the
House of Akerendam.
2. House of Akerendam
In 1637 the Amsterdam’s ship-builder Jan Bicker
bought farmland at the border of the lake
Wijkermeer and built the House of Akerendam in
Renaissance style. A later owner should rebuilt the
house and garden into the Louis XV-style. In the
19th century the owners built the little tea house.
When the house became the property of the
family Sluyterman van Loo, they changed the
purpose of the house into a home for elderly and
ill women back in 1916. Today the house and the
gardens have a representative and cultural
function.
We turn left and walk down the Velserweg, we cross
the intersection and see at our right hand the Park
and House of Scheybeeck.
3. House of Scheybeeck
The house was first mentioned in 1584, back then
it was a homestead. In 1617 a rich Amsterdam
confectioner bought the homestead and rebuilt
the estate into Renaissance style. He was a patron
of famous Dutch writers and poems of that time
(f.i. P.C. Hooft, Caspar van Baerle and Joost van
den Vondel), who could hide at Scheybeeck when
their poems or plays were too bold for the
governor’s taste.
The House had many owners, who all made
modifications to the house and the park following
the architectural styles of their times, an example
of this is the aviary in the park. Paul Christiaan
who bought the House in 1780 gave it its present
look in Louis XVI style.
In the 20
th
century it became the Town Hall until
1965, it is now the property of the company Buko.
This House has a special place in our hearts
because we were married here in 2003.
Please take your time to enjoy the Park before
walking towards Beeckzanghlaan, where you will
find Villa Beeckzangh. In the Park you will discover
a little stream (in Dutch beek), which is supplied by
a source in the dunes.
4. Villa Beeckzangh
The name of the Villa comes from a poem by Joost
van den Vondel. If you look closer you will find his
statue on the façade. It was reconstructed by the
owner Daniel Koenen, a lawyer from Amsterdam
in 1876. The present owner mrs. M. Koster-Heck
strives to preserve the house and the gardens for
the next generations.
Standing before the house we turn right and take
the first street at our left hand, we find ourselves
on a parking place of the hospital. We continue
until we see a petting zoo,
we pass this petting zoo on the right side, until we
stand on the Westerhoutweg. At the corner of the
Westerhoutplein, we see the House of Westerhout
and its surrounding Park.
5. House of Westerhout
In 1807 it was bought by a man called Lucas
Boreel, he transformed the homestead into this
grand house. For many generations it stayed in the
Boreel family until 1965 when the municipality
bought the house and the surrounding park. After
this it had many purposes, f.i. a restaurant, school
of music and cultural center, my husband has
been given his first guitar lessons here.
We continue our walk through the Park, where we
encounter again the little stream. At the end of the
Park, we cross the Zeestraat (this road runs all the
way to Wijk aan Zee) into the Thomas Meijerlaan.
This street becomes the Zandgat and Bankenlaan.
The Bankenlaan turns right, we continue the
Bankenlaan until the Hornlaan, here we turn right
until the Plantage, where we turn left. Here we
cross the roundabout and continue to follow the
Plantage. At your right you see a small shopping
center and a supermarket.
We continue the Plantage until the Boeweg, where
we turn left and immediately right again into the
Arendsweg. In front of you, you will find a Roman
Catholic Church called the Goede Raadkerk. We
continue the Arendsweg until we cross the
Baanstraat, where we turn into the Torenstraat. At
the end of this street we see the Grote kerk (Big
Church) and the Wijkertoren.
6. Grote Kerk (Big Church) and Wijkertoren
At the place where a woman had seen an
apparition of Saint Agatha, a wooden chapel was
built, this in honor of Saint Agatha. Later on the
chapel was replaced by a church with the same
name. This church forms the center of the town
Beverwijk. During the Eighty Years’ War (1576), the
Spanish troops destroyed the church. The
inhabitants rebuilt the church between 1592-1648.
After the reformation the church became a
Protestant church and the named changed into
the Grote Kerk (Big Church). In the year 1924 the
last major renovation took place. The style of the
church is late gothic.
The Wijkertoren, the tower which is attached to
the Grote Kerk, was fortunately not destroyed by
the Spanish. It was the remaining part of the old
church, it was built in 1475. Today it still forms a
landmark for the inhabitants of Beverwijk and its
surroundings. In the early days, the sailors on the
Wijkermeer could see the time on the clock of the
Wijkertoren. On the clock face was written Fugit
Hora, what means the hour flies by. In 1912 a fire
destroyed the top of the tower, after the
renovation of the tower, the clock face was moved
inside the tower.
We continue our walk by turning into the
Kerkstraat which becomes the Peperstraat. We
follow the Peperstraat until the Breestraat. Here
we turn right into the Breestraat, the Breestraat
forms the main shopping district of Beverwijk.
Here we see at the left side of the street, the Saint
Agatha Church.
7. The Saint Agatha Church
The Roman Catholics needed a new church after
the former Saint Agatha Church turned into a
Protestant church. This new Saint Agatha Church
was built and designed by Joseph and Pierre
Cuypers jr. in 1924. (These architects were famous
for their Roman Catholic buildings at their time in
the Netherlands). The style of the church is
Expressionistic with Byzantine influences. The
large dome forms the center with eight smaller
domes surrounding it. The weeks before
Christmas, there is always a beautiful Christmas
crib to admire.
We walk down the Breestraat until we again stand
on the square in front of the Town Hall.
Here our walk ends, we hope you have enjoyed
the walk through our hometown.
Tip 1: If you visit Beverwijk during
the weekend, you can visit The
Bazaar, Europe largest indoor
market halls. Including an Oriental
market, where it feels if you are in
Turkey or Morocco.
Tip 2: In summertime we
recommend you to follow the
Zeestraat, which brings you to a
village called Wijk aan Zee, here
you can take a dip into the
North Sea.
Tip 3: Stop for a coffee and some
pastry at Breestraat no. 7, here
you will find a very nice Pastry
shop called Leek.
Hotel tip Beverwijk:
Being in our hometown, we did of course sleep at
home. When you are looking for a nice hotel in the
neighborhood, we recommend Strandhotel Het
Hoge Duin in Wijk aan Zee, this village belongs to
the community of Beverwijk but lies at the North
Sea coast. From the hotel you have a nice view
over the North Sea, the address is Rijckert
Aertszweg no. 50.
If you are interested in this hotel or a hotel in the
vicinity of Beverwijk, please check here for more
information, availability and best offers.
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