Hoorn was the administrative centre for all of North Holland above
Amsterdam. The West Fries Museum in the background dates from
1632 and was the seat of the States' College governing all the towns
of the Noorderkwartier whose coats of arms are displayed on its facade.

The statue dominating Rode Steen, so named for its use as the place
of public execution, commemorates Jan Pieterz. Coen who was founder
and first governor of Batavia, capital of the Dutch East Indies.