Fortified town of Weesp

Weesp is one of the fourteen fortified towns of the Netherlands. The entrenchments and other defences from later times still show that the town was part of the Hollandse Waterlinies. Weesp's fortifications include two tower forts: Fort Ossenmarkt and Fort Uitermeer.

In the fourteenth century, the first beer breweries and then gin distilleries ensured great periods of wealth and prosperity. The beautiful Husly-built town hall and the Grote of Laurenskerk with its playful Hemony carillon bear witness to that prosperity. The 18th-century city hall is a stately neo-classical building with a sandstone facade. This building houses Museum Weesp on the second floor. The main collection of this museum is a collection of Dutch porcelain from the 18th century. This precious collection contains the first porcelain of the Netherlands, made between 1759 and 1768 in Weesp. In addition, the museum depicts the rich history of Weesp.

Surroundings
The village lies on the charming river Vecht and is a hub for water tourism. The Aetsveldse Polder and the Vecht have been declared geological monuments. The Aetsveldse Polder was originally a lake. Over the years, this lake filled with clay, first from the Amstel, later from the Vecht. The primeval lake itself gradually moved northeastwards due to the erosion of the peat. This created the Naardermeer. Until the damming up of the Kromme Rijn at Wijk bij Duurstede in 1122, the Vecht was a tidal river and thus brought sea clay to the polder.

During a walk or bike ride, enjoy the many sights and don't forget the mills and forts Ossenmarkt and Uitermeer!

For more information about Weesp, also visit: www.welkominweesp.nl