Abel Tasman memorials: a short walk through Lutjegast
Start: Abeltasmanweg, near the Dutch Reformed church next to the playground. In the front of the church, a bronze plague with a likeness is situated, which was given by the Australian Government in 1953. According to the tradition, the house where Abel Tasman was born should have been situated anywhere near this church: a farm with his family name, the Tassemaheerd, once stood here. From the Dutch Reformed church to the right in the direction of the village centre.The playground/sports/animal park 'Torenkamp' borders on the church. Here you will find an ANWB-information board about Abel Tasman. On the drawn sea chart the course of navigation of Tasman's most important voyage in 1642/1643 has been reproduced. For passing cyclists this board often is the first introductionto the history of Abel Tasman. After 'Torenkamp' take the first way to the left, the Rikkerdaweg. (to the right is the village centre with a nice old pub "Abel Tasman cafe" which opens at 20.00 hrs). The Rikkerdaweg is named after the Rikkerdaborg, a stately home build by Bernard Johann Prott in 1676. Until the demolition in 1829 this was the most important building in Lutjegast. B.J. Prott became known especially because of this struggle against the Bishop of Munster during the period of the relief of Groningen ("Groningen's ontzet in 1672) and his defence of the fortress of Bourtange. The grave of the Prott family is located in the Dutch Reformed church.
Boudewijn Buch (deceased November 24, 2002), Dutch TV program maker (voyages James Cook and Abe lTasman) visited Lutjegast for the first time in 1995. After some interviews in the village here he concluded that Lutjegast needed some more time to become familiar with and accept this kind of modern design. However, the work of art has now been naturalised completely (accepted) and can not be thought away from the 'skyline' of Lutjegast.
Whilst enjoying the walk in the village of Lutjegast, we suggest that you keep walking left on the Kompasstraat. At the end take the road to the right, the Van Diemenstraat, further on called Zeehaanstraat. There you'll find the primary school 't Fundament. At the time of building this school in 1955, a sculpted tablet with the image of Tasman was built into the front facing wall: 'Abel Tasman - 1603'. 'Richting en volharding - gegeven onder leiding van een man', which means:'Direction and perseverance - given under leadership - of one man'. On the first approaching three forked road, you go the right, De Wieren, to the village centre. Or: to the left, De Wieren, and again to left, the Frans Visscherstraat, named after the first navigating officer who had a major part in Tasman's important voyage of discovery of Tasmania and New Zealand. In the future there probably will be an Isaac Gilsemansstraat, named after another Tasman companion, described in Grahame Anderson's book 'The Merchant of the Zeehaen'.
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