It
is only a fifteen minutes ride by bus from 's‑Gravenzande to Monster, also a
town in my municipality. I didn't have much time before the next bus would
arrive, so I went to the Hoogvliet supermarket. There was a bit of a consternation because initially they
could not find the datestamp. It was still brand new and not everybody was told
about its existence. Fortunately I got it before the next bus came.
The
stamp I used is a personal stamp designed and issued by Postzegelvereniging
Monster (Monster stamp club) in the series 'Westlands mooiste' (Westland's most
beautiful). It represents the Monster based company of Koppert Cress, producer
of cress (edible plants).
Monster
is a town in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the
municipality of Westland, and lies about 10 km south-west of The Hague. The
village of Monster has a population of around 13.900 (2017). Until 2004 it was
a separate municipality and covered an area of 20.15 km². The former
municipality of Monster also included the towns, Poeldijk and Ter Heijde.
Monster and Ter Heijde are towns on the North Sea coast and have a popular
beach.
In
the 13th century a great deal of the Westland, Loosduinen and The Hague were
administered by Monster. When The Hague came to be constructed, a split was
made in Haag-ambacht and Half-Loosduinen. The latter village was separated from
Monster in 1812. Remains of the former glory can still be seen between The
Hague and Monster at such estates as Ockenburgh, Bloemendaal, Solleveld and
Langeveld. There is a great deal of uncertainty over the origin of the name
"Monster". It is probably derived from the Latin monasterium, meaning
monastery. The name was also used for the ground that belonged to a monastery.
Another explanation was that Monster was derived from the old-Dutch word
monster, which meant amongst others "big church" (from Latin:
monstrum), which is supported by the fact that Monster had those days one of
the largest churches in the area.
Monster
was previously a destination for pilgrimage, because Machutus parish possessed
some relics of its patron Machutus, who is also known as Machuut. People came
to be healed of the "falling sickness", which was possibly epilepsy.
City/town: Monster
Municipality: Westland
Area: 90,58 km² (Westland)
Population: 106.752 (Westland, August 2017)
Parcel
point
Hoogvliet
Monster
Molenstraat
46
2681
BS MONSTER
Date sent: 16 June 2017
Date postmark: 16 June 2017
Date received: 17 June 2017
Number of days: 1
Envelope in collection: 174
