Geertruidenberg | |
|---|---|
City andMunicipality | |
 Former city hall on market square | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
.svg) Location in North Brabant | |
| Coordinates:51°42′00″N04°51′31″E / 51.70000°N 4.85861°E /51.70000; 4.85861 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | North Brabant |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipal council |
| • Mayor | Marian Witte[1] (SGP) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 29.64 km2 (11.44 sq mi) |
| • Land | 26.63 km2 (10.28 sq mi) |
| • Water | 3.01 km2 (1.16 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
| Population (January 2021)[4] | |
• Municipality | 21,770 |
| • Density | 817/km2 (2,120/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 4930–4944 |
| Area code | 0162 |
| Website | www |
Geertruidenberg (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈɣeːrtrœydə(m)ˌbɛr(ə)x]ⓘ) is a city and municipality in the provinceNorth Brabant in the south of theNetherlands. The city, named afterSaint Gertrude of Nivelles, received city rights in 1213 from the count ofHolland. The fortified city prospered until the 15th century.
Today, the municipality of Geertruidenberg includes the population centresRaamsdonk andRaamsdonksveer. The municipality has a total area of 29.64 km2 (11.44 sq mi) and had a population of 21,770 in 2021. The city government consists of the mayor and three aldermen.
Geertruidenberg is named afterSaint Gertrude of Nivelles.
In 1213, Sint Geertruidenberg (English: "Saint Gertrude's Mountain") receivedcity rights fromCount William I of Holland. The fortified city became a trade center, where counts and other nobility gathered for negotiations. In 1323–1325,Geertruidenberg Castle was constructed very close to the city center.
During theHook and Cod wars, the city chose the Cod side in 1351, while the castle remained on the Hook side. This led to the 1350–1351Siege of Geertruidenberg. In 1420 a similar siege during a later Hook and Cod war caused huge damage to the city. TheSaint Elizabeth's flood of 1421 then ended the prosperity of Geertruidenberg.[5]
In 1573, during theEighty Years War, the citywas captured in a surprise attack by an English, French Huguenot and Fleming force. In 1589 howeverthe city was betrayed toParma by its English garrison.[6] It wasfinally recaptured by an Anglo-Dutch force under the command ofMaurice of Nassau in the summer of 1593.
Today, Geertruidenberg is part of the province ofNorth Brabant, but it was once part of the county ofHolland. Geertruidenberg is the second oldest city of Holland as it was the first to receive city rights. It is a common misconception that Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of the Netherlands, because the names Holland and the Netherlands are used interchangeably by some.
The total area of the municipality is 29.64 km2 (11.44 sq mi), of which 26.63 km2 (10.28 sq mi) is land and 3.01 km2 (1.16 sq mi) is water.
The municipality of Geertruidenberg comprises three population centres:
Geertruidenberg is located on the bank of theDonge, close to where this river flows into theAmer.
As of 2021, the totalpopulation of Geertruidenberg was 21,770. Thepopulation density was 817/km2 (2,120/sq mi).
Themayor of Geertruidenberg is Marian Witte who, like all mayors in the Netherlands, was appointed by the Dutch monarch. She is supported by fouraldermen who, with the mayor, form theCollege van Burgemeester en Wethouders.[1]
Thecity council is elected every four years, at the same time as most other Dutch municipalities. The 19 members of the city council assemble ten times per year for public meetings in thecity hall inRaamsdonksveer. The council members come from seven political parties, four local and three national (2022):[7]
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Media related toGeertruidenberg at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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