Schoonhoven

Schoonhoven
City and former municipality
Canal in Schoonhoven
Flag Coat of arms
Location in South Holland
Country	Netherlands
Province	South Holland
Municipality	Krimpenerwaard
Area
• Total	6.92 km2 (2.67 sq mi)
• Land	6.27 km2 (2.42 sq mi)
• Water	0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi)
Elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population  (January 2021)
• Total	data missing
Demonym	Schoonhovenaar
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	2870–2871
Area code	0182
Website	www.schoonhoven.nl

Schoonhoven (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsxoːnˌɦoːvə(n)] ) is a city and former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Since 2015 it has been a part of the municipality of Krimpenerwaard.

The former municipality had a population of data missing in 2021, and covered an area of 6.92 km² (2.67 sq mi) of which 0.65 km² (0.25 sq mi) water. From 2010 to 2014, it was the smallest municipality in the Netherlands in land area, following the merger of Rozenburg into Rotterdam.

A historic map of Schoonhoven of 1652 shows the north and west town walls, which were common during medieval times in the Netherlands. The only remaining medieval entrance gate of Schoonhoven is the Veerpoort (Ferry Gate) next to the Lek River (see external link 4). This Veerpoort has protected Schoonhoven from the floods of the river Rhine and from the sea during the North Sea flood of 1953 and is still fully functional as a water barrier today.

A ferry transporting both vehicles and pedestrians across the Lek River (see external link 5) connects Schoonhoven with Gelkenes in the municipality of Molenwaard.

In the grassy fields around the city of Schoonhoven you can see a magnificent bird life such as storks (external link 6).

The first winner of the Dutch version of Pop Idol, Jamai Loman, is from this town. Also Jan-Arie van der Heijden, player of football club Vitesse Arnhem, lives in Schoonhoven.

History

Circa 1220 a castle was built on the north side of little stream Zevender, near its mouth at the Lek River and Schoonhoven formed near the castle. The oldest reference to Schoonhoven is on a document from 1247 where the town is called Sconhoven. In 1280, it was granted city rights.

Around 1350, the citywalls and gates were added to Schoonhoven. Its economy was dependent on shipping, brewing, fishing and agriculture. Schoonhoven was also the marketplace for the region. In 1518 the castle burned down and its remnants were removed in subsequent decades.

Between 1582 and 1601 the city's defense walls were renewed and expanded to include the shipyards as well. And following the Disaster Year of 1672, they were reinforced again and expanded on the west and north sides. Yet in 1816, when bastion fortifications were no longer relevant to the warfare of the time, they were mostly demolished and made way for a cemetery and park.

In 1860 the city had 2900 inhabitants. Not until the middle of the 20th century did the city expand beyond the former fortress limits, first in a north-westerly direction, and then in the east since the 1990s.

Tourism and attractions

Schoonhoven is known for its silver and therefore has the nickname: Zilverstad ("Silver City"). Since the 17th century, silver smiths have been working here. Today, Schoonhoven is still known for it's silver.It is the host of 'Het Nederlands Zilvermuseum' (the Dutch Silver Museum) and the International Silver School.

Something else Schoonhoven is known for is it's production of clocks. There are still a few clock makers in Schoonhoven. Some of them can be visited. A beautiful example of a large clockwork is the Van den Gheyn Beiaard on the medieval town hall of Schoonhoven.

Gallery

• 
  Schoonhoven, Netherlands
• 
  Bartholomeus church
• 
  Old warehouse
• 
  Canal houses
• 
  Gracht
• 
  Citywall
• 
  17th century house
• 
  Schoonhoven watertower
• 
  Schoonhoven Synagoge
• 
  Libera me by Dorothé Jehoel
• 
  The Nederlands ZILVERMUSEUM Schoonhoven

External links

Schoonhoven travel guide from Wikivoyage

• Official website