Rijnsburg

History

Rijnsburg used to be a separated municipality until 1 January 2006, when, together with Valkenburg, it was added to the municipality of Katwijk. Before that, the municipality covered an area of of which was water, and had a population of 14851 inhabitants (1 June 2005). Rijnsburg's main claim to fame is that the philosopher Spinoza lived there from 1661 to 1663. The modest house in which he lived is still preserved, and can be visited. Rijnsburg is located in an area called the "Dune and Bulb district" (Duin- en Bollenstreek) and is one of the locations of the flower auction company Royal FloraHolland. Rijnsburg Abbey was established by Petronilla of Lorraine, consort of Floris II, Count of Holland, in 1133. It flourished for many years. Two of her granddaughters, Sophie and Hedwig, would later join this abbey, one of them as abbess. In 1913 a buckle, the mount with red, white and blue enamel, and the square coin were found together in a cemetery at Rijnsburg. The impressive gilded buckle with interwoven filigree and enamel inlay was probably made in Kent (England) across the Channel. These finds amongst others indicate that the mouth of the Rhine was home to some people of very high status, perhaps even royalty. * Floris the Black * Petronilla of Lorraine * Dirk VI, Count of Holland * William I, Count of Holland * Floris IV, Count of Holland

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Coot

  Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  33,666
• Common Chiffchaff

  Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  30,329
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  28,535
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  28,046
• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  27,486
• Gray/Purple Heron

  Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  26,608
• Great Crested Grebe

  Podiceps cristatus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  26,036
• Common Buzzard

  Buteo buteo (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  26,002

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2008-10-11
  19 km WNW of Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands