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| Deventer | |
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| Country | Netherlands |
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| Province | Overijssel |
| Area (2006) | |
| - Total | 134.37 km² (51.9 sq mi) |
| - Land | 131.31 km² (50.7 sq mi) |
| - Water | 3.07 km² (1.2 sq mi) |
| Population (1 January 2007) | |
| - Total | 96,596 |
| - Density | 736/km² (1,906.2/sq mi) |
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
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 river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen (pop. 5,000) was merged with Deventer as part of a national effort to reduce bureaucracy in the country.
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Population centres
Associated hamlets at second level
- Deventer (see below)
- Snippeling (a small community about 2 km east of the city centre )
- Colmschate (Deventer suburb quarters surrounding eponymous village 4 km east of the city centre; ice skating hall, small railway station)
- De Bannink
- Oxe
- Diepenveen, a picturesque village 4 km to the north, surrounded by forests
- Molenbelt
- Rande
- Tjoene
- Lettele, in a forest area
- Linde
- Oude Molen ('old mill')
- Okkenbroek
- Schalkhaar (former centre of Diepenveen municipality including Lettele and Okkenbroek until 1/1/1999)
- Averlo
- Frieswijk
- Bathmen (independent municipality until 1/1/2005)
- Apenhuizen ('monkey houses')
- Dortherhoek
- Loo
- Pieriksmars
- Zuidloo
Deventer (city)
Deventer was probably founded by the English missionary Lebuinus around 768, who built a wooden church on the right bank of River IJssel. This was not the first human settlement at the location: from the Bronze Age to about 400 A.D. there was at Colmschate, 4 km east of the city centre, a settlement; remains of it were excavated between 1981 and 2006. The story, telling that in the Roman age there probably was a stronghold called Daventria in place, proved to be a fantasy. The favorable location has probably seen habitation ever since.
Sights and events
- The Waag (Weighing-house) on the edge of the Brink square, built in 1550, restored in 2003-2004. Inside the Waag the Deventer City Museum is housed (collection: industrial and trading history; paintings, e.g. by Gerard Terborch and Han van Meegeren; silver objects; prehistoric findings). Thea Beckman's novel Het wonder van Frieswijck ("The Frieswijck Miracle") features the Waag. On the outer wall of the Waag hangs an over 500 years old kettle; it is said, that it was used for a public execution in the late Middle Ages: a man, who had produced counterfeit coins, was cooked to death in it.
- The Lebuïnuskerk (St. Lebuin's Church) in Gothic style, with remarkable ceiling paintings and a beautiful organ. Its tower can be climbed in summer (beautiful panorama).
- The Brink ( market square) with houses, shops and cafes dating from 1575-1900. Here also the Deventer nightlife takes place. Alongside this square there is the Bussink "Koekhuisje", where you can buy the famous Deventer Koek (honey-cake). Markets take place every Friday ( including a very big one on Good Friday, following a Medieval tradition) and Saturday.
- The Speelgoedmuseum (Toy Museum) behind the Waag, housed in one of the most picturesque old houses of the city.
- The medieval Bergkerk (Mountain Church), on top of a small hill, now a museum for modern art.
- The picturesque and old streets around the Bergkerk, known as Bergkwartier (Mountain Quarter).
- Football stadium De Adelaarshorst, home venue of Go Ahead Eagles situated in a typical 1930s neighbourhood and one of the oldest stadiums still in use today.
- The city hosts three events of national and even international fame:
- In the first week-end of July, the city centre is the scene of the spectacular open air festival "Deventer op stelten" (Deventer on Stilts). Actors and other artist give free performances in the streets and on the Brink square. All actors must use stilts during their acts.
- In August there is a book-fair, attracting some 125,000 visitors and being the largest in Europe.
- In December there is the Dickens Festival, which sees some of the oldest streets and alleys in the city dressed up in the style of the Victorian era, as per Dickens' writings. The latter attracted 135,000 visitors in 2004 and 2006.
History
City Rights and Medieval Times
The village of Deventer, already being important because of a trading road crossing the river IJssel, was looted and burnt down by the Vikings in 882. It was immediately rebuilt and fortified with an earthen wall (in the street Stenen Wal remains of this have been excavated and restored). Deventer received city rights in 956. From this date fortifications were built or replaced by stone walls around the city for defense. Between 1000 and 1500, Deventer grew to be a flourishing trade city because of its harbour on the river IJssel, which was reachable for large ships. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League In the 15th century, the city had a common mint, where coins for the 3 IJssel cities Deventer, Zwolle and Kampen were made.
Deventer is the place of birth of Geert Groote and home to his Brethren of the Common Life, a school of religious thought that was of great influence on Thomas a Kempis and Erasmus in later times. It had book printing shops as early as from 1477 on, and an internationally famous Latin School, where the famous scholar Desiderius Erasmus went, when he was a boy.
16th–20th century
Between 1500 and 1800 the mass of water flowing through the IJssel decreased, decreasing the importance of Deventer's harbour. The competition of trade centres in Holland, as well as the religious war between 1568 and 1648, brought a decline in the city's economy. In the 18th century, some iron industry came to Deventer. East of it, so-called "oer", riversand containing iron, was found from about 900 onwards. From this material, ore was produced and brought to town. The main road of the villages Okkenbroek, Lettele and Schalkhaar is still named: Oerdijk (Ore Dyke). In the 19th century, Deventer became an industrial town. Bicycles, carpets, tins and cans for foods and drinks, cigars, books, machinery, mattresses were produced until between 1920 and 1970.
World War II
In its long history, Deventer has seen few military engagements ( although it was a garrison city of the Dutch cavalry) but her industrial area and harbour were bombed heavily during World War II. The city centre has been largely spared, thus offering a view that has remained largely unchanged for the past few centuries.
The female Jewish poet and writer, Etty Hillesum, lived in Deventer during the war before being deported to Auschwitz.
In Schalkhaar, a village only 2 km north-east of the city centre, barracks were used by the German occupying forces to train Nazi policemen. The compound is now a centre for asylum seekers.
Deventer has been somewhat popular with the film industry; the movie A Bridge Too Far shot all of her scenes taking place in nearby Arnhem in Deventer - as Arnhem itself had lost its historic center.
Modern Times
The city's trade and industry is still of some importance. In Deventer is, among others, a factory producing central heating systems, as well as an important editor and publisher named Kluwer. Also the famous Deventer honey cake (Deventer Koek), with a history of over 500 years, is still produced and sold all over the Netherlands. Deventer is home to the soccer team Go Ahead Eagles.
Railway
Deventer has a railway station on the line Amsterdam / Utrecht–Amersfoort–Osnabrück–Berlin / Hamburg, crossing the line Groningen–Zwolle–Arnhem–Nijmegen at Deventer.
Notable people associated with Deventer
- Jan Bultman
- Ron Dekker
- Erasmus
- Geert Groote
- Alexander Hegius
- Etty Hillesum
- Jomanda
- Bert van Marwijk
- Han van Meegeren
- (Saint) Radboud
- Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck
- Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
- Han Hollander
- Marc Overmars
- Victor Sikora
- Gerard Ter Borch
- Guusje Ter Horst
- Gertjan Verbeek
External links
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