Domburg
Domburg | ||
---|---|---|
City | ||
Postal code 4357[1] | ||
Dialing code | 0118 |
Domburg is a seaside resort on the North Sea, on the northwest coast of Walcheren in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is a part of the municipality of Veere, and lies about 11 km northwest of the city of Middelburg, the provincial capital.
Demographics
In 2010, the town of Domburg had 1,490 inhabitants, up from 1,251 in 2001. The built-up area of the town was 0.78 km2, and contained 881 residences.
History
The area of Domburg has been inhabited since at least 4,000 BCE.[remove or clarification needed] In 1647 after heavy storms on the beach of Domburg a sanctuary was discovered with around 40 stones with Latin inscriptions and carvings of several gods, among them of Neptune (sea) and Mercury (trade), but the majority of a local female deity: Nehalennia who appears to have protected both trade and shipping. According to the inscriptions the stones were erected by tradesmen and captains to fulfil their vows after a safe journey, mentioning explicitly on one stone a merchant of pottery doing business with Britain.
From a later period (starting 650 AD) many coins have been found on the beach including Anglo-Saxon
In the following centuries there would be considerable activity by monks, not in the least because of salt works and the reclamation of land by which the island of Walcheren was formed. Near Domburg the mediaeval castle of Westhove, now a family hostel, used to be a stronghold of the abbot of the
The town of Domburg, actually more a village, surprisingly received a
The lordship of Domburg used to belong to the dukes of Burgundy when they were counts of both Holland and Zeeland. For financial reasons they sold Domburg to a lesser branch of their family from which it eventually ended up in the hands of private individuals and passing through the hands of more than one family until lordship rights were completely abolished in 1848. Mostly they were rich merchants from Zeeland cities who returned from India after having served as the director of trade in for example Bengalen.
For a long time Domburg consisted of two
Starting 1834 Domburg became a seaside resort offering a bathing cure and facilities. A small Badpaviljoen was built shortly after on top of the dunes, which was replaced by a larger one in 1888 which offered space for gentleman playing billiards and ladies drinking tea, a concert room, a seaview veranda and more of such amenities that beach life requires. Most important for its development was however the arrival of a railway station at Flushing and a connecting steamship service with England. A considerable British influence in these years was responsible for Domburg establishing the second golf-course in the Netherlands, although it never expanded over a friendly nine holes.
Like in so many seaside resorts at the end of the 19th century a flock of European royalty landed at Domburg for a few years when the resort was fashionable only to move along again a few years later. The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Pommern regularly arrived in the town by private-charter train on Stoomtram Walcheren. Instrumental however in the mythology of the place and the mentioned fashion was the very successful doctor
Domburg is perhaps best known for its hosting of a group of artists of which Piet Mondriaan or
(For references to literature see Dutch language page) [3] The statistical area "Domburg", which also can include the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 1650.[4]
Items of local interest
- Once the location of shrine dedicated to Nehalennia.
- Formerly the western terminus of Stoomtram Walcheren which ran to Koudekerke, Middelburg and Vlissingen.
Pictures
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Church in Domburg
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Church in Domburg
References
- ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ "Postcodetool for 4357AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Bevolkingskernen in Nederland 2001 [1] Archived 2007-01-24 at the Wayback Machine. (Statistics are for the continuous built-up area).
- ^ Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Statline: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2003-2005 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 1999-04-27. Retrieved 2006-07-24.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link). As of 1 January 2005.