The city of Purmerend grew out of the fishing village of Purmer, located between the lakes of Purmermeer, the Beemstermeer and the Wormermeer. Founded in the early 15th Century, it gained city rights in 1434 and in 1484 also the right to organize weekly and annual markets, thus becoming a significant regional trade center.
The oldest known city seal of Purmerend shows an oared ship with a shallow draft that was perfectly suited to transport goods on the inland waterways of North Holland. This copy of the seal was probably made around 1484 after an older example. Above the image of the ship (with the three barbs - the family crest of Willem Eggert - founder of the city - on the flag) is the family crest of Count Van Egmond, who granted Purmerend the market rights. It is likely that the ship carried a sail, like other craft in the Waterland region and it is estimated to be around 12 meters long.
This drawing is an interpretation by Laszlo Veres and Alexander Mari van Maanen after the seals of Purmerend.
No comments:
Post a Comment