Peperstraat
Together with Hoogstraat and Gouw, the Peperstraat is one of the oldest streets in the city.
When you look into the Peperstraat you see that the street literally goes up. The core of Purmerend's city center is elevated from the rest of the city. During the flood disaster of 1916, this ensured that the inhabitants of this part of Purmerend kept their feet dry.
The Three Lakes
Until the beginning of the seventeenth century, Purmerend was still wedged between three lar…
When you look into the Peperstraat you see that the street literally goes up. The core of Purmerend's city center is elevated from the rest of the city. During the flood disaster of 1916, this ensured that the inhabitants of this part of Purmerend kept their feet dry.
The Three Lakes
Until the beginning of the seventeenth century, Purmerend was still wedged between three large lakes. The Beemster lake in the north, the Purmer lake in the east and the Wormer lake in the west. These lakes were rich in fish and therefore very important for the prosperity and growth of the village into a market town. Around 1900, a baker and confectioner opened a bakery at Peperstraat 9. As you can see, there is still a bakery there today. This building bears the name 'De Drie Meren' (the Three Lakes), because decorative chiseled plaques have been placed above the windows in which the coats of arms of the three surrounding reclaimed lakes have been incorporated.
From left to right you see: the mermaid of the Purmer, to which a legend is attached. The middle one: the cow from the Beemster with a rising sun in the left corner and finally: a sheep with an eel from the Wijde Wormer underneath. Purmerend's coat of arms (three harrows) is proudly displayed above the windows of the second floor.
