De Rijp was founded at the end of the thirteenth century. The place name means 'bank edge', De Rijp was created on the southern part of the dyke around Schermereiland. The place was very prosperous in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, thanks to whaling, herring fishing and the processing of hemp.
The town hall was designed in 1630 by Leeghwater. It survived the fire of 6 and 7 January 1654.
In this town hall was also the risk. On the ground floor there is another weighing facility (De Waag), where in the past livestock and products from agriculture and industry were weighed.
On the first floor is the council chamber, the mayor's chamber and the secretary.
Herring fishing
The herring fishery ('the big fishery') was a highly regulated company. In the Noorderkwartier, only the city of Enkhuizen was a member of the College of Large Fisheries. Of the total North Holland herring fleet, approximately 25% to 30% were in the hands of Rijper shipping companies, the rest of ship owners from Enkhuizen. The caught herring was not allowed to be packed in De Rijp for export (herring bakery); this had to happen in Enkhuizen.
Herring fishing was not a full-time business: it only gave the fishermen work three or four months a year. The remaining months were often concerned with fishing on the inland lakes (such as Schermeer, Starnmeer and Beemster). When these were ground, this possibility disappeared and the number of Rijper crew members on the herring fleet also decreased. The direct connection with the Zuiderzee also disappeared due to these land reclamations.
The last herring boat sailed in 1888.