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Haarlem (The Netherlands)

Capital of Noord-Holland province

Shipmate Flagchart : http://www.flagchart.net

Municipal flag
Haarlem old flag
Coat of Arms
Haarlemsche Jachtclub

Other Haarlem pages:

Spaarndam village

See also:

Haarlem municipality

Population (1 Jan 2004): 147.153; area: 32,11 km². Settlements: Haarlem (seat), Spaarndam (part).
Flag: red with at the hoist a white sword with yellow hilt with on top a shortened wide-armed cross and on both sides two white six-pointed stars on top of each other.
Haarlem is the seat of Noord-Holland province, and the main town of the region known as "Kennemerland" (South-West Noord-Holland). It was founded in the early Middle Ages. Count Willem II granted cityrights in 1245. In 1217-1219 Haarlemmers played a major rôle in the siege of Damiate (Dumjat in Egypt), and as a reward the German emperor granted them a sword in the coat of arms. The patriarch of Jerusalem added a star. The counts of Holland built a hunting lodge and resided there until 1287, when Floris V moved definitively to Den Haag. Haarlem is the second oldest town of Holland (after Dordrecht). Famous citizens include Jan Huygens van Linschoten, who prepared with his "Itinerario" the Dutch expeditions to the East-Indies. Laurens Janszoom Coster was supposed to have invented book-printing (he cut a letter out of a beech in the Haarlemmerhout; the letter fell in sand and the imprint inspired "Loutje" to the great idea...) In 1572 Haarlem was beleagered by the Spaniards; its resistance was led by the legendary Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaar (In Dutch a "Kenau" is a bossy, robust woman).

Haarlem old flag

by Jarig Bakker, 7 Sep 2004
unofficial

Description: red, with in the center of white a pointed sword, pointed downwards with on both sides a white six-pointed star.
This flag was not official. It was documented in the Neapolitan flagbook of 1667 and was a simplified image of the municipal arms. In the 17th century Haarlem was not a port anymore, so the flag must be must older.
The flag was not used anymore, while a two-striped flag of red and white was occasionally seen.
Source: Sierksma's Nederlands Vlaggenboek (1962).
Jarig Bakker, 7 Sep 2004

Haarlem Coat of Arms

International Civic Arms : http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Haarlem
Granted 26 Jun 1816

"Vicit vim virtus" means: virtue forces power to yield. An old rhyme gives the following explanation:
1219: the Pope gave the Cross, the Emperor his Sword. The four Stars were given by the Patriarchs and the Cardinals the Red field, for the Haarlemmers conquered Damiate, 1610.
The small bells are called "Damiaatjes", just like the small bells in the carillon, which are played in the evening.
Source: Kl. Sierksma, "De gemeentewapens van Nederland", 1968.

Haarlemsche Jachtclub

by Ivan Sache, 10 Jul 2002

The burgee of Haarlemsche Jachtclub (Haarlem Yacht Club) is red divided by with a white cross and with a yellow star inside a black diamond placed in the middle of the cross.
Source: HJC website.
Ivan Sache, 10 Jul 2002