"Medemblik" a Medemblik Travel Page by nighthawk

Medemblik might be the smallest of cities that are situated at what used to be the Zuiderzee (Southern Sea), yet it is the oldest. Excarvations show that Medemblik for long had excisted as a place where people lived when Floris V in the late 13th century built his fortress to suppress the just conquered West Frisians.

The count firstly gave Medemblik cityrights in 1289. This still is celebbrated on March 25th.

The 16th century is also called the destrastreous century. A Frisian robber, Grote Pier, and his army came to plunder the city in 1517.
In 1555 a huge fire, which started at the city hall destroyed a church and an abbey.
During Spanish time Medemblik suffered.
In 1572 the city was forced to surrender and laid under attack again in 1588.
Good things came at the end of this century. Diggings for the Oosterhaven started in 1589 and up to this day it is the main harbour.
Emperor Napoleon in 1811made plans to make Medemblik a warharbour. Luckily this turned out toto be just a paper plan.
Up to 1850 Medemblik had a school for naval instruction, still there and called 'Landswerf'.