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Burgh (The Netherlands)

Schouwen-Duiveland municipality, Zeeland province

image by Jarig Bakker, 19 Mar 2008
adopted c. 1938

Burgh former municipality
Burgh Coat of Arms

See also:

Burgh former municipality

Burgh is a village in the municipality of Schouwen-Duiveland, in Zeeland province. Until 1961 it was a separate municipality. In that year it became part of Westerschouwen, and in 1997 of Schouwen-Duiveland.

At this webpage one can see a fresh flag: four horizontal stripes yellow - red - blue - white, with a white canton charged with a black burgh.
This villageflag is used at important occasions like the annual "ringsteken" - a married couple in a tilbury, drawn by a smartly dressed horse, tries to hit a ring held by a moving hand; if he or she misses the couple gets a bucket of water or even worse splashed over its heads.

Another site advertises holidayresidences and the villageflag "vlag van de voormalige gemeente Burgh, zelfstandig tot 1961" (flag of the former municipality of Burgh, independent till 1961).
According to Willem van Ham the advertiser could be right, as the flag could what Klaes Sierksma called a "defileervlag", a parading flag, used in 1938 at the occasion of Queen Wilhelmina's 40th coronation day. For Zeeland that was the Zeeland flag of the time with the municipal arms in the canton.

The Burgh coat of arms is: argent a double castle noir. The arms were approved 1815; I have used the one in the Koffie Hag album.
The origin of the arms is not known. A "burgh" was built by the Franks c. 700, consisting of an earthen wall fortified by planks and poles, all surrounded by a dry moat, This was the "Hooge Burgh" (High Burgh), on the island of Schouwen. Remnants have been recovered in the beginning of the 20th century.
So far nothing has been found to prove the existence of the impressive sombre black burgh.

Mr. van Ham adds: "If one claim by that advertiser is possibly right it need not necessarily mean that all other claims are correct!"
Jarig Bakker, 19 Mar 2008

The flag shown on our site is indeed the municipal flag of Burgh, used when it was an independent municipality - however it was never officially adopted. I have a photo of the former municipal building at the Hogeweg with the Mayor, Jhr. Albert van Citters surrounded by municipal clerks, with the municipal arms over the entrance and with the Burghse flag in top.
The former mayor is still alive (now over 100 years old) and living in Burgh.
drs. Adriaan van der Graaff, 27 Aug 2008

Burgh Coat of Arms

image by Jarig Bakker, 19 Mar 2008