Oosterdiepswal and Westerdiepswal
Kollum
On both sides of the Sylster Ryd, in the oldest part of Kollum's historic centre, lie the Oosterdiepswal and Westerdiepswal.
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On both sides of the Sylster Ryd, in the oldest part of Kollum's historic centre, lie the Oosterdiepswal and Westerdiepswal.
These embankments, locally known simply as the Wallen, are already mentioned in the earliest historical records of Kollum. The Sylster Ryd connected here with the major waterways to the north and south of the village.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Kollum was a thriving centre of trade and commerce. Its town centre played an important logistical role in regional trading activities. Development along the Wallen began after this waterway was excavated in the early 16th century. Businesses that depended on water transport for the delivery of raw materials and the shipment of goods established themselves here. Historical records mention pottery workshops, a brewery, a tannery and a shipyard. Several windmills also stood along the Wallen, although mills could be found elsewhere in the village as well. Today, the Wallen form part of Kollum's protected historic townscape.