Witte van Haemstede (c. 1281–1321) was a bastard son of Floris V, Count of Holland, famous for military prowess.

Witte's half-brother John I, Count of Holland, gave him the property connected to Haamstede Castle, in Zeeland.

In 1304 Witte led an army to victory in a battle against the Flemish, who were threatening the city of Haarlem.

In 1817 Mr. David Jacob van Lennep, who lived in the stately house called Huis te Manpad next to the Manpad, encouraged the Heemstede council to erect a monument.

The legend says that Witte van Haemstede arrived by ship at Zandvoort and traveled overland to Haarlem over the Manpad, to help the Haarlemmers in their battle against the Flemish who had traveled overland from Hillegom and Lisse.