Brakestein and Wezenputten

Huize Brakestein used to be called 'the House by the Well', but, in around 1745, was named after the Braak family, who lived here for a long time. At the end of the 18th century, the owner at that time, Leendert den Berger, had a garden planted in French style. In this garden, there were statues of Ceres and Neptune, among others, which can now be found in the garden of Studio De Vermaning in Den Hoorn.

Historical works

These statues were placed there when this former Mennonite church housed a shipping museum. In Huize Brakestein there was a painted wooden wall with wood carvings. After restoration, this wall was placed in Hotel De Lindeboom in Den Burg, where it can be seen by everyone.

The Orphan's wells

Across from Brakestein are the Orphan’s Wells. These were owned by the orphanage, which sold the water from these wells mainly to the ships that left from Texel’s roadstead. "Hence the name Orphan's wells. In 1676 the governors of the orphanage passed a charter by which was decreed that the islanders drawing water from the Wezenputten wells had to pay twelve nickels per year for doing so. The money box that the profits from the water sales were kept in, can still be seen at the Maritime and Beachcombers Museum. Google maps: Wezenputten

Trough the Skilsloot

The high iron content (visible by its brown colour) made it possible to keep the water from Orphan's Wells for longer than water that had been taken on elsewhere. Normally spoken, the boarded supply was sufficient until the Cape of Good Hope, where fresh water could be taken on in the Table Bay. The barrels with water from Orphan's Wells were transported to the dyke through the Skilsloot. In 1795, the Skilsloot was extended to the harbour, so the barrels no longer needed to be pulled over the dyke.

Jenever neighbourhood

In addition to water, the ships also took on sheep at Texel by way of provisions for the trip. At the end of the Skilsloot, where the water barrels were hoisted over the dyke, it was often very busy. Naturally, there were inns here and the name Jeneverbuurtje (Jenever neighbourhood) came about.

Another name for this neighbourhood was Kollegat (gat = passage, kol = prostitute). After months at sea, many sailors spent their well-earned cash here in just a few days. The official name of this street is now 't Buurtje.