Bredevoort
Encyclopedia
Bredevoort or Brevoort is a small city with Town privileges
of about 1600 inhabitants, located in the municipality of Aalten
, Netherlands
. It is situated between the towns of Aalten and Winterswijk
.
Bredevoort has presented itself as Bredevoort boekenstad (Bredevoort book town
), after the examples of Hay-on-Wye
in Wales
and Redu
in Belgium
. There are now more than twenty second-hand
book shops in the town.
Bredevoort was a herrschaft
and a separate municipality until 1818. The villages Aalten
, Dinxperlo
and Winterswijk
included the Fiefdom of Bredevoort when it became a part of Aalten in 1818.
in 1188, who owned shares of the castle Bredevoort. When the count of Steinfurt
tried to sell his share of the castle to the bishop of Munster
and the count of Loon tried to sell his share to the count of Gelderland
, a conflict broke out between the bishop and the count of Gelderland. The fight lasted for almost two centuries.
From 1326, after 4 years of battle between Reginald II, Duke of Guelders and Ludwig von Hessen the Prince-Bishopric of Münster Bredevoort was actual part of Gelderland. Between 1326 and 1697 the municipality of Bredevoort repeatedly changed ownership. The former municipality of Bredevoort was composed of the city, the castle Bredevoort, and the villages Aalten
, Dinxperlo
and Winterswijk
. Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
conquered Bredevoort in the year 1597 on the Spanish occupation. The Spanish reconquered the city in 1606, but Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
liberated the garrison and citizens who had retreated in the Castle of Bredevoort
. In 1646, lightning hit the gunpowder
tower of the castle, causing an explosion that destroyed parts of the castle and the town, killing Lord Haersolte of Bredevoort and his family, as well as others. Only one son, Anthonie, who was not home that day, survived. In the rampjaar ("disaster year") 1672 Bernhard von Galen
reconquered the city and occupied city and herrschaft for almost two years. In 1697 received William III of England
the city and herrschaft from the States of Gelderland
. From that day until 1795 the city and herrschaft was a personal belonging to the House of Orange-Nassau
. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
is still Lady of Bredevoort. After centuries of war, its fortifications were demolished by its inhabitants. In 1818, the municipality of Bredevoort was dissolved to become part of the city Bredevoort under the newly formed municipality Aalten.
is the nearest station. There is a half-hourly service between Arnhem
and Winterswijk
, which stops at this station. Arnhem railway station
has half-hourly (or more) services to Amsterdam
, Utrecht
, Nijmegen, 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda
, Tilburg
and Alkmaar
. If you travel to Winterswijk
, you can then change onto a connecting train to Zutphen. From Zutphen you can travel to Apeldoorn
, Dieren
, Hengelo
, Deventer
and Zwolle
.
To get to the station you can use bus service 191, which travels from Aalten station to Bredevoort and Lichtenvoorde
.
Town privileges
Town privileges or city rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium.Judicially, a town was distinguished from the surrounding land by means of a charter from the ruling monarch that defined its privileges and laws. Common privileges were related to trading...
of about 1600 inhabitants, located in the municipality of Aalten
Aalten
Aalten is a municipality and a village in the eastern Netherlands. The former municipalities of Bredevoort and Dinxperlo have been merged with Aalten....
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is situated between the towns of Aalten and Winterswijk
Winterswijk
Winterswijk is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.Winterswijk is a town with a population of some 30,000 in the Achterhoek which lies in the most eastern part of the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It was also known as Winethereswick, Winriswic or Wenterswic...
.
Bredevoort has presented itself as Bredevoort boekenstad (Bredevoort book town
Book town
A book town is a town or village with a large number of second-hand or antiquarian book shops. These shops, and sometimes also literary festivals, attract bibliophile tourists to them...
), after the examples of Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye
Hay-on-Wye , often described as "the town of books", is a small market town and community in Powys, Wales.-Location:The town lies on the east bank of the River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, just north of the Black Mountains...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Redu
Redu
Redu is a village in the municipality of Libin, in Luxembourg province, Belgium. The village is twinned with Hay-on-Wye in the United Kingdom and it is one of the very first book towns....
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. There are now more than twenty second-hand
Second-Hand
Second-Hand was a 2005 Romanian film directed by Dan Piţa.-Plot summary:The film's plot surrounds the romantic involvement of two contrasting characters: Petre , a Mafioso, and Andreea , a young violin player. The pair meet and fall in love...
book shops in the town.
Bredevoort was a herrschaft
Herrschaft (territory)
In the German feudal system, a Herrschaft or Herrlichkeit was the fiefdom of a lord, who in this area exercised his full feudal rights...
and a separate municipality until 1818. The villages Aalten
Aalten
Aalten is a municipality and a village in the eastern Netherlands. The former municipalities of Bredevoort and Dinxperlo have been merged with Aalten....
, Dinxperlo
Dinxperlo
Dinxperlo is a town and former municipality in the eastern Netherlands , situated directly at the border with Germany. Since 1 January 2005, Dinxperlo is a part of the municipality of Aalten....
and Winterswijk
Winterswijk
Winterswijk is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.Winterswijk is a town with a population of some 30,000 in the Achterhoek which lies in the most eastern part of the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It was also known as Winethereswick, Winriswic or Wenterswic...
included the Fiefdom of Bredevoort when it became a part of Aalten in 1818.
History
The name Bredevoort appears for the first time on a list of properties belonging to the archbishop of CologneCologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
in 1188, who owned shares of the castle Bredevoort. When the count of Steinfurt
Steinfurt
Steinfurt is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Steinfurt.-Geography:Steinfurt is situated north-west of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia. Its name came into being in 1975 when the two – up to then independent – parts of the city – Borghorst and...
tried to sell his share of the castle to the bishop of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and the count of Loon tried to sell his share to the count of Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
, a conflict broke out between the bishop and the count of Gelderland. The fight lasted for almost two centuries.
From 1326, after 4 years of battle between Reginald II, Duke of Guelders and Ludwig von Hessen the Prince-Bishopric of Münster Bredevoort was actual part of Gelderland. Between 1326 and 1697 the municipality of Bredevoort repeatedly changed ownership. The former municipality of Bredevoort was composed of the city, the castle Bredevoort, and the villages Aalten
Aalten
Aalten is a municipality and a village in the eastern Netherlands. The former municipalities of Bredevoort and Dinxperlo have been merged with Aalten....
, Dinxperlo
Dinxperlo
Dinxperlo is a town and former municipality in the eastern Netherlands , situated directly at the border with Germany. Since 1 January 2005, Dinxperlo is a part of the municipality of Aalten....
and Winterswijk
Winterswijk
Winterswijk is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.Winterswijk is a town with a population of some 30,000 in the Achterhoek which lies in the most eastern part of the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It was also known as Winethereswick, Winriswic or Wenterswic...
. Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange
Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange was sovereign Prince of Orange from 1618, on the death of his eldest half brother, Philip William, Prince of Orange,...
conquered Bredevoort in the year 1597 on the Spanish occupation. The Spanish reconquered the city in 1606, but Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, or Frederik Hendrik in Dutch , was the sovereign Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel from 1625 to 1647.-Early life:...
liberated the garrison and citizens who had retreated in the Castle of Bredevoort
Castle of Bredevoort
The Castle of Bredevoort was a castle in the city of Bredevoort, Guelders in the Netherlands.-History:The earliest known mention of the castle dates from 1188 as "castrum Breidervort". On the forecourt of the castle developed a small city during the time. In 1646 the Powder Tower of the castle was...
. In 1646, lightning hit the gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
tower of the castle, causing an explosion that destroyed parts of the castle and the town, killing Lord Haersolte of Bredevoort and his family, as well as others. Only one son, Anthonie, who was not home that day, survived. In the rampjaar ("disaster year") 1672 Bernhard von Galen
Bernhard von Galen
Christoph Bernhard Freiherr von Galen was prince-bishop of Münster. He was born into a noble Westphalian family....
reconquered the city and occupied city and herrschaft for almost two years. In 1697 received William III of England
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
the city and herrschaft from the States of Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
. From that day until 1795 the city and herrschaft was a personal belonging to the House of Orange-Nassau
House of Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
is still Lady of Bredevoort. After centuries of war, its fortifications were demolished by its inhabitants. In 1818, the municipality of Bredevoort was dissolved to become part of the city Bredevoort under the newly formed municipality Aalten.
Sights
- St. Joriskerk, GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Church with rococoRococoRococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
chair from 1672 - Windmillmolen 'De Prins van Oranje'
- Historic centre
- 19th century theehouse at the town ditch
- remains from the 17th century city gate
Transportation
Aalten railway stationAalten railway station
Aalten is a railway station located in Aalten, the Netherlands. The station is on the Winterswijk–Zevenaar railway and the station opened on 15 July 1885. The building began construction in 1884 and was finished in 1885. It was rebuilt in 1919 and has since remained unaltered...
is the nearest station. There is a half-hourly service between Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
and Winterswijk
Winterswijk
Winterswijk is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.Winterswijk is a town with a population of some 30,000 in the Achterhoek which lies in the most eastern part of the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It was also known as Winethereswick, Winriswic or Wenterswic...
, which stops at this station. Arnhem railway station
Arnhem railway station
Arnhem is a railway station located in Arnhem, the Netherlands. The station was opened on 14 May 1845 and is located on the Rhijnspoorweg , the Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway and the Arnhem–Nijmegen railway...
has half-hourly (or more) services to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, Nijmegen, 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
, Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
and Alkmaar
Alkmaar
Alkmaar is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of Noord Holland. Alkmaar is well known for its traditional cheese market. For tourists, it is a popular cultural destination.-History:...
. If you travel to Winterswijk
Winterswijk
Winterswijk is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.Winterswijk is a town with a population of some 30,000 in the Achterhoek which lies in the most eastern part of the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. It was also known as Winethereswick, Winriswic or Wenterswic...
, you can then change onto a connecting train to Zutphen. From Zutphen you can travel to Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn
Apeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...
, Dieren
Dieren
Dieren is a town in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Rheden, between Zutphen and Arnhem.Dieren was a separate municipality until 1818, when it became a part of Rheden....
, Hengelo
Hengelo
Hengelo is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands, in the province of Overijssel. The city lies along the motorways A1/E30 and A35 and it has a station for the International Amsterdam – Hannover – Berlin service.-Traffic and transport:...
, Deventer
Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
and Zwolle
Zwolle
Zwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.-History:...
.
To get to the station you can use bus service 191, which travels from Aalten station to Bredevoort and Lichtenvoorde
Lichtenvoorde
Lichtenvoorde is a town in the Netherlands, in the municipality of Oost Gelre.Until 1 January 2005, Lichtenvoorde was an independent municipality. It includes also four small villages: Lievelde, Zieuwent, Vragender and Harreveld. The number of inhabitants in this municipality is about 20,000.The...
.