History of kampen
In the beginning there was.... Well nobody exactly knows how Kampen arose on the left shore of the river the IJssel. Archaeological research proved that the origin of the settlement is to be found towards the end of the eleventh century. In the twelfth century, trade attracted population and the settlement became a city.
As a member of the Hanze trade organisation, Kampen came to full bloom. But this ended. From the fifteenth onto the nineteenth century, a period of great unrest made the city fell into decade, from which it never really recovered, not even when industrialisation came. Cigar factories dominated the economic live at that time, but now only two are left. Governmental services left the city in the seventies and now the hospital has to leave due to severe cutbacks in the health care budget, it seems like Kampen has become a mediocre city.
At first people settled on the dyke alongside the river, the newcomers further build their homes around the church that was build against the dyke in the twelfth century. This is the oldest heart of the city. The settlement didn't develop all round the church, though. There are a few streets parallel to the IJssel, intersected by alleys and limited by the town-moat. It seems like the buildings adjusted themselves to the current of the IJssel. The streets stretch from south to west and are intersected by streets in northern direction. This mediaeval ribbon-development is still intact, but the town-moat has been reduced in the fifties in order to create more parking space. Much of the town-walls and many monuments have disappeared but the old structure still exists.
Kampen 2006 is fun to visit. Nice cafes, restaurants and shops.
Paul, Thanks for this beautiful image and the very interesting narrative as well. It's a pity that the town moat partly has been filled up because of creating parking space and many monuments have disappeared. Gone is gone forever! Regards, Cornelius
A friend of mine works in a camera store. The other day a very
confused looking woman approached the counter and handed my friend
a camera. She said "I took pictures, but I forgot to have film in
the camera. Can you please get them out of the camera for me?"
Great narrative. I like a city that is near the water. Those boats are so neat, especially the ones with the tall masts. Great shot of a place I just learned about (from you).
You will be led to the knowledge of the internal things which are invisible to you, by the external things which you see before you. . . . Even so then, we can represent to ourselves in thought the Author of all that is, by contemplating and admiring the (visible) things which He has made, and ever brings into being.
- Hermes
In the beginning there was.... Well nobody exactly knows how Kampen arose on the left shore of the river the IJssel. Archaeological research proved that the origin of the settlement is to be found towards the end of the eleventh century. In the twelfth century, trade attracted population and the settlement became a city.
As a member of the Hanze trade organisation, Kampen came to full bloom. But this ended. From the fifteenth onto the nineteenth century, a period of great unrest made the city fell into decade, from which it never really recovered, not even when industrialisation came. Cigar factories dominated the economic live at that time, but now only two are left. Governmental services left the city in the seventies and now the hospital has to leave due to severe cutbacks in the health care budget, it seems like Kampen has become a mediocre city.
At first people settled on the dyke alongside the river, the newcomers further build their homes around the church that was build against the dyke in the twelfth century. This is the oldest heart of the city. The settlement didn't develop all round the church, though. There are a few streets parallel to the IJssel, intersected by alleys and limited by the town-moat. It seems like the buildings adjusted themselves to the current of the IJssel. The streets stretch from south to west and are intersected by streets in northern direction. This mediaeval ribbon-development is still intact, but the town-moat has been reduced in the fifties in order to create more parking space. Much of the town-walls and many monuments have disappeared but the old structure still exists.
Kampen 2006 is fun to visit. Nice cafes, restaurants and shops.