Marken

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / height missing

Brands is an island in the Sea marker, the southern part of the former Zuiderzee.

Geography

The island is 3.3 km long and 1.7 km wide (each without dikes ), and has a surface area of 2.71 km ². In 2007, approximately 1850 people lived brands.

On the eastern point of the island, built in 1839 Lighthouse Paard van stands brands.

In 1957, the island was by a 1.6 km long and 36 meter wide dike, a section of the Waterlandse Zeedijk ( Waterländischer dike ), connected to the mainland. In the north, includes a 2.5 km long and 30 meters wide "blind " ( unfinished ) dike, the Bukdijk ( German word meaning: " Bückdeich " ), in Volendam on the island, a relic of the discontinued land reclamation plan Markerwaard that already 1941 was created, but not completed.

The island of Marken is located in the Marker lake named after her. On the east side there is the open sea marker, and on the west side of the bay Gouwzee that is largely separated by the island with its two dams from the open sea marker. Just to the north between the north end of the Bukdijk and the city of Volendam on the mainland, there is an opening. Here boats can drive around the island to get to the port of brands or to the marina of Monnickendam. Is a ferry between Volendam and Marken.

Brand belongs to the municipality Waterland in the province North Holland. It forms one of the six statistical districts ( Wijeken ) the community. The village center is located in the northwest of the island and consists of the districts Havenbuurt, Kerkbuurt and De Kets. The Kerkbuurt (about church town ) is the historic center. To the northeast lies the hamlet Minnebuurt. These are the largest towns on the island. They lie to the north and north-west of the channel Oostervaart and collect more than 90 percent of the population in coming. South of the canal are only four yards or hamlet Grotewerf, Moeniswerf, Rozewerf and Wittewerf.

History

The island was Mariëngaarde from Friesland settled in the 13th century by monks from the monastery, who lived from agriculture and animal husbandry. The inhabitants gradually more and more lived on the North Sea fisheries. When in 1932 the completion of the dike was completed and so the Zuiderzee became the inland waters, lost the inhabitants of brands have their main livelihood, fishing.

Prior to the completion of the final dike, the island was flooded regularly so that settlements could be built only increased. Therefore, the houses still stand on brands very closely in small groups, to about 15 so-called man-made Werven (large mounds ). Since about 1880, the period of Impressionism, was brands of painters, discovered also from abroad, which meant the beginning of tourism in the island at that time regarded as a particularly picturesque and is now home to important cultural heritages. The museum is funded in part by the inhabitants through annual donations.

Brands was an independent municipality, in the establishment of the new municipality Waterland until it went up in this 1991.

By brand, planned but not built polder Markerwaard is named, which would extend east of the island, where the island would rise. The pointing of brands to the north unfinished dike Bukdijk is a relic of this discontinued plan. It was begun in 1941 and would have other 1800 meters meet the easternmost point of the city Volendam and as a mainland connection to establish in the north. But in the same year, German troops forced the suspension of the works, which were not resumed even after the end of World War II due to schedule changes.

The connection to the mainland dike, on the run, a road and a bike path that was completed on 17 October 1957.

Tourism

Today, tourism is an important source of revenue annually for the former fishing village of brands, with more than 1,000,000 visitors. The inhabitants remember but little of the expenditure of the tourists as the souvenir shops are actually operated by the so-called ' non- markers ', and so the money does not flow into the native bags, but goes to other villages. Brands is particularly attractive to weekend visitors who come over most of the former fishing village of Volendam with the frequent ferry service.

The striking, colorful costumes (Dutch klederdracht ) from the fishing time is still much worn. Striking in this tradition is, among other things, that just on the wedding day the bride was dressed in black. However, woven on brands still available striped fabrics are very suitable for timeless modern design clothes. Examples of ancient costumes, and other items of that time can be seen in the museum of the island. This museum is housed in several old wooden houses.

Gallery

The Marker harbor

Lighthouse Paard van Marken on the eastern tip

Rozenwerf from the west, the right marker Sea

Coat of arms