Willemstad | |
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  Willemstad Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands Show map of North Brabant Willemstad Willemstad (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands | |
| Coordinates:51°41′31″N4°26′16″E / 51.69194°N 4.43778°E /51.69194; 4.43778 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | North Brabant |
| Municipality | Moerdijk |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.70 km2 (6.45 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0.9 m (3.0 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 2,490 |
| • Density | 149/km2 (386/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 4797[1] |
| Dialing code | 0168 |
Willemstad is acity in theDutch province ofNorth Brabant. It is located in the municipality ofMoerdijk. Its population as of 2021[update] was 2,490.[1]
Willemstad is a small historical town with well preservedfortifications. It lies on theHollands Diep, close to theHaringvliet andVolkerak. It receivedcity rights in 1585. The Reformed Church was built in 1607 as the first new Protestant church building in the Netherlands (see:the Reformation and its influence on church architecture).
The current name was first used in 1639 as Willemstat, and refers toWilliam the Silent who fortified the settlement in 1583.[3] The settlement used to be known as Ruigenhil, and was located at a strategic location along theHollands Diep. In 1587, the fortifications were completed, and Willemstad received aheptagon (seven sided) shape with sevenbastions. Even though the fortification have been decommissioned in 1926, the layout is still clearly visible and mainly intact.[4]
The Dutch Reformed church was built between 1597 and 1607 and has anoctagon shape with a dome withridge turret on top. There is an incomplete tower in the south-western corner. The church was severely damaged by war in 1944. It was nearly completely restored in 1950 when it was devastated by fire.[4]
The Gouvernementshuis was built between 1623 and 1625 forMaurice, Prince of Orange. After his death in 1625, it was used as the residence of the governor of Willemstad until 1795. It was extensively restored between 1968 and 1973, and served as town hall until 1996.[4]
Willemstad was home to 1,154 people in 1840. In 1970, the entire centre was declared a protected site.[5] Willemstad was a separate municipality until 1997, when it became part ofZevenbergen, which changed its name toMoerdijk in 1998.[6]
Media related toWillemstad, North Brabant at Wikimedia CommonsAuthority control databases: Geographic |
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