Mature from home

The Schermer Island with De Rijp between the Schermeer, Starnmeer and Beemster Lakes in Leeghwater's year of birth 1575. Detail from the Map of Hollands Noorderkwartier by J.J. Beeldsnijder. Noord-Hollands Archives, Haarlem.

Leeghwater's father, Jan Simonsz., was a carpenter. From him young Jan certainly learned the trade. De Rijp was then still a small village situated on the Schermer Island surrounded by the Schermeer, Beemster Lake and Starnmeer. During his youth that village grew rapidly. The Golden Age had begun! The enterprising Leeghwater seized his opportunity and in 1604 built the first mill at De Rijp equipped with rammers to extract oil from seeds. Later he was involved in the construction of the village's lock, the beautiful Rijper town hall and an enlargement of the church. In the hall of that town hall still hangs the scales for weighing goods. Leeghwater made it; in the arm of the balance are his initials: J.A.L.W.