Katwijk

  • Katwijk aan Zee is a seaside town located on the mouth of the Oude Rijn in the Province of South Holland. The towns of Valkenburg and Leiden are nearby.
  • It was an important Roman Port with a Roman Naval Harbour known as Lugdunum Batavorum or Brittenburg, which was built by Claudius (41-54 CE) in the Province of Germania Inferior. No Roman Ruins are visible today.

History

  • Unfortunately the sea has reclaimed the Roman ruins of Brittenburg. They appeared briefly in 1520 CE only to disappear again shortly afterwards.
  • Katwijk was the North Sea Terminus of the Limes Germanicus, a series of Forts along the Rhine Frontier.
  • Lugdunum Batavorum guarded the mouth of the Rhine in Germania Inferior.
  • The Fort covered a large area and Suetonius describes Caligula (37-41 CE) as building a Lighthouse here.
  • Ships probably sailed due west from Katwijk for Britannia, as the port of Dunwich was also at Latitude 52 ° North.

Canals

  • Fossa Corbulonis (47 CE)
    • Nearby was the Fossa Corbulonis built in 47 CE, which connected the Rhine at Leiden to the River Meuse, thus avoiding the North Sea.

Museums

  • Museum Oud Valkenburg in nearby Valkenburg
    • Located in the Church of St. John the Baptist, Kruisweg, Valkenburg.
    • This small museum is located in the tower of the church and holds Finds from Roman Valkenburg.
  • National Museum of Antiquities in nearby Leiden
    • Located at Rapenburg 28, Leiden.
    • The Roman Collection includes the bronze Roman Equestrian Mask, a Roman Equestrian Silver Helmet, a Roman Inkpot, the Nehalennia Altar and items of Terra Sigillata.

 

Katwijk aan Zee, Netherlands

Posted in .