Naarden, chief place in the Gooi area, lies at the south end of the IJsselmeer. It is an attractive little town surrounded by a star-shaped system of fortifications laid out in accordance with the principles of the great French military engineer Vauban (1633-1707). The harbor of this old fortified town, which first appears in the records in the 10th century, was constructed in 1411, and thereafter it developed into an important fishing port. It suffered a setback when the fortifications were rebuilt and the harbor was closed, but later recovered when its cloth trade prospered. Its main role nowadays is as a commuters' suburb of Amsterdam, 20km/12-.5mi away. The tourist trade also makes a contribution to its economy.
Near Turfpoortstraat is the Comenius Chapel (Comeniuskapel), with the tomb of the Czech preacher and educator Jan Amos Comenius (Komenski; 1592- 1670), who spent his last years in exile in Holland.
Within the area of Naarden, on the shores of the IJsselmeer, is the well known Naardermeer nature reserve and bird sanctuary, the first such reserve established by the Netherlands Association for the Protection of Nature. This expanse of marshland and reedy lakes is a bird-watcher's paradise.
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Naardermeer Nature Reserve, Naarden
