Buren

Buren
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 51°58′N 5°25′E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Gelderland
Area(2006)
• Total	142.93 km2 (55.2 sq mi)
• Land	134.66 km2 (52 sq mi)
• Water	8.27 km2 (3.2 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2007)
• Total	25,644
• Density	190/km2 (492.1/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Buren is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands. It is also a (historical) county; with the Dutch Monarch still holding the title "Count of Buren".

Population centres

Population centers include Aalst, Asch, Beusichem, Buren, Eck en Wiel, Erichem, Ingen, Kerk-Avezaath, Lienden, Maurik, Ommeren, Ravenswaaij, Rijswijk, Zoelen and Zoelmond.

The city of Buren

The earliest known reference to the settlement dates from 772. The castle built by the Lords of Buren is first mentioned in 1298. The town was granted city rights in 1395 by Sir Alard IV of Buren, which led to the construction of a defensive wall and a moat. Significant parts of these still exist. In 1492 the region was promoted to a county (i.e. ruled by a count), but due to its isolated position it never became very important economically. By 1574 the previously Catholic parish church of Saint Lambert (Dutch: Sint Lambertus) had already become Calvinist Reformed Protestant.^{[citation needed]}

The castle eventually came into the possession of the House of Orange dynasty, the later royal family of the Netherlands. In fact, Queen Beatrix is Countess of Buren. Also, the royals have been known to use the name Van Buren in situations requiring anonymity. The castle was gradually demolished between 1804 and 1883.

Geography

The river Korne flows through Buren.

Culture

Museums

Buren has two museums.

• Museum of the Royal Military Police Located in a 17th century orphanage.
• Museum of the Dutch Royal Family (in Dutch) Located in the historic city hall.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Buren

• Dutch: 92.9%
• Black people: 0.7%
• European: 4.7%
• Arabs: 0.5%
• Other non Western: 1.2%:

Gallery

• 

  The Culemborg gate with the Saint-Lambertus church (Buren) in the background.

• 

  Statue in the center of Buren - William of Orange and Anna van Buren.

• 

  Strollers in Buren - Herenstraat and the Rodeheldenstraat in the background.

• 

  Pulpit of the Saint Lambertus church in Buren.

• 

  Weigh scales and village pump on the market place in Buren.

See also

• County of Buren
• van Buren surname
• House of Egmond

External links

• Official Website
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Tiel". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.  Contains a paragraph on Buren.