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Broek in Waterland (The Netherlands)

Noord-Holland province

by Jarig Bakker, 24 Apr 2005
Confirmed 25 Nov 1975; adopted 27 Feb 1672; design: traditional

Broek in Waterland flag
Broek in Waterland Coat of Arms

See also:

Broek in Waterland flag

Broek in Waterland is a former municipality in Noord-Holland, a few km north of Amsterdam, since 1991 part of Waterland municipality.
Flag: Confirmed 25 Nov 1975; adopted 27 Feb 1672; design: traditional
Description: four stripes orange - white - blue - orange, proportioned 1:1:1:6, with at top hoist a square of 1/2 flagheight; the square in two stripes red - green, proportioned 3:1, charged with a white swan with lifted wings, standing on its left foot, and in the lifted right foot a bunch of six yellow arrows.
The square contains the municipal arms. There has been no explanation found for the stripes. It is a very old flag and was reinstituted 7 years ago.
Source: Vexilla Nostra 18 (124), 1982 - 14.

Actually this was the flag of the Broekster militia (schutterij), for which the mayors and court-martial on 27 Feb 1672 published an ordinance, with the description above, but in 17th century language:
"Het Vaandel zal wezen van Oranje Couleur, boven in den hoek aan de stok een witte swaan met ontslagen vleugelen, staande op zijn eene poot, op een groen veld in 't root, houdende in zijn andere poot zes pijlen, te samen gebonden - terzijden de swaan drie stroken, te weten de bovenste oranje, de middelste wit en de onderste blauw".
Mr. Sierksma notes that that parading flag is used again in the village (that is: before its reinstitution in 1975)
Source: Vexilla Nostra VI (1971): 136.
Jarig Bakker, 24 Apr 2005

Broek in Waterland Coat of Arms

by Jarig Bakker, 24 Apr 2005, after image in the Koffie Hag album
Granted 26 Jun 1816

Arms: gules a swan argent, standing on base vert, holding in its right foot the unity-arrows or.

Hendrik Soeteboom, in: "Soetstemmende Zwaane van Waterland" (1658) writes that the Waterlanders used a swan in their arms because of the many swans kept in Waterland since a long time. He thinks that that was already so in the 13th century. There was also a castle "Zwanenburg" of the Perseyn family, lords of Waterland, which was demolished during the farmers' revolt in 1268. Later, probably in the 16th century, when the 6 villages of Waterland formed the "Unie van Waterland", the swan possibly received its bunch of 6 arrows.
The other villages of Waterland, as well as the "Hoogheemraadschap Waterland" (polderboard) show swan and bunch of arrows in their arms.
The swan of Broek has a ring around its neck.
Source: Koffie Hag Album (Mr. van der Laars).
Jarig Bakker, 24 Apr 2005