Katwijk

The history

The history of Katwijk

On this page the history of the Dutch coastal village Katwijk is treated. The matter is divided into periods. Each period begins with a short introduction on the history of the Netherlands.

Index

v The Roman era

v The Middle Ages

v The Dutch Revolution

v The Republic

v The French era

v The nineteenth century

v The First World War

v The Interbellum

v The Second World war

v The second half of the twentieth century

And further:

v Mediatips

v Request

v External links

The Roman era top

The Netherlands. The history of The Netherlands begins with the arrival of the Romans. Before that time there were no written sources in The Netherlands, so people lived in the prehistory. About that prehistory little is known.

v The Romans had come in the Netherlands under the command of Julius Caesar in the year 57 BC. After the arrival of Caesar the Batavians settled themselves in The Netherlands. They became allies of the Romans and defended the Rhine as northern border of the Roman Empire. Another tribe was the tribe of the ‘Chatti’ (in Dutch: ‘Katten’, in Latin: ‘Catti’). Presumably the name ‘Katwijk’ is derived from the name of this tribe (the Dutch word ‘wijk’ means ‘neighbourhood’).

v From 68 until 70 AD the Batavians (and other Germanic tribes) under the leadership of Julius Civilis revolted against emperor Vespasian (this was the ‘Batavian Rebellion’, in Dutch: ‘Bataafse opstand’). The uprising however was suppressed and the Batavians concluded a new treaty with Rome.

v Around 250 the Romans had to flee from the Dutch regions because of the continual attacks of the Germanics (in particular the Francs). Probably as a consequence of floods permanent habitation in this area came for the time being to an end.

Katwijk. In the Roman era Katwijk was of great importance. After all, Katwijk was situated on a strategic point: at the sea and at the Rhine, and the Rhine formed, as said, the northern border of the Roman Empire.

v The legendary ‘Lugdunum Batavorum’ is often situated near Leiden. Therefore this city embellishes itself since a long time with this Latin name. Nonetheless the camp was located near Katwijk. It was built in the time of emperor Claudius (41-54). Lugdunum (at present: Lyon) was the birthplace of the emperor while ‘Batavorum’ obviously refers to the Batavians. Thus the name can be translated as ‘Batavian Lyon’.

v Another important ‘castellum’ (military stronghold) in the proximity was the Brittenburg (in Dutch also: ‘Huis te Britten’), that was built in the second and third century. Its remains should be nowadays in the North sea. Until the eighteenth century the Katwijk citizens have seen these remains at low tide. Investigations in the twentieth century, however, have given no results.

v According to the tradition the Roman emperor Caligula (37-41) and his army stood on the Katwijk beach when they had moved to the north of the empire with the intention of conquering Brittany. For a matter of fact, eventually Caligula returned home unsuccessfully. In order not to return without gain he ordered his soldiers to fill their helmets with shells. See Towns in Germania Inferior: Lugdunum (Brittenburg).

v In the Roman time there was supposedly already a lighthouse in Katwijk: “The Romans built lighthouses here, not only for the fishermen, but also for the passage to England and for the possibility of finding the mouth of the Rhine, near Katwijk. They built strongholds and it is almost certain that next to a large castle, named Brittenburg, a high tower was built on which a fire burned. In the 18^th century the fishermen in Katwijk spoke still about the ‘tower of Kalla’, on which the ruins, at some distance from the coast, the fishing nets hooked on. The name Kalla could be a clue, that this lighthouse was built by emperor Caligula, the same one who also built the lighthouse in Boulogne.” (from: Romke van der Veen: Vuurtorens – over vierboeten, lichtwachters and markante bouwwerken, Groningen 1981, p. 15-16).

The Middle Ages top

The Netherlands. The Middle Ages are commonly situated between the years 500 and 1500. It is the period between the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of the so-called ‘Renaissance’ (the rebirth of the antique culture of the Greeks and the Romans). This epoch is characterized, in the current perception, by a low civilization.

v The beginning and the ending of the Middle Ages vary from country to country. For example, in Spain is seen as beginning the year 711 (the invasion of the Moors) and as ending the year 1492 (the conquering of Granada, the last bulwark of the Moors). In the Dutch regions one could take as beginning the year 250 (the departure of the Romans), while as ending could be chosen the year 1581 (the renouncement of king Philip II as sovereign).

v The Middle Ages could be divided in the following periods:

250‑500

the Old-Germanic period; in this period the migrating en masse took place

500‑1000

the Frankish period, to be divided in:

a. the Merovingian time (600-800); and

b. the Carolingian time (800-1000);

in this period the Franks gained the upper hand and the Dutch regions belonged to the Frankish Empire of which Charlemagne was the most well-known sovereign

1000‑1581

the feudal period; in this time the so-called feudal system is developed, in which the princes borrow land to their vassals, the counts and dukes; little by little these vassals become mightier, ‘forgetting’ for the sake of convenience that they only borrowed the lands; the Dutch regions belong in this period (officially until 1648) to the German Empire

Katwijk. In the Merovingian time (600-800) there was some habitation in the area ‘Cleijn Duin’ (Little Dune, a small bulge of the ‘Zuidduinen’ (Southern Dunes)).

v In the year 690 the munch Willibrord (658-739) landed from Ireland at Katwijk with the intention of converting the Dutch regions to Christianity. Likely he did not meet many inhabitants in Katwijk.

v In the year 860 there was a massive deluge near Katwijk, as a result of which the mouth of the Rhine became blocked. When this event would not have taken place Katwijk might well have been grown into a large port some day.

v Since about 950 the Rhine gave (because of the formation of young dunes) no entrance any more to the sea. This led for a long time to floods in the rest of South-Holland.

v In the eleventh or the twelfth century arose the village Katwijk aan den Rijn. For the first time this village is mentioned in 1231, when count Floris IV dwelled and administered justice here.

v Katwijk aan Zee consisted initially of a mere assemblage of huts, but gained importance after 1300 because of an increase of fishery. In 1388 the fish market of Katwijk aan den Rijn was moved to the beach.

v In the year 1404 for the first time the plan was made for a removal of the silting up of the Rhine-mouth, but eventually this plan bogged down.

v The both Katwijks formed one estate (one manorial territory) with the elder Valkenburg. The parish church, which at first stood in Valkenburg, was on a certain moment moved to Katwijk aan den Rijn (the Dorpskerk (Village Church)). In 1461 Katwijk aan Zee became an independent parish and got an own church (the ‘Oude Kerk’ (Old Church), originally named ‘Sint Andreaskerk’ (Saint Andrew Church)). In the same year arose the ‘Gasthuis’ (Guest house) of Katwijk aan Zee, the first institution for care of the elderly in the province Zuid-Holland.

The Dutch Revolution top

The Netherlands. The different provinces that later on would form The Netherlands gradually passed on to one family (mainly by marriage and inheritance). Originally these were the dukes of Burgundy. Duchess Mary of Burgundy married in 1477 with emperor Maximilian I of Germany. Their son count Philip II the Handsome of Holland married on his turn with queen Joanna the Mad of Spain. Their son Charles got by inheritance eventually the dominion over a vast part of Europe; he was for example emperor Charles V of Germany, king Charles I of Spain and count Charles II of Holland. Already during his lifetime he divided his dominions: his brother Ferdinand got Austria and the emperorship of Germany, while his son Philip got Spain, the colonies in America, parts of Italy and the Netherlands. This son, known as king Philip II of Spain, wanted to melt the Seventeen United Netherlands into one central state and he persecuted every view different from the catholic one. After the ‘Beeldenstorm’ (Iconoclasm) in 1566 he sent the duke of Alva to the Netherlands to put down the resistance. This led to the beginning of the ‘Tachtigjarige Oorlog’ (Eighty Years’ War or Dutch Revolt). All provinces united themselves in 1576 against king Philip II of Spain in the ‘Pacificatie van Gent’ (Pacification of Ghent). Subsequently the southern, catholic provinces concluded in 1579 the ‘Unie van Atrecht’ (Union of Arras) and choose the side of Spain. As a reaction the northern ‘Zeven Provinciën’ (Seven Provinces, that is Guelders, Utrecht, Holland, Zealand, Friesland, Groningen and Overijssel) united themselves in the Union of Utrecht, and they formed at the end of the sixteenth century the Republic of the United Netherlands. After a long war, that was interrupted in the period 1609-1621 by the ‘Twaalfjarig Bestand’ (Twelve Year Truce), the Netherlands provinces reached eventually the victory. In 1648 the ‘Vrede van Münster’ (Peace of Münster) was signed in which the independence of the Republic of the United Netherlands was recognized. The southern provinces remained under the authority of Spain.

Katwijk. Katwijk has, just like Leiden, suffered under the Eighty Years’ War (1566-1648). The village was half burnt down and the ‘Oude Kerk’ (Old Church) was partly destroyed.

v In 1570 once again the plan was taken up to make an outlet for the Rhine. (As said before, the silted up Rhine-mouth caused already floods for centuries.) A dig-through for proof was made, started on March 26^th 1571. On November 30^th the dig through had reached the beach, while the solemn opening took place on April 1^st 1572 (on the same day that Brill was conquered by the Sea Beggars on the Spaniards). At the opening were present among others the ‘Dijkgraaf van het Hoogheemraadschap Rijnland’ (Dike-reeve of the District Water Control Board of Rhineland), the council of the city Leiden and a big crowd. The eventual dig-through however was cancelled (as a result of a lack of money and the situation of war), after which the proof dig-through was mockingly called ‘het Mallegat’ (the Mad Hole).

v As a result of the violence of war Katwijk started the Golden Century (the De Vuurbaak van Katwijk (1605) seventeenth century) in a damaged state. Moreover, at the beginning of this century the sea moved up, through which the ‘Oude Kerk’ (Old Church), that initially stood in the midst of the village, stood eventually at the coast. Also the long existing ‘vierboet’ (beacon) was threatened. Therefore a new beacon had to be built; in 1605 for that purpose a request was presented to stadholder Prince Maurits. The new beacon “would be placed upon a waste land, ‘des Grafelijkheids Wildernisse’ (the Waste Land of the County). A long procedure followed, but in 1628 a positive decision was taken. The ‘Vuurboetmeesters’ (Beacon Masters) were allowed to ask money, of the yields of the fish taken to the auction, namely one ‘duit’ (penny) per ‘Hollands Pond’ (Dutch Pound), to the value of fifteen ‘stuivers’ (dimes). This money was needed for the payment of the ‘Brand’ (Fire) and other expenses for the ‘Vuurboet tot Katwijk op See’ (Beacon at Katwijk aan Zee). A clerk had to keep meticulously notices of this.” (From: Romke of der Veen, in the mentioned book p. 21-22). The beak is at the moment the oldest in The Netherlands.

v The estate of the both Katwijks was for centuries a property of the family of Wassenaer, that also possessed the viscounty of Leiden. In the middle of the sixteenth century however this family was died out in the male line, after which the estate was transferred by marriage on the Spanish-minded family De Ligne (originated form the Belgian Hainault). Due to the Spanish-mindedness of the prince De Ligne the estate of the both Katwijks has been under the control for some time of stadholder prince Frederik Hendrik. He bestowed on March 30^th 1644 to the estate a Creditbank, that was established in the ‘Kerkstraat’ (Church Street). In 1654, after the Peace of Münster (1648), the estate was sold to Willem of Liere, Lord of Oosterwijk (at Leerdam).

The Republic top

v In the time of the Republic (1648-1795) Katwijk belonged still to the Lords of Katwijk. These left the government actually to the ‘schout’ (sheriff). A well-known schout was Carolus Boers (1679-1748). Another well-known figure in this time was the vicar and historiographer Rev. Adrianus Pars (1641-1719). He wrote a chronicle about the Katwijk history.

v Also in this period Katwijk has suffered under acts of war. During the Anglo-Dutch Wars (in the second half of the seventeenth century) many Katwijk vessels went lost.

v In 1751 stadholder prince William IV visited the baron of Wassenaar. The prince was greeted enthusiastically by the Katwijk population.

v On July 30^th 1789, in the month in which the French revolution broke out, his son stadholder prince William IV visited Katwijk. He made among other things a visit to the ‘Dorpskerk’ (Village Church). After that he went for a walk to the beach to see the ships.

The French era top

v In the French era (1795-1814) the Katwijk fishery had at first little to suffer under the English privateering. Later on the English began to support the Katwijk smuggling (under the command of Reyn Varkevisser). On a certain moment the English dared themselves even in the ‘Uitwatering’ (Outlet).

v In 1808 the Rhineland locks (“de capital inward lock of the Katwijk canal”) were opened in the ‘Uitwatering’ (Outlet) by king Louis Napoleon. In those days the locks were seen as a technical miracle.

The nineteenth century top

v In 1814, after the departure of the French, William I became sovereign of the Netherlands. In 1815 he accepted the kingship. The Netherlands included from 1815 until 1830 (officially until 1839) also the Southern Netherlands, the actual Belgium. Katwijks interieur

v In 1837 the feudal rights were abolished, after which the fishery gradually came to development. Important was the founding of the “Katwijksche Maatschappij tot uitoefening of the Kust- and Steurvisscherij” (the Katwijk Society for the practice of the Coastal and Sturgeon-fishery). King William I bought 15 of the 240 shares.

v A nice story is that of the Katwijk fisherman Pieter Willemsz. Groen. He was washed ashore in 1836 after a shipwreck at the isle Tristan da Cunha (discovered in 1506 by the Portuguese Tristão da Cunha). Groen decided to stay and became a leading figure on the isle. Nowadays “Green” is one of the seven family names existing on the isle. The isle is part of the British crown colony Saint Helena and has at present about 300 inhabitants.

v At the end of the nineteenth century famous painters came to visit Katwijk, like Jan Toorop, German Grobe, Hans von Bartels and Willy Sluiter.

v In 1879 a Chamber of Commerce was founded in Katwijk. Very important for the Katwijk economy was the fishery. Much of the fish caught by the people from Katwijk was destined for the export. The fresh fish was exported to Belgium, Germany and France, while the dried fish was only brought to Belgium. The smoked herring was transported as well as to Germany as to Belgium. In addition to the fishery the agriculture and horticulture was also important for the Katwijk economy. Notably potatoes and cauliflowers were grown, but also tulips and crocuses.

v In 1897 the “Vereniging ter Bevordering van het Vreemdelingenverkeer te Katwijk” (Society for the Advancement of the Tourism in Katwijk) was founded.

v In 1902 a great fishery exhibition was organized in Katwijk on a field along the boulevard. A large hall was set up there, with as entrance a gate made of herring barrels, with niche decorations made by Jan Toorop. The exhibition was opened on July 1^st by Queen-Mother Emma.

The First World War top

v During the First World War (1914-1918), in which for a matter of fact The Netherlands did not participate, the tourism in Katwijk decreased. Even more the fishery suffered under the war: 26 Katwijk ships perished, in most cases caused by mine explosions. Yet in the beginning the fishers had profited from the war: because of the shortages in Germany the price of herring had risen there. In 1916 however the export to Germany was restricted considerably, by which the fishers were left with the stock. After the war the export to Germany did not revive, as was expected, but stayed poor as a result of German import restrictions.

v Little by little the traditional ‘bomschuiten’ (literally: bomb-ships, named after their form) were replaced by ‘loggers’ (luggers). In 1917 the last ‘bomschuit’ set sail from Katwijk.

v Although the tourism, as said, decreased, Katwijk could hail some important tourists in these somber years: in the summer of 1916 queen Wilhelmina and her little daughter princess Juliana stayed for seven weeks in the villa ‘Duinlust’ (Dune desire) at the ‘Zeeweg’ (Sea way).

The Interbellum top

v During the interbellum (1918-1940) the fishery as well as the tourism were built up again in Katwijk.

v In 1922 the Katwijk Chamber of Commerce was integrated in that of Leiden, the ‘Kamer of Koophandel voor Rijnland’ (Chamber of Commerce for Rhineland).

v From 1927 until 1929 princess Juliana attended lectures at the University of Leiden. During these years she lived with some fellow students in Katwijk (see The Queen and the members of the royal house). Two villas at the Northern-Boulevard were for that purpose rented from ship owner Dirk Taat. The princess herself stayed in the villa ’t Waerle, while her chamberlain and her other staff stayed in the villa Hoogcate. The princess became so much established in Katwijk that she could walk through the village without being stared at.

v In 1930 the princess donated as expression of thank for her stay in Katwijk the monument ‘Vissersweduwe met zoon’ (Fisherman’s widow with son, artist: L.W. v.d. Noordaa) near the ‘Oude Kerk’ (Old Church). The princess came to Katwijk herself to reveal this monument.

v In 1932 the new Town hall at the ‘Zeeweg’ (Sea Way) was opened by the princess.

The Second World War top

v On Friday May 10^th 1940, a little before four o’clock in the morning, German fighting planes appeared at the horizon. They were on the way to the neighbouring airfield Valkenburg. The Germans considered this airfield of strategic importance, because it was situated in the neighbourhood of the administration centre The Hague. The attack came to such an extent as a surprise that the four hundred and fifty soldiers who had to defend it could not hold their ground. At six o’clock in the morning the airfield was totally in German hands. The mayor of Valkenburg was ordered to collect all male inhabitants of the village between 18 and 65 years in the centre. What the Germans had not known in advance was that the airfield was still under construction and consisted mainly of swampy meadows. The 57 German planes that had landed there could not take off again, because they were until the axes stuck in the mud. In the meantime however there had been landed more than a thousand of Germans. Before long they swarmed out to Katwijk aan den Rijn, Katwijk aan Zee and Wassenaar. Also on the beaches of Katwijk and Wassenaar Germans (with parachutes) had been landed.

In the morning at half past eight an army corps from Katwijk aan Zee could reach the airfield initially up to two hundred meters. However, when some were killed, panic arose and they run back, chased by the Germans until Katwijk aan den Rijn. There gunfights occurred. On a certain moment the blue tram came loudly ringing in the village, while the passengers behind the windows stood watching the scene. Only late in the midday the Germans retired from Katwijk.

Meanwhile some Dutch units of field artillery, that had taken position in the dunes of Katwijk, had begun to shoot on the airfield. This was successful. Eventually the Germans had to leave the airfield in the midday. In the village Valkenburg however they could stand firm; here were situated six hundred Germans.

v In the night from 10^th to 11^th May a battalion from Katwijk aan den Rijn had marched to the Wassenaar dunes with the intention of eliminating the Germans there. At the ‘Wassenaarse Slag’ a bivouac was made. At a quarter past four at night however that bivouac was attacked by the Germans. On the Dutch side there were a lot of killed and wounded. Others surrendered. Those remaining fled to Wassenaar.

Later in the morning the forward line of a second battalion, this time from Katwijk aan Zee, took steps to the ‘Wassenaarse Slag’. These men however had not eaten and were tired and hungry. They were dispersed by the Germans. The rest of the battalion would, together with a third battalion from Wassenaar, begin the attack at two o’clock in the afternoon. Yet this attack was not carried out. Over Valkenburg stocks were dropped. These were considered to be parachutists, who, as one feared, would block the way back. Therefore the men fled in disorder back to Katwijk aan Zee and Wassenaar.

This same day, Saturday May 11^th, the village Valkenburg was from half past seven in the morning fired at by Dutch artillery. In the Dutch-Reformed church in this village were three hundred Dutch prisoners of war. In a bar was the male population of the village taken hostage. Both buildings were hit by the shootings, as a result of which some of the men loosed their lives. After the artillery had stopped, the forward line of a Dutch battalion from Katwijk aan den Rijn intruded in Valkenburg. After some time however it had to fled. At six o’clock in the evening a new attack was carried out by another battalion from Katwijk; however it had to flee too. An attack form Leiden failed as well.

v The next day, Sunday May 12^th (Whit Sunday), new attacks were carried out from Katwijk at Valkenburg. As a result of a misunderstood message of the army command these attacks however were cancelled before they had properly started. At the withdrawal ten men died.

All in all there were still two groups of Germans in the environment of Katwijk: about three hundred and fifty men at the ‘Wassenaarse Slag’ and about six hundred men in Valkenburg. Both groups were part of the 22^nd Luftlande-Division. The first group was left alone during the next days of ware, because one did not exactly know where it was. All attention went to the group in Valkenburg.

v On Monday May 13^th (Whit Monday) several shootings on the village were carried out.

v In the morning of Tuesday May 14^th the women and children of the village (the men were still kept hostage by the Germans) got leave to leave the village and go to Katwijk. The unfortunates were, as a result of mistakes on Dutch side, shoot at; they were initially even driven back with the bayonet by Dutch troops until halfway through Valkenburg before they might go to Katwijk.

That afternoon in Rotterdam occurred the bombardment that killed innumerable civilians. At 18.40 h the radio announced the Dutch capitulation. In the night that followed several citizens (in particular Jews) tried in Katwijk and in other coastal villages to persuade fishermen to bring them to the safe England. In vain. Five years of occupation followed for The Netherlands.

v In 1942 the beach of Katwijk was declared to be “Sperrgebiet”. Along the boulevard and in the dunes arose heavy bunkers and walls (the “Atlantikwall”). The coastal area was vacated and almost six hundred houses were demolished.

The second half of the twentieth century top

v After the Second World War Katwijk was rebuilt at high speed. Those who were expropriated because of the construction of the ‘Atlantikwall’ got granted by virtue of the ‘Wet Materiële Oorlogsschaden’ (Material War Damages Act) as indemnification a piece of land with a rebuilding-obligation.

v The number of inhabitants rose steadily until more than 40.000. In the north of Katwijk arose the new quarters ‘de Hoornes’ and ‘Rijnsoever’, while at the end of the twentieth century the building on of ‘de Zanderij’ (originally an agricultural area) started.

v The industrial area ‘’t Heen’ harbours a lot of companies that are important for the employment in the region.

v In 1974 queen Juliana signed up as ‘ordinary’ member of the ‘Genootschap Oud Katwijk’ (Society Ancient Katwijk).

v On April 22^nd 1983 queen Beatrix paid a short working visit to the village Katwijk.

v On May 19^th 1983 the renewed organ in the ‘Nieuwe Kerk’ (New Church) was brought into use; details about the organ may be read on Het van den Heuvel orgel in de Nieuwe Kerk, Katwijk aan Zee; on this site are also sound-recording of the organ to be listened.

v In 1984 princess Juliana opened the Katwijk Museum.

v Queens Day 2000 (Saturday April 29^th) was a very special day because queen Beatrix celebrated her birthday in Katwijk (and Leiden). See the website of Radio Nederland Wereldomroep.

v At the beginning of the twenty first century, in June 2002, an important decision was made: Katwijk will per January 1^st 2006 merge with the two neighbouring villages Rijnsburg and Valkenburg. According to a proposal the new municipality will be called ‘Katwijk’, consisting of four parts, namely Katwijk aan Zee, Katwijk aan den Rijn, Rijnsburg and Valkenburg.

v Another, national, merger took place on May 1^th 2004, namely between the ‘Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk’ (the Dutch Reformed Church), the ‘Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland’ (the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands) and the ‘Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden’ (the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands). From this merger originated the ‘Protestantse Kerk in Nederland’ (the Protestant Church in the Netherlands). Two of the ten ‘Hervormd’ vicars in Katwijk aan Zee could not identify themselves with the principles of the new church and they left it, with their adherents, and created a new church, the ‘Hersteld Hervormde Kerk’ (the Recovered Reformed Church). Because they pretend to be entitled to the possessions of the church they left, they started a lawsuit against it, which put the relation between both sides under pressure.

Mediatips top

When you live in Katwijk or Valkenburg (Zuid-Holland) you can learn more about the Katwijk history via the television. The VLOK (‘Vereniging Lokale Omroep Katwijk en Valkenburg’, Association Local Broadcasting Company Katwijk and Valkenburg) broadcasts a history program under the name ‘Sporen van Vroeger’ (Tracks of the Past).

Request top

Some time ago I received from a lady from Voorburg an e-mail message with the following request:

My granddad, born on 26-01-1891 in Katwijk, talked during his lifetime often about “the treasure of Mart Jansz.”. According to him there was an enormous family capital (in America?), coming from a ship in the VOC-era. As child of about ten years old I considered it at that time to be a nice story, but alas I never asked details. Recently more people from unexpected places came with the same story, so I have grown curious to what extent the story is true. I have already been busy with all sorts of searching engines but until now without direct concrete result. Have you heard of it?

Alas I had to disappoint this lady: I never heard of “the treasure of Mart Jansz.” and also people around me shrugged of their shoulders when hearing about it. If you do know more about it, please send me an e-mail. Thanks in advance!

External links top

v The website www.home.worldonline.nl/~dparlev contains elaborated sources about the Katwijk history (among others literature and archives). Interesting on this website are further the lists of Katwijk administrators, sheriffs, vicars and suchlike of the past centuries, as well as the history of some church buildings.

v The website of Genootschap Oud Katwijk (Society Ancient Katwijk) offers information about the membership of the society and the edition of its quarterly.

v The official website of the municipality Katwijk offers as well a (modest) survey of the history of the village: www.katwijk.nl.

v The website about Queens Day 2000 gives also a historical survey on Katwijk and Oranje.

v About Pieter Groen one can read more on: Pieter Willemsz Groen - Peter Green and Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic Ocean. About the isle itself: see Tristan da Cunha - the remotest island in the world and Tristan da Cunha.

v On Art Gallery Kraijenoord you may see some paintings made in Katwijk.

v More elaborate information about the events in and around Valkenburg in May 1940 may be found on Mei 1940.

v Mr. Nico van Dijk has also made a survey of The history of Katwijk (and the Rhine mouth), which he willingly put at my disposal.

v On this website finally is nice to browse a survey of the origin of De Katwijkse straten (The Katwijk street names). Figures from the Katwijk history to whom a street is called are to be found here.