Where is the town of Hoorn in the Netherlands?

Where is the town of Hoorn in the Netherlands?

Hoorn [ˈɦoːr(ə)n] ( listen) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.

Where was the first place Hoorn was mentioned?

One of the earliest mentions of Hoorn is found in a letter which states that in 1303, a merchant from Bruges was imprisoned in West Friesland near a place called “Hornicwed”.

Why was Hoorn important in the Dutch Golden Age?

Founded in 716, Hoorn rapidly grew to become a major harbour town. During Holland’s ‘Golden Age’ (or ‘Golden Century’), Hoorn was an important home base for the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and a very prosperous centre of trade.

Where does the last name Hoorn come from?

The origin of the name Hoorn, even in old spelling Hoern (e) or Hoirne, is surrounded in myths. Hoorn’s name, according to Old Frisian legends, is derived from the stepson of King Redbad (Radboud), called Hornus.

Why was Hoorn important to the Dutch East India Company?

In this period, Hoorn developed into a prosperous port city, being home to one of the six chambers of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). Towards the end of the eighteenth century, however, it started to become increasingly more difficult for Hoorn to keep competing with nearby Amsterdam.

What was Hoorn like in the Middle Ages?

In the Late Middle Ages, the site of present-day Hoorn was a swampy area that was not at all suitable for agriculture, as opposed to the more fertile inland. Here, overproduction of dairy products led to the establishment of a marketplace within the domain of Zwaag, where excesses could be traded for other goods.

How did the settlement of Hoorn get its name?

The construction of these buildings was completed in 1316 and led to the expansion of the settlement, as more merchants from Northern Germany and Denmark now visited the place to trade. As a result, the settlement quickly developed into a village, which was then given the name of Hoorn.