Ballum is a village on the western half of the island of
Ameland
Ameland (; ) is a municipality and one of the West Frisian Islands off the north coast of the Netherlands. It consists mostly of sand dunes and is the third major island of the West Frisians. It neighbours islands Terschelling to the west a ...
and the smallest of the total of four villages on the island, one of the
West Frisian Islands
The West Frisian Islands (, ; ) are a chain of islands in the North Sea off the Dutch coast, along the edge of the Wadden Sea. They continue further east as the German East Frisian Islands and are part of the Frisian Islands.
From west to eas ...
and part of
the Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1473 as "jn balnera lees: balmera buren", and means "settlement of Balle (person)". Ballum is an ''
esdorp
__NOTOC__
An ''Angerdorf'' (plural: ''Angerdörfer'') is a type of village that is characterised by the houses and farmsteads being laid out around a central grassed area, the ''Anger (meadow), anger'' (from the Old High German ''angar'' =pasture ...
'' with a triangular village square which developed in the Late Middle Ages.
In the early 15th century, the castle Jelmera State was built in Ballum which later became known as Camminghaslot after the
Cammingha family became owners of the island. The castle started to deteriorate and transporting stones to the island was too expensive, therefore, the island was sold to
John William Friso
John William Friso (; 14 August 1687 – 14 July 1711) became the (titular) Prince of Orange in 1702. He was the Stadtholder of Friesland and Groningen in the Dutch Republic. He also served in the Dutch States Army during the War of the Spanish ...
, the Prince of Orange.
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Willem-Alexander (; Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967) is King of the Netherlands since 30 April 2013.
Willem-Alexander was born in Utrecht during the reign of his maternal grandmother, Queen Juliana, as the eldest ch ...
, the current King, still uses the title "Vrijheer of Ameland" as one of his titles. In 1795, the island was confiscated, and the castle became the residence of the ''
grietman'' of Ameland. In 1829, the castle was condemned and demolished. The municipal hall of Ameland was built in its place. In 1961, a new municipal hall was built.
The bell tower was built in 1755 as a replacement of the wooden tower. It was enlarged in 1870. The Dutch Reformed church is an aisleless church which was built in 1832 to replace the medieval church which was located at a distance.
Ballum was home to 289 people in 1840.
The small
Ameland Airport
Ameland Airport () , also known as Ameland Airport Ballum, is a small general aviation airport located near the town of Ballum on the western part of the island of Ameland, one of the West Frisian Islands in the Netherlands. It is located in the ...
is located northwest of Ballum.
People from Ballum
* , oldest living man in the
Benelux
The Benelux Union (; ; ; ) or Benelux is a politico-economic union, alliance and formal international intergovernmental cooperation of three neighbouring states in Western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The name is a portma ...
. Died 2020, aged 109.
Gallery
File:Ballum Ameland.jpg, Welcome to Ballum
File:Gemeentehuis Ballum Ameland.jpg, Municipal hall
File:Gerrit Kosterweg 10, Ballum (Ameland).jpg, House in Ballum
References
External links
{{Authority control
Ameland
Populated places in Friesland