Zevenaar
| Zevenaar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Municipality — | |||
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| Coordinates: 51°56′N 6°04′E / 51.933°N 6.067°E | |||
| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | Gelderland | ||
| Area(2006) | |||
| • Total | 58.13 km2 (22.4 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 53.79 km2 (20.8 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 4.34 km2 (1.7 sq mi) | ||
| Population (1 January 2007) | |||
| • Total | 31,840 | ||
| • Density | 592/km2 (1,533.3/sq mi) | ||
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Zevenaar is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, near the border with Germany.
[edit] Population centres
Zevenaar is located in the province Gelderland, in the east of the Netherlands. The earliest signs of human activity are remnants of a 700 BC settlement found near present day Zevenaar. In 1049, Emperor Hendrik III donated a large amount of land to five warlords of which the leader was named Bartholomeus II of Sevenaer. They founded a castle to protect the old roman settlements from the Germans.
In 1487, the duke of Cleves, a nearby town in Germany, gave Sevenaer city rights. Sevenaer was an important strategic point on the border of Gelderland and Germany. When Sevenaer obtained city rights it had the monopoly on markets and on sale of bread and beer with the surrounding towns. Also the jurisdiction in Sevenaer was founded, the town government was charging taxes so that the town could build roads, railways and public buildings. For the 500 inhabitants that was a heavy tax.[citation needed] Because of the plundering by several armies there were not enough supplies and money to build anything. Also contagious diseases ensured much embarrassment. In that time not the citizens but some well-to-do families got the right to participation in policy and government. Sevenaer then experienced a financially well period. In 1793 the sity had 900 inhabitants.
In 1816, Sevenaer became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Two years later the old spelling of Sevenaer was changed to the current name: Zevenaar. The municipality then had 2564 inhabitants. The 19th century was a century of poverty, bad harvests, sicknesses and hunger. There was hardly trade and work. Many people lived by agriculture or from charity. In 1856, Zevenaar was connected to the European railroad system, which (just some decades later) led to the increase in workforce. In 1920, the cigarette factory Turmac came which insured much employment.
After the second World War, which caused a lot of damage, people started to rebuild and new residential areas arose around the old core. For fifty years approximately 10,000 people lived in Zevenaar. By 2005, that number had more than doubled to 22,500 inhabitants. The municipality of Zevenaar exists from the following residential areas: Angerlo, Babberich, Giesbeek, Lathum, Ooy, Old Zevenaar, and Zevenaar, which together have 31.840 inhabitants in January 2007.(source: CBS)
[edit] People born or lived in Zevenaar
- Andreas Masius, catholic priest, humanist and famous European scholar
- Phillip Cocu (born 1970), footballer
- Erik Parlevliet (1964–2007), hockey player
- Ruud Knol (born 1981), footballer
- Linda Wagenmakers, famous musical star
- Esmee Denters, Dutch female singer
[edit] External links
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Coordinates: 51°56′N 6°04′E / 51.933°N 6.067°E
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