The harbour of Middelharnis on a sunny morning by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "The harbour of Middelharnis on a sunny morning"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

Middelharnis is a town in the municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee in the Dutch province of South Holland. The town of Middelharnis forms a residential core together with Sommelsdijk. This joint core has a central function on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee.

The church of Middelharnis can be seen in its original state on the painting The lane of Middelharnis by Meindert Hobbema. Meindert Lubbertszoon Hobbema (1638-1709) was a Dutch painter of landscapes, who was born in Amsterdam. His best-known work is The Lane of Middelharnis (1689), which is now in the National Gallery in London.

The Middelharnis Town Hall, which housed the Rien Poortvliet Museum between 1992 and 2006, dates from 1639 and was built in Dutch Classicist style. The pediment bears the coat of arms of Middelharnis. There are three statues on the building, symbolising prudence, love and justice.

On the tower of the town hall, one can see a copper gaff-shaped ship. This symbolizes the fact that Middelharnis was originally a fishing village. The longboats sailed out to the North Sea until the end of the 19th century. After that, the fishermen looked for work in the growing ports of Rotterdam.

Middelharnis has had three windmills, but not one has stood the test of time. The station has disappeared too. Until 1964, travellers who had crossed the Haringvliet by ferry would catch a tram from the Rotterdamsche Tramweg Maatschappij to Ouddorp, Ooltgensplaat or Middelharnis Haven.

Middelharnis has an old ce