Den Bommel is a village in the Dutch province of

South Holland South Holland ( ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.8 million as of January 2023 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely populated areas. ...

. It is a part of the municipality of

Goeree-Overflakkee Goeree-Overflakkee () is the southernmost river delta, delta island of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is separated from Voorne-Putten and Hoeksche Waard by the Haringvliet, from the mainland of North ...

, and lies about 14 km south of

Spijkenisse Spijkenisse () is a large town in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, Netherlands. Following an administrative reform in 2015, it is part of the List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality of Nissewaard, and ha ...

History

The village was first mentioned in 1473 as Bommele, and refers to a form of

peat Peat is an accumulation of partially Decomposition, decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, Moorland, moors, or muskegs. ''Sphagnum'' moss, also called peat moss, is one of the most ...

. It was originally the name of a

shoal In oceanography, geomorphology, and Earth science, geoscience, a shoal is a natural submerged ridge, bank (geography), bank, or bar that consists of, or is covered by, sand or other unconsolidated material, and rises from the bed of a body ...

which was diked between 1476 and 1477 by order of

Mary of Burgundy Mary of Burgundy (; ; 13 February 1457 – 27 March 1482), nicknamed the Rich, was a member of the House of Valois-Burgundy who ruled the Burgundian lands, comprising the Duchy of Burgundy, Duchy and Free County of Burgundy, County of Burgundy a ...

. Den Bommel became an independent parish in 1642. The Dutch Reformed church is an aisleless church built between 1646 and 1647. The ridge turret was added in 1759. The

grist mill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that h ...

De Bommelaer was built in 1735. The windmill had become derelict and started to deteriorate by 1951. Between 1969 and 1971, it was restored and returned to active service. Den Bommel was home to 620 people in 1840. In 1944, the

sluice A sluice ( ) is a water channel containing a sluice gate, a type of lock to manage the water flow and water level. There are various types of sluice gates, including flap sluice gates and fan gates. Different depths are calculated when design s ...

from 1722 was blown up by the Germans causing the destruction of the town hall. Den Bommel was flooded during the

North Sea flood of 1953 The 1953 North Sea flood () was a major flood caused by a heavy storm surge that struck the Netherlands, north-west Belgium, England and Scotland. Most sea defences facing the surge were overwhelmed, resulting in extensive flooding. The ...

and was later extended further east. It was an independent municipality until 1966 when it was merged into Oostflakkee. In 2013, it became part of the municipality of

. In 1964, a

grog Grog is a term used for a variety of alcoholic beverages. Origin and history Popularization of rum and invention of grog Following Invasion of Jamaica, England's conquest of Jamaica in 1655, rum gradually replaced beer and brandy as the drink ...

statue was revealed for Sir Olivier B. Bommel. It had started to deteriorate and in 1995, the Society of Gentlemen of Good Standing was founded to construct a bronze statue of their role model. The new statue was revealed in 1997.

Gallery

File:Standbeeld Ollie B Bommel.jpg, Sir Olivier B. Bommel statue File:Overzicht - Den Bommel - 20384154 - RCE.jpg, Farm in Den Bommel File:Dijkdoorbraak bij Den Bommel, Bestanddeelnr 905-5475.jpg, North Sea flood of 1953 File:Den Bommel windmolen De Bommelaer aan de dijk.jpg, Windmill De Bommelaer

References

{{Authority control Former municipalities of South Holland Populated places in South Holland Goeree-Overflakkee