Coat of arms of Beverwijk

The coat of arms of Beverwijk is a coat of arms that’s been renewed several times. The coat of arms of Beverwijk is the only coat of arms of a municipality in the Netherlands that’s been surrounded by a cloak. This is in the Netherlands highly unusual, as such a cloak is reserved for nobility, the pope and national coats of arms.

There are several symbols combined in the coat of arms, amongst them are the three fleurs de lis, who can be found in the oldest known coat of arms of Beverwijk. This oldest coat of arms is actually a seal. This seal dates from 1322 and it shows not three but four fleur de lye standing on top of a shield.

In 1548 and 1561 Beverwijk used three fleur de lye, but underneath these three there are waves and above the fleur de lye two figures of uncertain origin (possibly roosters) and topping those a label. In the same period the city used a second seal depicting only the three fleur de lis. In 1601 a seal was used showing four lions with underneath waves on top of a label and three fleur de lis in the chief. These three fleur de lis are positioned in the formation of 2 + 1. This seal also has supporters in the form of two naked boys holding up a mantle. A seal dating from 1615 has the same scenery except the boys have been swapped for a winged head above the shield.

The lions in the coat of arms derive form the coat of arms of John of Beaumont, lord of Blois en Wijk. Beverwijk was the capital of the Bailiff Wijk. The fleur de lis are from the old Beverwijk of the 14th century.

There are three known blazons from either the city or the municipality of Beverwijk. The first by the High Councill of Nobility recorded blazon was:

An escutcheon gules, charged with three golden lilies, standing 2 and 1; the lower with 4 lions of gold. A label of silver with 3 pendants over the entire escutcheon. The coat of arms is covered by a tent azure decorated of gold en held on both sides by an angel.

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Wikipedia