Wadden island Ameland has four villages and a hamlet. The villages are Hollum, Ballum, Nes and Buren and the hamlet is called Kooiplaats. Ballum is the smallest of the villages. The Ballumers say about their own village: ,Even though our Ballumke is so small, it can be oh so cozy., The village is known for Hotel Nobel, Nobel Nostalgic Museum, the Farm, The Craft Day, the town hall, the pulpit in the Reformed Church and the Cammingha gravestone.
Village Ballum on Ameland
Of the approximately 3600 Amelanders, 370 live in Ballum. The village located between Hollum and Nes is the smallest village on the island. Yet it used to be and is today the administrative center of the island. Previously, the Lords of Ameland had their seat at Ballum. The lords died out, the island was sold and the remains of the castle were demolished in the nineteenth century. Nowadays the Amelander town hall stands at approximately that location. It was built there in 1975.
Esdorp with Jelmerastate
Ballum originated in the Middle Ages and it is an esdorp. The Jelmerastate was built there in the first half of the 15th century and the castle was expanded in the 16th century. The Van Camminghas, the Lords of Ameland, resided there. The main street of the village, Camminghastraat, commemorates that family and the Town Hall is located on Jelmeraweg: Jelmera is related to Van Cammingha. The castle stood until 1829, on the west side of the cemetery. It was built on a dune and rose above the village. It was a beacon for the sailors and an ornament for the village.
Source: Camminghaslot – MDSIGN
Rebuilding Camminghaslot
In 2019, a group of entrepreneurs will emerge to develop the plan for the reconstruction of the Camminghaslot. At first the community thought it was an April Fool’s joke, but the men are seriously preparing a new lock in the appearance of the original.
Sights
Tombstone Wytso of Cammingha
Only one remnant of the Lords of Ameland remains in the form of a gravestone by Wytso van Cammingha. He died in 1552 and is portrayed with armor in relief in the stone. The stone lies on the floor of the funeral home at Ballum.
Camminghastraat
The Camminghastraat runs straight through the village from south to north. Tall elms stand along the side. The Mennonite church, a hall church that was sold in 2013 to Hotel Nobel on Gerrit Kosterweg, is located at the Gerrit Kosterweg. Hotel rooms have been built in it. There used to be a bell tower along Camminghastraat, which was replaced in 1755 by a village tower that is separate from the church.
Pulpit
In 1870 the tower was raised by two and a half meters. Behind the tower is the reformed church from 1832. This church has one of the most beautiful Renaissance pulpits in Friesland. The sermon furniture is a beautifully carved example made by Claes Jelles in 1604. The attraction features shell motifs, flower arrangements and Gospel books. The pulpit was carved for the church of Harlingen. When the interior was renovated there, the furniture moved to Ballum in 1771.
Farmers
Ballum is a village with an agricultural character. There are many small farms and Ameland houses in the old streets. The village and the buildings with the braids in the gables, dentils and friezes that are characteristic of Ameland houses are well preserved.
Airport
Ameland airport is located between the village and the dunes. It is the lifeline of the island when isolated by ice in the Wadden Sea. Under normal circumstances, sightseeing flights take place, you can go parachuting and the Ambulance helicopter lands there to transport the sick and injured. The airport is open to sport aircraft.
Solar park
Part of the airport has a huge solar park with solar panels, which can provide the island with sustainable energy as part of Sustainable Ameland.
Church, pub, shop and school
With church, pub, school (public primary school ‘t Ienster), gallery, supermarket, liquor store (the famous herbal bitter Nobeltje, which originates on the Gerrit Kosterweg), general practice, dentist, indoor playground, town hall, hotel, museum, bicycle rental and restaurant, Ballum is a complete village. Several locations are worth visiting:
Craft Day / Source: Ameland Press Agency
- Tombstone Of Cammingha ;
- pulpit in the reformed church;
- Nobel Nostalgic Museum;
- Nobel’s liquor store;
- Café Nobel;
- Craft Day ;
- the village green with Christmas tree throwing;
- town hall with the family portrait of the Royal family that Jan Kruis made.
Ballum and the rest
- Ballum is located approximately 4 kilometers east of Hollum.
- Ballum is located approximately 6 kilometers west of Nes.
- From Ballum to Buren is approximately 8 kilometers.
- There are approximately ten kilometers between Ballum and de Kooiplaats.
read more
- Craft Day in Ballum – anniversary book
- Sleigh race in Ballum on Ameland
- Hollum – The westernmost village on Ameland
- Christmas tree throwing – Championship on Ameland
- Gentlemen of Ameland and Christa Van Cammingha