NEWS

This page is intended to provide information, stories and news gathering from Westland history with several pictures.

October 1, 2012 Special archaeological discovery in preparation dike Maasland

The Delfland in Maasland, the remains of a farm from the Iron Age found. The discovery was made during archaeological research in preparation for the improvement of a quay in the Polder Commander. The special thing about the site is that parts of the walls and the floors of the farm are well preserved. The Iron Age lasted from about 800 BC. until the beginning of our era. Except parts of the braid walls and thatched floor of the farmhouse, include pottery shards found. The discovery of the location that the special nature of the polder and

August 30, 2012 Fourteen hundred years old oar found in Naaldwijk

During archaeological research by ADC Archeoprojecten in Naaldwijk in 2011 in a well the blade of a paddle dating from the Merovingian period (6th century AD). A remarkable find since about shipbuilding and navigation technology in the Early Middle Ages, little is known. The rowing blade is a technical masterpiece in design and similar to contemporary ones. It appears that at that time grew with two straps (scullen) and well aware of the most effective transfer of muscle on the water.Het rowing blade was

found in a well from the Merovingian period (6th-7th century AD. ) that was part of a settlement, excavated in the planning area Hoogeland in Naaldwijk. For the construction of wells used is usually discarded wood, sometimes of vessels. That an oar is found is unique. From the curvature of the sheet and the smooth finish of the inside it can be observed that the maker has been designed with a view to the effectiveness. The design resembles modern rowing sheets of plastic, where years of technical research and improvement before it. As often evidenced by archaeological research, the technical insights in the Early Middle Ages far from primitive. Because the shipbuilding and sailing technique at that time very little is known, this is an important find rowing blade. Probably sailed in boats trunk with some planks were raised and used, two rowing oars with blades like this. The oak leaf is for the most part have been preserved, and measurement including a piece of the shank (the handle of the oar) 48 cm, and it is symmetrical in the longitudinal and slightly curved. On the convex side of the blade is a polished center rib provides strength to the neck: the transition from leaf to stem. The concave side is smooth. The find is preserved and ready for further research, which will take place in the newly established Naval Archaeology Laboratory (SAL) of ADC Archeoprojecten in Amersfoort.Het archaeological research preceded housing in the planning area Hoogeland in Naaldwijk. The excavation was conducted in 2011 by ADC Archeoprojecten commissioned by The Westland. ADC Archeoprojecten specializes in conducting archaeological research throughout the Netherlands.

September 10, 2011

In Maasdijk, a village in the municipality of Westland, is a German bunker from World War II discovered. The bunker was found when a piece of sewage was removed under a provincial reconstruction project. Among the sewer was a bunker to sit. The Westland suspected that in this location the foundation of an ancient fortification was. Now there seems to be so much more to have been preserved than the fundering.In the bunker include a German user of a stove detected. The bunker was built in 1943. Presumably were atthe bunker formerly a steel dome and two machine guns. For now, the bunker again covered with a layer of earth. It is not yet known what the future is going to happen with thefortification.

May 22, 2011

Romans not in Hoogeland!

Nice that attention to the excavations along the Zuidweg in Naaldwijk (May 2011). Recent weeks there has been intensively excavated on land south of the Zuidweg in the area Hoogh Yard. Here are earlier historical discoveries from both the Roman and the Middle Ages. Nice to take a picture in the newspaper to see Alderman Weverling a Roman discovery in hand. I myself was there as a volunteer assistant in the excavations. When the councilors planned trip to that area were unfortunately very few councilors present. A missed opportunity because it is the Council that budgets should pave this important historical sites, say our history.

Westland is very rich in archaeological sites to be investigated. In many places, the Romans settled, there are many remains were found in various places in the Westland. There is eg a run away from Naaldwijk direction Wateringen and further and perhaps an excavated channel. This includes settlements in. Much has already been found, but the majority is still somewhere underground.

Unfortunately there is still mostly very quickly put down a building without the land archaeological been investigated. It has little priority in Westland unfortunately. An example of fast drop of a building is the property of the Waal and Partners, right next to the current excavations. Archaeological research has apparently not done with certainty while important discoveries lie and perhaps the Roman port for so long being searched.

Disturbing is that the naming of areas as now in Naaldwijk widely violated and thus misled the public and the history violated. Like now in the newspapers reported that Hoogeland discoveries are made, people Hoogeland is just a really bad name for this historic area ...

Hoogeland is a project name for historic areas like the Hoogwerf and Gibbet Block and the lands south of the Grape Street. The municipality and the Council do not help to maintain historically significant naming. As a result of proliferation-kul exotic names of places in Westland with only one purpose and that is maximum sales results for developers.

Previous commitment of the municipality to where what they now call Hoogeland, with final adoption historic proper names correctly to give and is not fulfilled. A switch (n) urban development that puts a blemish on the current board of Westland.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Westland dug and the Roman road discovered. I go there again assist and hope to learn and discover our history.

Who cares somebody said to me ... Yes, that will I do. Important than refresh charge in the pub to hang what the person is a seemingly meaningful dagvulling ... Now even more support in the Council and in the Church and especially more interest in the co western nationals to get our own history.

Oh, yes, the Romans were not in Hoogeland, because that did not exist and is a kul-naming!

Posted by Aad van Uffelen

August 24, 2010

The Westland municipality located west of Delft and has since 2007 a ​​common system of Archaeology Delft. In the framework of this scheme advises Archaeology Delft in spatialdevelopment plans and implements field studies.

Archaeology in Westland

There is regular archaeological site in the municipality of Westland. Currently there are therefore approximately 259 sites known from the area. These sites date from Prehistoryto the New Time. The most recent of the discovered sites in Westland concerns a number of houses from the New time found during the archaeological supervision of arehabilitation center in Monster in June 2010.

Archaeological Monument Map

A number of known archaeological sites in Westland is linked to land on the national Archaeological Monument Map (AMK) are shown as areas with significant archaeologicalvalue. There are 26 of these areas within the municipality, which in 2 cases even to a protected archaeological monument goes. One of these areas is located on theWateringseweg in Poeldijk. Here are the remains of a villa complex from Roman times present. The other site is in Wateringen and concerns the medieval remains of theHofstede of Wateringen.

May 31, 2009

Jewish cemetery monument in Naaldwijk

The Jewish cemetery on the Opstalweg in Naaldwijk is included on the municipal monument. The Westland municipality has adopted it at the request of the Society OldWestland. The cemetery has existed since the end of the eighteenth century. The historical s

ociety, it has a letter written on the Jewish cemetery after it had proved not to municipal monument was included. The Society pointed out that the cemetery in 2007 was listed in the Inventory of Historic Valuable Objects of the church and it was described as rare and 'historical value as a reference to the vanished Jewish community of Naaldwijk. The municipality has the curious omission now recognized and the cemetery still therefore included in its monuments.

The Jewish cemetery dates from 1794 and is the former Jewish community was founded, so they no longer need to Scheveningen to the deceased for burial. In 1929, the thenmunicipality Naaldwijk the cemetery taken from the Dutch Israelite Church of The Hague and thereby promised the cemetery in proper condition to maintain. In the course of time is unfortunately the metaarhuisje - he

re was the ritual cleansing of the deceased place - and the beautiful wrought iron gate disappeared, that this promise has not been fulfilled. The municipality of Westland, as the legal successor of the municipality Naaldwijk, owner of the Jewish cemetery. Soon the memorial shield of the municipality at the cemetery are made.

September 1, 1973

Soon after the beginning of our era (± ten years after Christ) became our area influenced and dominated by the Romans. The Romans remained in the area until the collapse of the Roman Empire (± four hundred AD). In Poeldijk in 1973 to Wateringseweg, the garden of A. van der Voort, for drainage work in a department store, a remarkable discoverythat was unique for the Netherlands The Roman foundations, as was found. Approximately one meter depth is a heavy peat found a stone foundation about fifteen feet lo

ng and eight feet wide building, dating back to Roman times. In these excavations have revealed how handsome the builders of the settlement time though.The former building was heated by a hypocaust, an underfloor and wall heating in Roman architecture for baths and distinguished privateresidences was applied. Besides this building, three fragments of a bronze military diploma found. Such diplomas were awarded to indigenoussoldiers 25 years' service in the Roman army had met and then honorably retired were sent. This diploma was a veteran range of place whose name remains unknown, but whose father was called Amandus and Cananefaat was.He had served in the Ala I Nori Corum, a cavalry unit that her place in the German Dormagen had. From the list ofconsuls, as witnesses to the diploma mentioned, it can be deduced that the degree of security between February 7 and May 5 160 167 was awarded. A replica of this degree is to be admired in the Westlands Museum of Regional Historyand Horticulture in Honselersdijk. The original was donated to the National Museum in Leiden. After the Roman period the area was long inhabited Fragment of the military diploma found.

New Waterway. The Oude Maas was always the historic entrance to the port of Rotterdam before, but the continual silting of the channel began an obstacle to the economic development. Eventually, a narrow strip of the Westland nibble off by digging the New Waterway, which in 1872 was the final open connection between Rotterdam and the sea.The construction of the Maasvlakte and Europoort was the Westland now on the threshold of the largest port in the world.

Dune erosion. Heavy storms and storm surges caused dune erosion, however, dikes and land loss. Especially the St. Elizabeth flood of 1421 changed the entire estuary area andthe course of the tidal rivers. The coastline dune strip then walked south of 's-Gravenzande and then with a big bow to the Maeslant-Sluys, the present Maassluis. The ChapterDunes between 1400 and 1800 were almost entirely swept away. The fishing village of Ter Heijde was three times engulfed by the advancing sea and inland rebuilt. The dunestrip here was so narrow that late 18th century proceeded to the construction of groins: the so-called Delfland heads. Behind the dunes was then a sleeper (inner-) constructed.The breakwaters have little effect and large pieces of beach must be completed each year by so-called beach nourishment.

January 12, 1490 Milestone Monster

The Milestone Monster is a landmark from Roman times, at the end of the fifteenth century in Naaldwijk (ex Monster) was found.

Around 1490 it was the milestone found by monks of the Abbey of Sion from Rijswijk, a piece of land in the Westland cultivated. The exact location is not known. The earliest mention of the discovery of the Utrecht chronicler Heda anthem from 1521 and reports Naaldwijk as reference, Hadrian Junius mentions around 1570 Monster which was then under Naaldwijk. The first years of the landmark preserved in the monastery, the monks him between 1545 and 1555 exchanged with the rich businessman Hippolytus Persijn him at his house between The Hague and Wassenaar preserved. After this house was demolished in 1780, moved to the House Baak milestone in Zutphen. Baron van der Heyden who inhabited the estate, gave him in 1838 at the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, where the "Milestone Monster" since then exhibited.

The milestone

It was normal Roman practice to pass along the main roads to the mile a pole that provides both the distance to the nearest town said, as the Emperor did during whose reign the road was made or repaired. The emperor was honored in a long inscription stating all his honorary titles. On the basis of the functions that an emperor in a given year held, an inscription dated.

The Milestone Monster's 162 n. Chr. placed during the joint reign of the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. The pole was probably a Roman road from the coast to the town of Naaldwijk Forum Hadriani ran. The exact location is unknown, the discovery of four milestones in their original place in the Wateringseveld in The Hague where a milestone of 162 missing, making it likely that the milestone of Monster is not on the same road stood. The 2.05 meters high landmark is made of sandstone and is reasonably intact. Despite damage to the inscription it is still legible. Because the letters are not on the standard Roman method are carved and some errors occur, has long been assumed that this inscription was a forgery. A Roman milestone in 1769 at Remagen in Germany was found, however, contained an almost identical text, which proof of authenticity of the Monsterse pole was delivered. Probably after the excavation made an attempt to clarify the text, where the errors.The text of the inscription is:IMP(eratori) CAES(ari)/ M(arco) AVREL(io) ANTO/NINO AVG(usto) PONT(ifici)/ MAX(imo) TR(ibunicia) POT(estate) XVI/ CO(n)S(uli) I[I]I ET/ IMP(eratori) [C]AES(ari)/ L(ucio) AVREL(io) [VE]RO AVG(usto)/ TR(ibunicia) POT(estate) [II] CO(n)S(uli) II/ A M[---] A E C/ M(ilia) P(assuum) XII (VII?)With translation:To Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, commander, chief priest, for the sixteenth time tribune, for the third time consul, Lucius Aurelius Verus and emperor, chief, for the second time tribune, consul for the second time. From Municipium Aelium Cananefatium twelve (seven?) Miles.The last sentence reports the distance to Municipium Aelium Cananefatium, the official name for Forum Hadriani. Seven Roman mile is about eleven kilometers and which corresponds to the distance from the presumed site of the milestone to park arent Burgh in Voorburg, where the remains of Forum Hadriani lie.

Peat reclamation. In the early Middle Ages the coast ravaged by numerous severe storms, leaving to the south tidal creeks arose. Between the 10th and 13th centuries exploitedthe peasants almost inaccessible bogs. Only around 1242 was the Maasdijk built, making the country was better protected against flooding. For drainage watercourses were dugwhich the pattern is still recognizable. Farmhouses were built on mounds or along small streams peat. Due to the dewatering the peat began to oxidize and to sound, with the result that the soil is decreased and the excess water increased. The creek beds consisted of sand and clay and were therefore higher than the originally higher lying peat and felldry. In this process of 'scenery inversion "(inversion of the relief) are creek ridges arise that are still as slight undulations in the landscape can be seen (this is more apparent inmolehills, that are black in the peat and dimmed the creek ridges) . The farmers move their farms to the creek ridges. The flooding took the subsidence, and therefore werealongside the watercourses new drainage canals dug. Sometimes previously existing natural watercourses used

Habitation. The sandy beach ridges were the first places that were suitable for habitation. The first inhabitants here have probably already more than 4000 years ago located,though they frequently have to move through coastal erosion. But the swampy Central Delfland was before the era inhabited. Excavations here is a human skeleton from the Bronze Age (600 BC.) Found, as well as remains of a farm from the Iron Age (600 BC. - 50 AD). In Roman times lived the Frisian Germanic tribe of the Canninifats in this coastal area. On beach ridges developed trade routes towards the Old Rhine, the northern border of the empire. Around 50 AD the Roman general Corbulo had moreover the Meuseestuary (the Romans called Helinium) constructing a canal to the Old Rhine, this region was important for them to trade with England. In Schipluiden was a Roman settlement,whose remains are found in the peat.

Occur. More than 5,000 years ago have the Holland coast beach ridges formed in the Delta area however were intersected by a combination of river mouths and estuaries, whichare called estuaries. The Dutch long beach wall chain walked to the mouth of the river, a large expanse of water from Monster to Den Briel. The original beach ridges, which arealso called Old dunes were formed, ran south of Ter Heijde by, west of the present coast, the last 2000 years they are here entirely swallowed by the sea. After the year 1000came a new period of dune formation: the so-called Young Dunes. South of Ter Heijde they would later be known as the Chapter Dunes, on the southside week the Dutch coastline at the "Corner" and went into a comprehensive buntings area along the Meuse Estuary, with sandbars and estuary dunes (Wed de Stael Dunes). The region was thus enclosedwould be known as Delfland, the watercourse Delf, which after 1250 was excavated; Delft also derives its name from the Delf, who later was called Delft Vliet.