1050 – 1640
11 events
The first inhabitants settle in the area around Nieuwveen. They begin draining the peat soil and bringing it into cultivation, so that it slowly becomes fit for arable farming and cattle.
A settlement takes shape here that will later be called Nieuwveen.
The name shifted considerably over the centuries: first Nuenvene, then Nijeveen and Niuweveen, in the seventeenth century Nieuveen, after that Nieuweveen, and from 1795 Nieuwveen.
The ground holds a layer of fen peat, laagveen. Digging it away gets under way.
By this date a small Roman Catholic church already stands on the Kerkstraat (Church Street).
The oldest firm mention of the village name. Count Willem III grants permission to sell "die leenacker legghende bi der kerc lane te Nuwenvene" — the fief-field lying by the church lane at Nuwenvene. Both the name Nuwenvene and the Kerkstraat – then "der kerc lane" – are therefore on record in 1331.
The medieval church was dedicated to Saint Nicholas and was in the gift of the Counts of Holland.
Count Willem states that he has no objection to the exchange of Willem van Schade, priest at Nieuwveen, with one Servaas, priest at Bunschoten.
A new Roman Catholic church goes up on the Kerkstraat, replacing the small one already there. The old church was dedicated to St Anne; the new one took St Nicholas as its patron.
The Reformation reaches Nieuwveen. The 1559 church on the Kerkstraat passes into Reformed hands. The village's Catholics from now on belong to the parish of Zevenhoven.
The oldest house still standing in Nieuwveen dates from this year, according to the Kadaster, the Dutch land registry.
By this date a general village school is already standing beside the Reformed church on the Kerkstraat.
