The emergence of Ommen Ommen

a hutkom: saxon dwelling

the location of ommen proved particularly suitable settlement — not because of fertile river soil , higher ground of river dune (even today church square visibly higher streets east , south), because of ford in vecht facilitating trade routes between frisian north , twente south. archeological discoveries indicate first settlement in ommen emerged during 8th century ce, , end of 11th century veritable town had developed — among first in overijssel. first permanent settlers in ommen mixed crop-livestock farmers engaged in river trade , innkeeping. of these first settlers of saxon origin, though salians dominated banks of ijssel influenced region economically, politically , religiously. first houses in ommen hutkommen: wooden houses of ground floor typically around half meter below ground. church built @ heart of ommen around 1150 , after replaced stone church, indicating further growth of settlement. written records first mention ommen de vmme in 1133 , ummen in 1227.

the official seal of city of ommen (15th century), depicting patron saint, saint brigid of kildare

this gradual growth, however, did not mean ommen dominate surrounding area politically, there many other powers in land. above all, prince-bishop of utrecht, had obtained dominion on of oversticht henry ii, holy roman emperor, in 1010, repeatedly attempted increase , centralise authority on towns , estates of salland. burghers of nearby cities — zwolle — known interfere in region. more locally, farming communities in eastern netherlands organised markes (autonomous areas) buurschap (rule neighbours) formed unique kind of grassroots local government. last not least, havezates (or castles) arose in area surrounding ommen — @ strategic points such banks of vecht (the arendshorst on northern bank , beerze on southern bank), banks of regge (most notably @ eerde) or both banks ( t laer) — robber barons dominated surrounding area , levy tolls on river commerce in defiance of authority of bishop. these robber barons , buurschappen formed check on influence of ommen on surrounding region — yet ironically due 1 such robber baron ommen grew become outright city.