Huysburg

History

Early Colonial Period (1520-1630)

Huysburg ca 1580

The exact timing of the founding of Huysburg is disputed, but documents from Noordkaap mention a "Huys met Burg ende Have" in 1543, most probably corresponding to Huysburg. A small fortress was build before 1550 as indicated by archaeological findings, while the a wall was build around the hilltop town center around 1575, and around the downtown harbor around 1580. Lentia trading archives from 1594 mention "Huys-by-Burgh" as a small harbor from where wood and fruits were exported. In the early 1600s Huysburg grew as an important trading center for southern Fayaan. New settlements in the Klaarmeer area produced more and more fruits that were exported to Lentia, while the logging industry became a major economic driver for the area. Huysburg became the major ship building town of northern Archanta.

The Leeye River mouth shifted northwards after a major hurricane in 1618, resulting in fast silting up of the harbor area. Several attempts to dredge the harbor failed. A small new harbor community (Kleynhave) developed on the Leeye banks more to the north, while the old harbor became completely useless in 1628.

Late Colonial Period (1630-1720)

In 1629 the governor ordered the construction of a new harbor near the city center. The mudflats north of the city were drained and between 1630 and 1647 a new downtown city center was build. City walls were extended and a new fort (Fort Domestica) was constructed. The new harbor was also walled with a seawall, partially constructed from stone, protecting the harbor from storms. But the same wall also increased siltation and harbor maintenance costs remained high.

Ingerish colonists further developed farming in the Huysburg hinterland, especially focusing on fruits, sugar cane, wine and in the higher regions wheat. Huysburg remained an important export harbor, but from the early 1700s on