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Oostmahorn (The Netherlands)

Dongeradeel municipality, Fryslân province

image by Stefan Lambrechts, 4 Feb 2010
adopted 20 Dec 2006; Design: J.C. Terluin

Oostmahorn
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Oostmahorn

Stefan Lambregts wrote (on the Benevex-list): http://www.oostmahornweb.nl/wapen.html
Recently Oostmahorn (Frisian name: De Skâns, municipality Dongeradeel, Fryslân) was granted village-status, and it applied for arms and flag at the Fryske Rie foar Heraldyk. Originally Oostmahorn was a hamlet of the village of Anjum, at the western coast of the Lauwerszee. Here departed the ferry to Schiermonnikoog, until replaced by the ferry Lauwersoog-Schiermonnikoog, and it was a station of the Waddenzee-rescue service of the KNZHRM. The harbour became a harbour for yachts on the new Lauwersmeer and the Waddenzee. After the recreational medieval-looking Esonstad was built more tourists flocked into town.
In former ages Oostmahorn was of strategically great importance to the defence of Fryslân, which is why an entrenchment (Dutch: schans) was built here; hence the Frisian name: De Skâns. Even during the French occupation (1795-1814) the entrenchment was redoubtable (Sybe van Aengium wrote a boy's book: "De smokkelaars van de Schans", very exciting! Every time we clobbered the French.)

The arms: "In blue a redoubt-coercer ("schansdwinger") of gold issuing from base with a cockle-shell of silver; in a way golden chief a turned red gun".
The colors blue and gold are from the Frisiab arms. The entrenchment was to defend the Frisian land against an attack from the East. That's why the gun is directed towards the heraldically left side, the East, the sea.
The redoubt-coercer ("schansdwinger") is golden, the color of the Frisian lions. Red signifies danger; one had to be alert to the danger from the sea. The guns were placed on the enforcers of the entrenchment.
There is still a powder-store within the dyke near Oostmahorn. The blue color, the wavy division in the chief and the shell refer to the water of the former Lauwerszee, now the Lauwersmeer. The shell is silver, not only the natural color of the cockle, but also because of the arms of the former municipality of Oostdongeradeel (azure a bend sinister), of which Oostmahorn was part.

The flag: Per hoistdiagonal: 1. In red a yellow redoubt-coercer in bottom hoist; 2. Five equally wide wavy stripes of blue and white".
The oblique division refers to the dyke, where the pub is. The waves of the sea batter it constantly. The red color represents the danger from Paris; all colors are explained in the coat of arms.
See also: Genealogysk Jierboek 2008, p. 276-277)
Jarig Bakker, 4 Feb 2010

CoA

image from http://www.oostmahornweb.nl/wapen.html
adopted 20 Dec 2006; Design: J.C. Terluin