51º12N 6º00E, pop (2002e) 45 100. Agricultural and manufacturing market town in Limburg province, SE Netherlands; at the confluence of the Roer and Maas rivers; captured by William the Silent in 1572; retaken by the Spaniards and remained a Spanish or Austrian possession until it was returned to Holland (1815); birthplace of Louis Beel, Joseph Cals, Louis Raemaekers, Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck; railway; metalworking, electrical engineering, chemicals, textiles, paper, foodstuffs; 15th-c cathedral of St Christoffel, 13th-c Romanesque church.
| Roermond | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Limburg |
| Area | 46.87 km² |
| - Land | 38.59 km² |
| - Water | 8.28 km² |
| Population (2006) | 45,390 |
| - Density | 968/km² |
Roermond (pronunciation (help·info)) is a municipality, a diocese and a city in the southeastern Netherlands.
Population centres
Asenray Herten Leeuwen Maasniel RoermondThe city of Roermond
Roermond received city rights in 1231.
Roermond is a historically important town situated on the banks of the river Maas (Meuse). After Rura the river Roer which flows through Roermond is named. Roermond therefore means "bridge of Rura".
The Galgeberg is a small hill in Roermond. It is in the Kapel in 't Zand-area of Roermond. It is called "mountain of the gallow" because criminals in Roermond were hanged or burned there. In 1613, 64 witches were burned on the Galgeberg in the Kapel in het Zand in Roermond, the biggest witchtrial in the Netherlands ever.
History
Due to its impressive architecture and charming skyline, Roermond town centre has been designated as a conservation area.
Villa Optima was the Roman name for the municipality and city of Roermond. When Julius Caesar reached the location of Roermond he found the location so ideal that he called it "Villa Optima", which translates into "ideal location". The original town of Roermond was in Roman times based around the area of the Roer quays. It is now a suburb of Roermond called Faubourg Saint Jacques (or Voorstad Sint Jacob in Dutch).
Around 1180-1543, Roermond belonged to the duchy of Guelders. In 1213 Roermond was destroyed by Otto IV of Brunswick, the Holy Roman Emperor and German King. In 1361, the Chapter of the Holy Spirit is moved from St. Odiliënberg to Roermond.
Around 1350, Roermond became the capital of the "Overkwartier van Gelre" (Overquarter of Gelre).
In 1441, Roermond became a member of the Hanseatic League, and by 1472 acquired the right to mint its own coins.
On 23 April 1568 the Battle of Rheindalen occured near Roermond, which signaled the start of the "Tachtigjarige Oorlog" (Eighty Years' War). In 1632 the Dutch Stadhouder conquered Venlo, Roermond and Maastricht during his famous "March along the Meuse".
In 1572, Roermond was occupied by Willem de Zwijger, a Dutch prince, by 1580 it was transfered from Arnhem to Roermond.
1613 marked the year when 64 presumed witches were burnt on the Galgeberg hill in the Kapel in het Zand in Roermond;
Between 1632-1637, Roermond was part of the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden - Republic of the 7 United Netherlands, and later in 1702-1716 is part of the Republic again.
On 11 December 1792, the French under General De Miranda conquer Roermond, but by 5 March 1793, is under Habsburg control again. In 1814, Roermond is liberated by the Russians. After the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 Roermond becomes Dutch.
When the Netherlands and Belgium separated in 1830, there was support for adding Limburg to Belgium, but in the end (1839) the province was divided in two, with the eastern part going to the Netherlands and the western part to Belgium. From that time, Dutch Limburg was, as the Duchy Limburg, also part of the German Confederation.
Between 1940 to 1945, during World War II, the Germans occupied Roermond.
IRA bombings
On 27 May 1990 the IRA killed three English soldiers in a double attack. At the market in Roermond, near the border between Germany and the Netherlands, an IRA commando opened fire on a vehicle in which three men from the Royal Air Force from the base near Wildenrath were traveling. Shot shortly after getting out of a car, Market Square, Roermond, Netherlands. Shot shortly after getting out of car, Market Square, Roermond, Netherlands. Shot shortly after getting out of car, Market Square, Roermond, Netherlands.
It was not uncommon for British soldiers based in this area to be attacked:
On 2 June 1990.A British Army Artillery Officer was shot and killed by three attackers in nearby Dortmund while returning from a social event with his wife.The Roermond earthquake
On April 13, 1992, a MW 5.4 earthquake occurred near the city of Roermond in a focal depth of about 17 km. The eastern boundary is defined by the Peel boundary fault, along which the 1992 Roermond earthquake occurred (Camelbeeck and van Eck, 1994), and the western boundary is defined by the Feldbiss fault zone, which is partly located in Belgium.
The floods
As a city near surrounded by water and close to 2 rivers, the Maas and the Roer, Roermond often has to defend itself against floods.
| Year | Waterlevel (mNAP) | At | Damage | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1643 Dec 1880 Mar 1910 Mar 1920 Jan 1926 Jul 1980 1984 Dec 1993 Jan 1995 | 49.7 20.71 46.1 20.6 42.92 - - 45.8 45.71 | Maastricht Roermond Maastricht Roermond Maastricht Roermond Roermond Borgharen Borgharen | - - - - 80 million guilders damage, 14.000 refugees - - 245 million guilders damage 35 million guilders private damage, 500 million guilders damage, 210.000 evacuated | Highest levels ever in Limburg - - - largest flood disaster in Limburg.Breakthrough of dikes. |
After the 1993 and 1995 floods the damage is so high and the people of Limburg make so many claims that the Dutch government decides to finally execute De Maaswerken, a series of water management works that should prevent this disasters from happening again.
As a direct result of these floods the national government and the province of Limburg in collaboration initiated the co-ordinating project "De Maaswerken".
The most important governmental institutions related to the Maaswerken are the project organisation "De Maaswerken", the province of Limburg and the national Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries (LNV), and Transport and Public Works (V&W).
Anthem
Wikisource has original text related to this article: Oud en trouw RoermondRoermond has had its own anthem since 1912.
In everyday life in Limburg around 1900 the Dutch language was of no importance. In 1900 the people in Limburg had to swear their allegiance to the Dutch royal family of the House of Orange-Nassau in a "aanhankelijkheidsverklaring aan het Oranjehuis" and had to start using Dutch instead of Limburgs.
Shopping area
The town centre with its medieval street pattern has an attractive shopping area. In addition to department stores, you will find a variety of small shops which, together with an abundance of cafes and restaurants, contribute to the bustling atmosphere in Roermond.
Green belt
Roermond is encircled by a green belt, which offers many opportunities for hiking and cycling. For good reason, the region around Roermond has been designated as an area of scenic interest.
Monuments
As an old city , Roermond is rich in monuments. Here are a few of them:
MuensterchurchStateroom of city hall
The old cemetery
Kapel in 't Zand
Roermond City Hall
St. Christopher Cathedral
Caroluschapel
National Indiëmonument
Kasteeltje Hattem
Rattentoren
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