Dutch Wadden islands Ameland and Schiermonnikoog – Philippe Vandermaelen, c. 1830

AMELAND AND SCHIERMONNIKOOG

“Hollande,” lithograph made for Philippe Vandermaelen’s “Nouvelle carte de la Hollande“, an atlas in 24 sheets published by the Établissement Géographique in Brussels around 1830. With original hand-colouring. Size: approx. 47 × 59 cm.

Philippe Vandermaelen (1795–1869) based his atlas on the work of Cornelis Rudolphus Theodorus Krayenhoff (1758–1840), physician, military engineer, hydraulic specialist, and above all geodesist. Krayenhoff established the first systematic nationwide triangulation of the Netherlands and directed the production of the Choro-topographical Map (the so-called Krayenhoff Map, completed in 1823), which became the foundation of later topography.

At that time, the island of Ameland consisted of four villages: Hollum, Ballum (with the former Cammingha castle, seat of the Frisian nobility), Nes, and Buren. These settlements can be identified on the map.

Ameland had been an independent ‘heerlijkheid‘ until 1795, but after the French period it was incorporated into Friesland. The island was characterized by sandy pathways, farmhouses, and several churches; it lacked a significant harbour, but small shipping companies maintained connections with the Frisian mainland.

Schiermonnikoog was often afflicted by sea incursions and shifting tidal channels. During this period, the island was gradually moving eastwards. The only village, Oosterburen (later simply “Schiermonnikoog”), lay on the southern side of the island. On the map it appears as a compact settlement.

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