Editing Purmerend (section)

===17th century===
By 1500 Purmerend had grown considerably, as can be seen on maps from this period. The town had a rectangular shape and was crossed by two roads: one leading north–south, the other east–west. The draining of the Beemster Lake in 1612 and the Purmer Lake in 1622 resulted in a great loss in [[fishing]] grounds to Purmerend. However, the new and fertile soil favoured [[agriculture]] and [[livestock]] [[animal husbandry|breeding]], making Purmerend prosperous again. Purmerend now became the centre of an agricultural region, the [[produce]] of which was sold on the markets of Purmerend.