Schiermonnikoog

Schiermonnikoog is a municipality and an island in the northern Netherlands, one of the West Frisian Islands.

History

The first known owners of Schiermonnikoog were the monks of the Cistercian monastery Klaarkamp near Rinsumageest, on the mainland^[1]. "Monnik" means "monk" and "schier" is an archaic word meaning "gray", referring to the colour of the monks' habits.

The wind and the sea cause the island to slowly "move" to the south and the east. In the year 1250, it lay roughly 2 km to the north of its present position, and it had a significantly different shape^[2]. Storms in 1717 and 1720 flooded the village that had developed in the vicinity of the monks' buildings. Consequently, the village was abandoned. A new village, named after the island, was built to the east from 1756.

References

1. ^  Stenvert, R. et al. (2000). Monumenten in Nederland: Friesland, p. 265–267. Zwolle: Waanders Uitgevers. ISBN 90–400–9476–4.
2. ^  Van de Ven, G. (editor) (1996). Leefbaar laagland, p. 90. Utrecht: Uitgeverij Matrijs. ISBN 90–5345–031–9.

External links

• Official Website
• Little map