Hoorn
The old Zuiderzee town of Hoorn lies on the Hoornse Hop inlet in Noord Holland Province in the Netherlands. The town was founded in 1311 as a dike village at the mouth of the Gouw iver on the Zuiderzee !" #anish and North German merchants. Hoorn grew rapidl" and gained cit" rights in 13$%. The cit" en&o"ed its greatest prosperit" in the seventeenth centur"' Holland(s Golden )ge' when the #utch *ast +ndia ,ompan" operated one of its ma&or !ases there. The -ld #utch character of Hoorn has !een well preserved' as can !e seen in the Hoofdtoren on the old har!or' a point of recognition for man" people approaching Hoorn !" water. The ,atholic oepelkerk and the Grote erk with its high' pointed tower also contri!ute to Hoorn(s striking sk"line. +n the heart of the cit" lies the ode /teen' the old market s0uare containing a statue of #utch *ast +ndia ,ompan" officer an Pieterszoon ,oen in its center' surrounded !" man" fascinating !uildings.
