Geertruidenberg
Encyclopedia
Geertruidenberg is a city and municipality in the province North Brabant
in the south of the Netherlands
. The city, named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles
, received city rights in 1213 from the count of Holland. The fortified city prospered until the 15th century.
Today, the municipality of Geertruidenberg also includes the population centres Raamsdonk
and Raamsdonksveer. The municipality has a total area of 29.86 km2 and as of 2007 it has a population of 21,104 inhabitants. The city government consists of the mayor Matthieu Meijer and four aldermen.
.
In 1213, Sint Geertruidenberg (English: "Saint Gertrude's Mountain") received city rights from Count William I of Holland
. The fortified city became a trade center, where counts and other nobility gathered for negotiations. The Hook and Cod wars
in 1420 and the Saint Elizabeth's flood
in 1421 ended the prosperity of the city.
In 1588 the city was betrayed to Parma by its English garrison.
Today, Geertruidenberg is part of the province of North Brabant
, but it was once part of the county of Holland. Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of Holland as it was the first to receive city rights. It's a common misconception that Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of the Netherlands, because the names Holland and the Netherlands are used interchangeably by some.
The municipality of Geertruidenberg comprises three population centres:
Geertruidenberg is located on the bank of the Donge
, close to where this river flows into the Amer.
of Geertruidenberg is 21,104 inhabitants. The population density
of the city is 790/km² (1,99/sq mi).
of Geertruidenberg is Matthieu Meijer and he was appointed mayor by the Dutch monarch, like all mayors in the Netherlands. The four aldermen
of Geertruidenberg are Ruud van den Belt (Keerpunt 74), Lida Verschuren-van Strien (CDA
), Wim Quirijnen (Partij Samenwerking), and Albert Smit (Uw 3 Kernen). Together, the mayor and the aldermen form the College van Burgemeester en Wethouders
, which is supported by the city's secretary Ad van Oudheusden.
The city council
is elected every four years during municipal elections, at the same time as in most other municipalities of the Netherlands. The 19 members of the city council assemble ten times per year for public meetings in the city hall
in Raamsdonksveer. The council members come from eight political parties, three local and five national:
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
in the south of the 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...
. The city, named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles
Gertrude of Nivelles
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles was abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Nivelles, in present-day Belgium.She was a daughter of Pepin I of Landen and Saint Itta, and a younger sister of Saint Begga, Abbess of Andenne, Saint Bavo and Grimoald I.One day, when she was about ten years of age, her father...
, received city rights in 1213 from the count of Holland. The fortified city prospered until the 15th century.
Today, the municipality of Geertruidenberg also includes the population centres Raamsdonk
Raamsdonk
Raamsdonk is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Geertruidenberg, about 15 km northeast of Breda.Raamsdonk was a separate municipality until 1997, when it became part of Geertruidenberg....
and Raamsdonksveer. The municipality has a total area of 29.86 km2 and as of 2007 it has a population of 21,104 inhabitants. The city government consists of the mayor Matthieu Meijer and four aldermen.
History
Geertruidenberg is named after Saint Gertrude of NivellesGertrude of Nivelles
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles was abbess of the Benedictine monastery of Nivelles, in present-day Belgium.She was a daughter of Pepin I of Landen and Saint Itta, and a younger sister of Saint Begga, Abbess of Andenne, Saint Bavo and Grimoald I.One day, when she was about ten years of age, her father...
.
In 1213, Sint Geertruidenberg (English: "Saint Gertrude's Mountain") received city rights from Count William I of Holland
William I, Count of Holland
William I , Count of Holland from 1203 to 1222. He was the younger son of Floris III and Ada of Huntingdon.-Life:...
. The fortified city became a trade center, where counts and other nobility gathered for negotiations. The Hook and Cod wars
Hook and Cod wars
The Hook and Cod wars comprise a series of wars and battles in the County of Holland between 1350 and 1490. Most of these wars were fought over the title of count of Holland, but some have argued that the underlying reason was because of the power struggle of the bourgeois in the cities against...
in 1420 and the Saint Elizabeth's flood
St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)
The St. Elizabeth's flood of 1421 was a flooding of an area in what is now the Netherlands. It takes its name from the feast day of Saint Elisabeth of Hungary which was formerly November 19....
in 1421 ended the prosperity of the city.
In 1588 the city was betrayed to Parma by its English garrison.
Today, Geertruidenberg is part of the province of North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, but it was once part of the county of Holland. Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of Holland as it was the first to receive city rights. It's a common misconception that Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of the Netherlands, because the names Holland and the Netherlands are used interchangeably by some.
Geography
As of 2006, the total area of the municipality is 29.86 km² (11.5 sq mi), of which 27.02 km² is land and 2.84 km² is water.The municipality of Geertruidenberg comprises three population centres:
- Geertruidenberg
- RaamsdonkRaamsdonkRaamsdonk is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Geertruidenberg, about 15 km northeast of Breda.Raamsdonk was a separate municipality until 1997, when it became part of Geertruidenberg....
- Raamsdonksveer
Geertruidenberg is located on the bank of the Donge
Donge
The Donge is a river in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. It rises near the village Dongen and flows north to the city of Geertruidenberg where it's continued by the Amer together with the Bergse Maas.-Use of the river:...
, close to where this river flows into the Amer.
Demography
As of 2010, the total populationPopulation
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Geertruidenberg is 21,104 inhabitants. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of the city is 790/km² (1,99/sq mi).
Government
The mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Geertruidenberg is Matthieu Meijer and he was appointed mayor by the Dutch monarch, like all mayors in the Netherlands. The four aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Geertruidenberg are Ruud van den Belt (Keerpunt 74), Lida Verschuren-van Strien (CDA
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
), Wim Quirijnen (Partij Samenwerking), and Albert Smit (Uw 3 Kernen). Together, the mayor and the aldermen form the College van Burgemeester en Wethouders
College van Burgemeester en Wethouders
The college van burgemeester en wethouders is the executive board of a municipality in the Netherlands. This local government body plays a central role in municipal politics in the Netherlands. It consists of the mayor and the members of the municipal executive...
, which is supported by the city's secretary Ad van Oudheusden.
The city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
is elected every four years during municipal elections, at the same time as in most other municipalities of the Netherlands. The 19 members of the city council assemble ten times per year for public meetings in the city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
in Raamsdonksveer. The council members come from eight political parties, three local and five national:
- Keerpunt 74 (4 seats)
- CDAChristian Democratic AppealThe Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(3 seats) - Uw drie kernen (3 seats)
- GroenLinksGreenLeftGreenLeft is a green political party operating in the Netherlands.GreenLeft was formed on 1 March 1989 as a merger of four left-wing political parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and the Evangelical People's Party...
(2 seats) - Partij Samenwerking (2 seats)
- PvdALabour Party (Netherlands)The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
(2 seats) - VVDPeople's Party for Freedom and DemocracyThe People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(2 seats) - SPSocialist Party (Netherlands)The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
(1 seat)