Nederland - Naarden, stadhuis

Naarden is already officially mentioned in documents from around 900. Naarden was granted its city rights in 1300. Around 1350 the city was destroyed. Because at its original location it also suffered from the nuisance of the former Zuiderzee, it was decided to rebuild the city a few kilometers away on a sand ridge between Naardermeer and Zuiderzee. Naarden was then also given ramparts and walls to protect the residents against enemy troops.

Nevertheless, in 1572 the city suffered a terrible massacre by the Spaniards during the Eighty Years' War. The citizens, who escaped this, brought new life into the city. Proof of this was the beautiful town hall from 1601, which was built in the Dutch Renaissance style with a double stepped gable; an architectural style dating from the Golden Age, when the Netherlands was the economic and political center of the world. The tympanum above the entrance contains, besides the statues, the city coat of arms of Naarden also the motto of faith (PiP3): Godt regiert al anno 1601 (God rules since 1601).

Nowadays the city hall of Naarden - a Dutch state monument - is used for city meetings, weddings and cultural activities.