- published: 03 Aug 2014
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Heemstede [ˈɦeːmsteːdə] is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.
Heemstede formed around the Castle Heemstede that was built on the Spaarne River around 1286. Before 1296, Floris V, Count of Holland, granted Heemstede as a fiefdom to Reinier of Holy. During the 14th century, a village formed near the castle, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in this period. The most famous resident of this castle was Adriaan Pauw, who bought it in 1620. In 1653, Bennebroek split off from Heemstede, becoming a separate fiefdom.
Growth was slow, and in 1787 Heemstede counted 196 families. Even at that early date Heemstede had already gained the reputation it has today, of being primarily a "bedroom community" for the cities of Haarlem and Amsterdam. Wealthy city families left the cities in the summer, escaping "canal fever" which caused illness from the putrid canals. As a result, many estates were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which (partially) remain until today such as Oud-Berkenroede, Berkenrode, Ipenrode, Huis te Manpad, Hartekamp, Bosbeek, Meer en Bosch, Meer en Berg, and Gliphoeve.
Almost caught me a coyote today
A lowdown skunk of a dog I say
I fired my gun as he slunk away
But he'll be back again
It ain't been easy since my husband died
A widow woman at thirty-five
None can court me and few have tried
But I keep these homestead hopes alive
A couple of cows, a couple of hens
A mule that plows every now and then
But mostly balks and wears me thin
He can't talk but I swear he grins
Don't call it a prairie if you fence it in
Could call it a pasture but the topsoil's thin
It just might rain but then again
It wouldn't make no difference
Ever since they built that damn railroad
Hobos been knocking at my door
Saying, "Lady, I will work for food
Can I haul you water, can I chop you wood?"
Let me take a good look at you
Ain't nothing lye and hot water won't do
You can sleep on my porch if you're wanting to
And I give him my husband's old brown boots
But in the morning he was up and gone
A chicken missing from my pen
I told you that coyote would be back again
But it don't make no difference
Don't call it a prairie if you fence it in
Could call it a pasture but the topsoil's thin
Sometimes I still take hobos in