Discover the Hoge Berg

In 1635, the orphanage in Den Burg received the rights to pump up water for the ships anchored along the Texel coastline. These ships were waiting for favourable winds by which to set sail on their long voyages. On a journey to Cape Hope, a VOC ship with a crew of 300 would take about 170 large barrels on board, each containing more than 600 litres of water.

Freshness due to iron

Texel drinking water is highly regarded as it stays fresh for a long time. It is slowly filtered through the boulder clay under the Hoge Berg. During the process, iron dissolves in the water in just the right amount to ensure that the water stays fresh for a long time.

Punting, hoisting, rowing

The barrels were pumped full of water at the Wezenputten wells. Then they were transported to Oudeschild in a small barge, pushed along with the help of a punting pole. There the barrels were hoisted over the dyke. Rowers brought the barrels out in small boats to the waiting three-masters.

Skilsloot extended

Leendert den Berger foresaw that the transport of water barrels to the new harbour of Oudeschild could be done more efficiently. He therefore had the Skilsloot ditch extended on the western side of the village, right up to the new dyke at the harbour basin. However, den Berger could not then foresee that the importance of the Texel Roads would diminish due to the construction of the Great North Holland Canal. From 1825 onwards, when seagoing vessels could be transported to Amsterdam via the canal, the market for Texel drinking water collapsed. Since then, water has almost only been pumped up in order to supply the houses in Oudeschild.

The house by the well

A farmhouse stood by the Wezenputten for many years, aptly named the ‘House by the well’. The farm and the wells were owned by the Algemeen Burger Weeshuis (General Citizens Orphanage). Pieter van Cuyck stood in this farmyard when he drew his famous drawing of the wells and the view towards the Texel Roads. Eight years later this farm was renamed the ‘Weezenplaats’. It fell into decline and was demolished in 1849. Eight years later, a new farmhouse was built in traditional style 150 metres away, the ‘Nieuwe Weezenplaats’.