The Westfrisian village Ursem, situated at the border of the Schermer polder, can be recognised in great distance by the silhouette of her two churches and the houses on the dike. Dispite the modern appearance of the present habitation Ursem is an old village in the old countries of the once so watery Noord-Holland. The first habitation goes back to the Middle Ages. In the year 1083 the name Ursem is already mentioned in a list of possessions of the Monastry of Egmond. Due to the central situation Ursem, and also Rustenburg, fulfilled a function in the transport over land and water between the cities of Alkmaar and Hoorn through the centuries.

The centre of Ursem used to be more North. The original situation still is indicated by the Protestant Church on the Kerkepad (Curchpath). In places the history of the village can be seen in an old house or a church. But it are mostly the stories of the people that remind to old times.

A stroll through the village can show us something of that. At the Noorddijkerweg 11 we find a "stolp"farmhouse, of which the base, originally with a wooden construction, originates from 1780. At the Northside of the farmhouse we see the Protestant Church, built in 1848. This served as a replacement for the old ruinous cruciform church at the same spot. Because the contractor had to use materials from the old church, we still can see remainders of the former cruciform church. The slabs in the floor and the pews are older than the present church. The organ was made by the Utrecht organbuilder Maarschalkerweerd in 1898. This church is a typical example of a "Waterschaps"church, as they were built especially during the last century.

The larger Roman Catholic church dates from 1921 and is a design from the architect A.J. Kropholder, an architect from the "Delftse School". His work is characterised by the intensive use of brick in a conservative style.

At the Walingsdijk 10 we can see an old dikehouse, erected in wood. Along this dike we can see that Ursem is situated at the "Westfriese Omringdijk". In front of these houses you can still see the concrete slabs with the grooves. These slabs served in those times as protection against high water in the Schermerboezem (system of reservoirs for superfluous polder-water).

The large house at Walingsdijk 11 has little historical value, it was built to function as doctor's house, after which it served many years as village hall. Than it was an office of a department of the "Rijkspolitie"; at the moment it has been rebuild as "normal" house.

At the Walingsdijk between Ursem and Avenhorn you will find a "banpaal" (jurisdiction pile), showing an unicorn, carrying the heraldic figure of the city of Hoorn. This pile originates from de 18the century and indicated the borders of the jurispridiction of Hoorn.

The nearby village Rustenburg always has been closely connected to Ursem. It has been an crossing of the trade-routes between the cities of Hoorn and Alkmaar. During many years Rustenburg was even more important than Ursem. Due to a change in the watercourse of the Schermerringvaart in 1933 the view of this pittoresqe village has changed drastically. During this change the almshouses, amongst others, disappeared. These almshouses were the possession of the Protestant Church in Ursem and were inhabited by elderly or poor people.

Till 1920 there was a "overhaal" (careen). This portage served to take the gardeners with their boats with products from the lower polder into the higher ringvaart on their way to the auction in Langedijk.

The view of Rustenburcht changed in 1968 for a second time because of a enormous fire, that burned down six farmhouses. Still present, however, are the beautifull façades of the houses along the drawbridge. The nearby three mills have served to reclaim the Schermer and lateron the Heerhugowaard. These mills are no longer used to control the waterlevel and are inhabited. The house aside the drawbridge used to be the doctor's house.

The surroundings of both villages still is characterised by agriculture and horiculture, although during the last years also the floriculture has developed considerably.

This survey has been prepared by "de Historische Kring Ursem" (the Historical Circle Ursem). For further information you may contact Mr. Harry van Doornum, secretary of the Historische Kring Ursem.

Pictures:

A pen-drawing of the former cruciform church at the Kerkepad, dated 1726 by J. Stellingwerf

The farmhouse of the Fam. Koelemeij at the Noorddijkerweg 11, dated 1950

Much more pictures can be found here (tab: Beeldbank)