Lisse

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Lisse

Flag

Coat of arms

Coordinates: 52.25° N 4.55° E

Country

Netherlands

Province

South Holland

Area (2006)

- Municipality

16.11 km² (6.2 sq mi)

- Land

15.70 km² (6.1 sq mi)

- Water

0.41 km² (0.2 sq mi)

Population (1 January 2007)

- Municipality

21,981

- Density

1,400/km² (3,626/sq mi)

Source: CBS, Statline.

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

- Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Website: www.lisse.nl

Heereweg, the main street in Lisse.

Windmill in Lisse.

Lisse is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of 16.11 km² (10.01 mile²) of which 0.41 km² (0.25 mile²) is water. Its population is 21864 (1 November 2006, source: CBS). Located within the municipal boundary is also the community De Engel.

1 History
2 Tourism and attractions
3 Notable people born in Lisse
4 External links

[edit] History

The history of Lisse is closely related and similar to the neighboring towns of Hillegom and Sassenheim. Based on a document from 1198 which makes official mention of the town's name, Lisse celebrated its 800-year anniversary in 1998, although there is indication that there was a settlement here already in the 10th century.

In the Middle Ages, Lisse was a small settlement; there were only 50 houses in 1500. Because of prolonged warfare (particularly the wars of Charles the Bold and the Eighty Years' War), poverty was prevalent. Its population lived from agriculture, animal husbandry, and peat harvesting.

In the 17th and 18th century, Lisse was, just like Hillegom, home to many estates of rich merchants and nobility. The forests and gardens of the estates Keukenhof, Meerenburg, Wildlust, Zandvliet, Overduin en Akervoorde, Wassergeest, Grotenhof, Ter Specke, Dubbelhoven, Rosendaal, Veenenburg en Berkhout, Middelburg, Ter Beek, and Uytermeer all added to the towns beauty and glory.

Yet in the following centuries, every one of these estates (except Keukenhof) was removed to make way for the cultivation of bulb flowers. The sandy soil in Lisse's surroundings were highly suitable for its growth provided the soil was fertilized. The nearby dunes were excavated and forests cut down progressively over time for more fields for the flower business. This brought employment and prosperity to this area. In the 20th century, the bulb flower business continued to boom, resulting in the establishment of auction and trading houses, large-scale cultivators and cooperatives. Today, Lisse exports bulbflowers in large quantities to over a hundred countries world-wide.

As the "centre of the flower growing region", Lisse is also a major tourist attraction. During the spring when the fields around Lisse are in a colourful bloom, hundreds of thousands of local and foreign tourists visit the area. The only remaining estate that was not removed for flower cultivation (Keukenhof) became ironically world-famous for its flower displays.

[edit] Tourism and attractions

The most popular attractions in Lisse is Keukenhof, open only during spring when the tulips are flowering. Also each spring a flower parade Bloemencorso is held through the main streets of Lisse.

Other places of interest are the museums:

Huys Dever, a restored castle tower from the 14th century
Keukenhof Castle, part of the Keukenhof estate but open year-round
Museum De Zwarte Tulp (Black Tulip Museum), exhibiting the history of the Dutch' bulb-growing region

[edit] Notable people born in Lisse

Joseph Smit (1836-1929), zoological illustrator
Adrianus Johannes Simonis (November 26 1931), cardinal and archbishop of Utrecht
Hans Kroes (June 3 1965), freestyle and backstroke swimmer
Bastiaan Ragas (30 juni 1971), actor and singer
Harry Mens (29 januari 1947), real estate broker and television presenter
Jenny Arean (4 oktober 1942), actrice en cabaretière