| History of Petten, Holland |
In 1989, Petten celebrated its 1250th year of existence anniversary.
The name "Petten" refers to the three (fresh water) wells (Dutch: putten) which were once located there. There
was already mention of a sand dike in 1388 between Petten and 't Oghe (Callanstoog). In the St. Elizabeth's
flood (1421), Petten was entirely washed away and the sand dunes were damaged. A "sleeper" dike was built
behind the dunes in 1432 and from 1506 active "coastal defence" took place, with pile heads of beams from
Norway and Sweden and stone from Vilvoorde. Even so, more than 100 houses were washed away in
1625, plus the church of Petten. The construction of the Hondsbossche zeewering began in 1793.
Petten belonged to the nobility of Petten en Nolmerban (year unknown), and then became a municipality. In
1929, the municipality of Petten was incorporated into the municipality of Zijpe. During WWII (the Second
World War), the entire town of Petten was "broken up" in 1943 by order of the German Wehrmacht (Army)
because of the construction of the "Atlantic Wall". The church of Petten was demolished in 1944.
After the war, a whole new town was built from 1946 (inland and away from the coastline), designed by the
architects Van de Ban and De Vassy (who already bore in mind the development of "tourism").
During this time (1946) Petten lost its self-governing position and was joined together within the municipality of
Zijpe. In 1955, the foundation "Reactor Centrum Nederland" (RCN) was set up, that went on to build a
research - reactor (Petten nuclear reactor). Since 1976, the foundation is called the Energy research Centre of
the Netherlands (ECN).
As of 2006, Petten is now a seaside resort located near the Hondsbossche sea wall. Around 1500 people live in
the village of Petten year round (municipality Zijpe).
The name "Petten" refers to the three (fresh water) wells (Dutch: putten) which were once located there. There
was already mention of a sand dike in 1388 between Petten and 't Oghe (Callanstoog). In the St. Elizabeth's
flood (1421), Petten was entirely washed away and the sand dunes were damaged. A "sleeper" dike was built
behind the dunes in 1432 and from 1506 active "coastal defence" took place, with pile heads of beams from
Norway and Sweden and stone from Vilvoorde. Even so, more than 100 houses were washed away in
1625, plus the church of Petten. The construction of the Hondsbossche zeewering began in 1793.
Petten belonged to the nobility of Petten en Nolmerban (year unknown), and then became a municipality. In
1929, the municipality of Petten was incorporated into the municipality of Zijpe. During WWII (the Second
World War), the entire town of Petten was "broken up" in 1943 by order of the German Wehrmacht (Army)
because of the construction of the "Atlantic Wall". The church of Petten was demolished in 1944.
After the war, a whole new town was built from 1946 (inland and away from the coastline), designed by the
architects Van de Ban and De Vassy (who already bore in mind the development of "tourism").
During this time (1946) Petten lost its self-governing position and was joined together within the municipality of
Zijpe. In 1955, the foundation "Reactor Centrum Nederland" (RCN) was set up, that went on to build a
research - reactor (Petten nuclear reactor). Since 1976, the foundation is called the Energy research Centre of
the Netherlands (ECN).
As of 2006, Petten is now a seaside resort located near the Hondsbossche sea wall. Around 1500 people live in
the village of Petten year round (municipality Zijpe).
