Wikipedia
Naarden is a city and former municipality in the Gooi region in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands. It has been part of the new municipality of Gooise Meren since 2016. Naarden is an example of a star fort, complete with fortified walls and a moat. The moat and walls have been restored.
Naarden was granted its city rights in 1300 (the only town in Het Gooi with these rights) and later developed into a fortified garrison town with a textile industry. Naarden is the home of the Netherlands Fortress Museum (Nederlands Vestingmuseum). Naarden hosts the bi-annual Naarden Photo Festival and, on Good Friday, a performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion in the local church, which is called the Great Church or St. Vitus Church. Despite its earlier importance, Naarden's population was surpassed by Hilversum in the 18th century and today it is smaller than its neighbour Bussum.
Naarden is well known as the city where Jan Amos Komensky (Comenius) was buried; visitors can see his grave in the mausoleum devoted to him.
The city's distinctive shape made it a rallying point for Allied bombers returning to England after raids on Germany.