Blokzijl is a small city located southwest of Steenwijk in the province of Overijssel, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. The city is a major tourist destination near the

De Weerribben-Wieden National Park Weerribben-Wieden National Park (Dutch language, Dutch: ''Nationaal Park Weerribben-Wieden'') is a List of national parks of the Netherlands, Dutch national park in the Steenwijkerland and Zwartewaterland Municipalities of the Netherlands, municip ...

and attracts many water sports enthusiasts. Blokzijl was founded in the 1580s as a trading post for

peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...

. After the Siege of Steenwijk (1580–81) in the Eighty Years' War, the Dutch built a fortified

lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

or in local dialect ''zijl'' or ''siel''. The monumental houses around the picturesque harbour were built during 17th century. Blokzijl received city rights in 1672, but was stripped of them a few years later. Until 1973, it was a separate municipality, when it became a component of the new municipality

Brederwiede Brederwiede is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It was created in a merger of Blokzijl, Giethoorn, Vollenhove Vollenhove is a city in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Steenwijkerl ...

; it is now part of Steenwijkerland. One the interesting sights of the city is an old

cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

, located on the harbour quay. This cannon was not used for defense purposes, but as a warning device during storm and high tide. Flooding was a real danger before the Noordoostpolder and the

Afsluitdijk The ''Afsluitdijk'' (; fry, Ofslútdyk; nds-nl, Ofsluutdiek; en, "Closure Dyke") is a major dam and causeway in the Netherlands. It was constructed between 1927 and 1932 and runs from Den Oever in North Holland province to the village of ...

were constructed in the 1930-40's. One residential building shows the height the water reached during a flood in 1825. In 1926, a fire destroyed part of the centre and damaged the church.

Gallery

Image:Blokzijl.JPG, Blokzijl harbour File:Blokzijl (11052599976).jpg, Street of Blokzijl File:Blokzijlpark.jpg, Blokzijl Park File:Wijk III, verbrande huizen - Blokzijl - 20036454 - RCE.jpg, 1926 fire

References

Cities in the Netherlands Former municipalities of Overijssel Populated places in Overijssel Steenwijkerland {{Overijssel-geo-stub