"HARDERWIJK" Harderwijk by pieter_jan_v

Statue at the Harderwijk harbour

Harderwijk is a town situated at the Southside of the former Zuiderzee.

The place was granted city rights at June 11, 1231 by Count Otta van Gelre. Parts of that 800 year all history are still visible at the Vischmarkt and the two remaining city gates, the Vischpoort and the Smeepoort.

Hardwerwijk changed from a farmer's community to a city of commerce and became one of the Hanze cities. Around 1500 the Harderwijk Fish market was the most important at the Zuiderzee. At 1584 the Provincial Mint of Gerle was moved to Harderwijk.

From 1647 till 1811 Harderwijk was a university city with Linnaeus and Boerhaave as the best known students.

In 1844 Harderwijk got a naval wharf and depot and lateron a total of 5 military barracks were in town.

The fishing industry declined after 1932 when the Zuiderzee was converted into the IJsselmeer. But Harderwijk changed again to commerce and also to tourism.

I lived here in 1977 being drafted for the Dutch Army.