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De Boerenboom

The rampart was designed by the mayor of Alkmaar, Adriaan Anthonisz, and is an example of the so-called Old Dutch fortification system.

At two points, the Boerenboom and the Oude Gouwsboom, one can enter or leave the city by boat. This was necessary because until the 20th century much of the land in the polder around the city could only be reached by barge.

The Boerenboom has been restored very recently. The mechanism to close the passage with a slide still works. It was last used during the Second World War. In the last year of the war, the Germans had flooded the Wieringermeer and the people of Enkhuizen were afraid that they would also blow up the West Frisian dikes.

De Boerenboom

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City full of landlubbers and sailors