Four buckwheat grains on a blue field: 'Pretty simple and not saying much'. That is what the Foundation of Banistiek en Heraldiek thought of the municipal coat of arms of Hilversum in 1970. Thank you very much. But do not be sad. The chairman of this foundation submitted a proposal to the Supreme Council of Nobility for another coat of arms that would be 'more representative'. But nothing was ever done with the proposal. Hilversum turned out to be too attached to its buckwheat grains. So those grains remained to this day.
Symbolic representation
In the past, 'the weapon' meant a knight's fighting equipment. In the 16th century, a distinction was made between a weapon for fighting and a weapon as a symbolic representation on a coat of arms. A coat of arms is used to identify persons, families and organisations. Countries, cities, water boards and provinces can also have a coat of arms. So Hilversum also has a coat of arms. The coat of arms of Hilversum is the official identification mark of the municipality of Hilversum.
What does our weapon look like
What does our weapon look like? On the coat of arms of Hilversum you see four buckwheat grains of gold on a blue field. Simply, clear and pure. The combination of a golden representation on a blue field is known as the national colours. Officially, national colors mean: a coat of arms executed in azure with the pieces in gold, as in the national coat of arms of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Buckwheat thrives on sheep manure
Buckwheat grains on the Hilversum coat of arms, indeed. Buckwheat seeds look a bit like beechnuts, although they are much smaller. The seed can be ground into flour. Buckwheat was cultivated on a fairly large scale in Europe - and therefore also in Hilversum - for centuries. In the sixteenth century, buckwheat was an important source of nutrition for the local population. Buckwheat thrives on sheep manure. And there were plenty of sheep in Hilversum. Hence our bare heathlands. When sheep manure was increasingly replaced by fertilizer in the 20th century, buckwheat cultivation declined. Finally we were done with it. Buckwheat is now mainly available at the health food store. The seeds and flour and all other buckwheat products do not contain gluten. Completely of this time.
Oldest version with crown
We do not know from what time the Hilversum buckwheat coat of arms dates exactly. The oldest known date of the Hilversum coat of arms to date can be found in the wall of the bridge on the Berensteinseweg, near Corverslaan. There, the year '1699' is engraved in stone on the coat of arms with the four buckwheat grains, with a crown above it. Below that the name: Hilversom.
Officially recorded in 1817
Our Hilversum coat of arms was officially recorded in 1817. And then the crown was gone. Below you can read the text from 200 years ago, when King Willem I approved the coat of arms of Hilversum:
"On behalf of the King. The Supreme Council of Adel, making use of the power granted to it, by decree of February 20th, 1816, hereby confirms that the municipality of Hilversum, in accordance with its request, is in possession of the following Coat of Arms: Being of glaze, laden with four buckwheat grains of gold, turned after the quadrangles of the shield. Done at The Hague on the 22nd of October, 1817."
Please note: Bussum has a municipal coat of arms containing five buckwheat grains. Hmm.
Read more
Read more? Google the article 'Four buckwheat grains of gold in a blue field' by Piet Timmer.
Hilversum 600
The city of Hilversum was founded in 1424. Does the coat of arms also date from that time? No idea. What is known is that next year we will celebrate 600 years of Hilversum! Participate? Ideas? Apply for initiatives or a subsidy? Check www.600jaarhilversum.nl
