The oldest town and chief port of Frisia, on the Zuiderzee coast of Westergo, whose ships trade to Norway, the Baltic, England and the Rhine.
William of Holland married Adelaide of Guelders here in 1197.
Who holds it
- Name
- The townsmen; the comital rights shared by Holland and Utrecht
- Title
- No resident lord
- Confidence
- low
Granted to the see of Utrecht in 1077; town rights claimed from 1060-1067.
Lord in 1200
No resident lord: the comital rights of Holland (held by William) and of the bishop of Utrecht; the townsmen run their own affairs
How things stand that morning
A free port of the Frisian lands.
Charter
Town rights traditionally dated 1060-1067 (grantor not named); the town of Stavoren was granted to the see of Utrecht in 1077
Walls and castle
No walls or castle recorded for 1200
Trade and crafts
Sea trade: grain, timber, furs and fish from the Baltic and Norway; Rhine wine; Frisian cloth and cattle; an old mint of the counts
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The early charter is traditional; little firm for 1200.
Primary sources for Frisia
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Annals of Egmond (12th century to about 1205). The house annals of Egmond, the counts of Holland's abbey, and the main native source for Holland around 1200. Read online
- Chronicle of the abbots of Wittewierum (Bloemhof), Emo of Wittewierum (from 1219 to 1237, continued by Menko to 1273). The chronicle opens only in 1204 with the founding of Emo's Premonstratensian house in the Groningen Ommelanden, so it has nothing for 1200 itself. Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.