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STAVOREN. 46. Route. 415
with the tomb of the naturalist Paludanns (d. 1633), has two naves
and an interesting tower (1450-1025). The *Choir-screen in the
Westerkerk, with relief-tigures of Moses, Joshua, and the Evangelists,
is the finest work of the kind in N. Holland (1542-73); the pulpit
(14567) also is handsome. Beside the church, which is a Gothic
edifice with a wooden roof and no transept, is a detached wooden
belfry dating from 1519. The Stadhuis (1688), in the Breestraat,
displays the town-arms (three herrings; above). In the interior are
ceiling-paintings by Joh. van Neck and others. The Weigh House
(4559). in the fish-market, is an early specimen of the national
brick and stone style. The Mint (1611), the Orphanage (1615),
and many private houses of the 17th cent. are also interesting.
Enkhuizen was the birthplace of Paul Potter, the painter (1625-64;
comp. p. 1xx).
Steamers ply from Enkhuizen daily, except Sun., to the island of Urk,
which is noted for its picturesque costumes, and to Kampen (p. 425). Other
steamers run to Amsterdam and Sneek (comp. p. 366).
The Srsam Ferry from Enkhuizen across the Zuiderzee to
Stavoren (see below) takes 11/,-2 hrs.; in stormy weather sea-sick-
ness is not unknown.
46. From Stavoren (Amsterdam) to Leeuwarden.
31 M. Rattway (Hollandsche Spoorweg) in 3/4-13/4 hr.
Stavoren (Hot. Dooper, R. & B. 14/4 f1., plain), now a small
place with 100J inhab., was the residence of the Frisian princes in
the early middle ages, and subsequently an independent com-
mercial city, which carried on an extensive trade and reached the
height of its prosperity at the beginning of the {3th century. It is
connected with Enkhuizen (p. 414) by means of a steam-ferry.
The Virouwensand. a broad grass-grown sandbank in front of the har-
pour, derives its name from the tradition that the wife of a wealthy
merchant once desired one of -her husband’s captains to bring her from
abroad ‘the most precious thing in the world’. The worthy Dutch mar-
iner, in conscientious fulfilment of the request. accordingly brought back
a cargo of wheat from Danzig! The lady. indignant at his stupidity,
ordered the valuable freight to be thrown overboard at the mouth of the
harbour. The grain is said to have taken root, and to have formed the
foundation of the sandbank.
_ To the E. of Stavoren lies the Gaasterland, forming an oasis of forest
in the midst of a vast expanse of moor. The church of the village of
Wyckel contains the tomb and monument of General Menno van Coehoorn
(p. 299), the celebrated Dutch engineer.
The railway runs to the N.E. through the fertile but monotonous
plain of Friesland, passing several small stations. Hindeloopen (Hot.
de Wynberg, R. & B. 1 fl.), with a lofty church-tower, was once cel-
ebrated for brightly coloured costumes and gaily painted furniture
(comp. Mr. O. van Olselo’s collection). Workum contains some in-
teresting private houses of the {7th cent. and a pretty weigh-house
of 1650. The church has a detached Gothic tower; in the interior
Bazpeker’s Belgium and Holland. 15th Edit 96 |
