Harderwijk

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Harderwijk is also a village in the Dutch municipality of Opmeer.
Harderwijk
Image:LocatieHarderwijk.png
Country Netherlands
Province Gelderland
Area (2006)
 - Total 48.27 km² (18.6 sq mi)
 - Land 38.46 km² (14.8 sq mi)
 - Water 9.81 km² (3.8 sq mi)
Population (1 January, 2007)
 - Total 42,057
 - Density 1,094/km² (2,833.4/sq mi)
  Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)

Image:Ltspkr.pngHarderwijk is a municipality and a small city in the eastern Netherlands.

Image:Harderwijk 03-06-2006 19.13.02.JPG
The grote kerk (Dutch for "large church") in Harderwijk

Contents

[edit] Population centres

  • Harderwijk
  • Hierden

[edit] The history of Harderwijk

Harderwijk received city rights from Count Otto II of Guelders in 1231.[1] A defensive wall surrounding the city was completed by the end of that century. The oldest part of the city is near where the streets Hoogstraat and Grote Poortstraat are today. Around 1315 the city was expanded southwards, which included the construction of what is now called the Grote Kerk (Large Church). A second, northward expansion took place around 1425. Particularly along the west side of town much of the wall still exists, although often not in entirely original form. This also goes for the only remaining city gate, the picturesque Vischpoort.

Harderwijk was a member of the Hanseatic League. It lies on what used to be the Zuider Zee shore (Southern Sea, now the IJsselmeer) and consequently its economy was strongly based on fishing and seafaring in general. This dramatically changed after 1932, when the Zuiderzee was cut off from the North Sea for safety reasons.

Between 1648 and 1811 the University of Harderwijk operated in the city. Carolus Linnaeus graduated at this university. The university, together with the universities of Zutphen and Franeker was abolished by Napoleon.

Today, Harderwijk is probably known best for the Dolfinarium, a marine mammal park where dolphin shows are held and various other marine mammals and fish are kept.

[edit] History

Harderwijk used to be situated at the Zuiderzee and was an important fishingcity. There were markets where the whole region would come to buy fish etc. Nowadays there aren't much fishing boats in the harbor anymore. Mostly yachts and touristships. You can still see how important the fishing was to Harderwijk on so-called Aaltjesdag, which means Eelday. On this day you can find people wearing traditional garment and singing traditional sailor songs. This garment usually consist of blue sweaters for the men and somewhat Volendam-like dresses for the women. Throughout the whole year except November, December, January and February you can buy fish at fishstands and restaurants on the boulevard. Tourists are common customers there, while the locals aren't living from fish anymore. The sales of fish at this touristic parts of Harderwijk therefore gives a wrong view of the local population.

[edit] Veluwe

Harderwijk is on the western boundary of the Veluwe region and the southeastern half of the municipality consists largely of forests.

[edit] Born in Harderwijk

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stenvert, R. et al. (2000). Monumenten in Nederland: Gelderland, p. 50 and 183–188. Zwolle: Waanders Uitgevers. ISBN 90-400-9406-3

[edit] External links

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Image:Gelderland-Flag.svg Municipalities of Gelderland
Image:Gelderland-Flag.svg This Gelderland location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
de:Harderwijk

fr:Harderwijk fy:Hurderwyk id:Harderwijk it:Harderwijk li:Harderwijk nl:Harderwijk (Gelderland) nds-nl:Harderwiek ro:Harderwijk sv:Harderwijk vo:Harderwijk

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