The Great Fire of Medemblik was a local disaster in the year 1555.
During a thunderstorm in April of that year above Medemblik, the lightning struck into the city houses and caused a large city fire. The people tried to quench the fire, but within a few hours it turned into one of the many wooden houses in the town. All three monasteries in the city burned down and the Bonifacius church dropped in, leaving only the stone tower left. When the fire raged, the Bonifacius church tower guard heard the three-tonne heavy bell so loud that the bell burst. Twisk, Opperdoes, Wervershoof and Onderdijk saw the city burning down and inhabitants came to Medemblik to help extinguish. Many people fled to Radboud Castle, but many people died. A cruise ship exploded in the port, causing a lot more people to escape. In five days a beautiful trading city changed into a ruin of ash and smoldering wood. Of the buildings, only Radboud Castle and the listed church tower were spared. In the same year began the rebuilding of the city.
The cruise ship has disappeared, probably sunk, and archaeologists have not found the ship until today. Well, burned wooden beams have been found in the bottom of the IJsselmeer. The years after
The city was rebuilt within a few years. One had learned what fire to do with wooden buildings. In 1589, they began to dig the Oosterhaven. As a result, the city was rebuilt rapidly. In 1555, the rebuilding of the Great Church began and the city was extended to the south; the present modern Wester Island. The digging of the Pekelharinghaven was also started. The city wall was expanded and in the 17th century Medemblik had a strong fortress wall.
wiki
