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Purmerend is a bustling town with a historic centre, situated on the former River De Where and in the middle of three reclaimed major lakes of North Holland: the Purmer Lake, Beemster Lake and Wormermeer.
Purmerend also lay at the junction of ancient trade routes between the trading regions of Amsterdam, Hoorn, Edam and Alkmaar. This strategic location allowed Purmerend to grow into a rich trading town, with beautiful buildings and a lot of economic activity. This was reflected in the town's many markets, where all kinds of goods from the surrounding area were traded from fish to vegetables and cattle. The markets are central to the town's prosperity and form a thread through Purmerend's history.
To the right on the square, you can see the town hall. This building from 1912 has had several predecessors standing on the same spot.
After the reclamation of the Beemster took...
Purmerend was also located at the junction of ancient trade routes between the trading regions of Amsterdam, Hoorn, Edam and Alkmaar. This strategic location allowed Purmerend to grow into a rich trading town, with beautiful buildings and a lot of economic activity. This was reflected in the town's many markets, where all kinds of goods from the surrounding area were traded from fish to vegetables and cattle. The markets are central to the town's prosperity and form a thread through Purmerend's history.
To the right on the square, you can see the town hall. This building from 1912 has had several predecessors standing on the same spot.
After the reclamation of the Beemster, trade on the Kaasmarkt increased steadily. Additional market places were much needed for the city's economic growth. To solve the lack of space, the municipality came up with a rather unusual solution. They decided to lift the then town hall and move it ten metres backwards something that had rarely been attempted before.
In 1633, the daring expedition began. To move the former town hall, the city council first removed two houses at the back of the town hall. Then jackhammers detached the building from its foundation and moved it 10 metres to the rear. Exactly how these structural engineers managed to do this is unknown. What we do know is that it was a prestigious project of which the city was very proud. This is evidenced by the little verse that was inscribed on a plaque in the facade of the old city hall in honour of the move. Want to read this verse? You can do so in the location menu. Continue your route to the left of the museum into the Peperstraat.
