Editing Woerden

{{Short description|City and Municipality in Utrecht, Netherlands}}
{{For|the German village|Wörden}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Woerden
| settlement_type         =  [[Cities of the Netherlands|City]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Woerden luchtfoto.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Aerial view of Woerden in 2013
| image_flag              = Woerden vlag 2017.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Woerden wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0632 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Woerden in a municipal map of Utrecht
| map_caption             = Location in Utrecht
| coordinates             = {{coord|52|5|N|4|53|E|region:NL-UT|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = Province
| subdivision_name1       = [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]]
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.woerden.nl/burgemeester-vjh-victor-molkenboer
 |title = Burgemeester V.J.H. (Victor) Molkenboer 
 |trans-title=Mayor V.J.H. (Victor) Molkenboer
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Woerden
 |access-date = 11 April 2014}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Victor Molkenboer]]
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Woerden}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Woerden}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Woerden}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 3447GR
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 11 April 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 0
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Woerden}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Woerden}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Woerdenaar
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 3440–3449, 3470–3481
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0348
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.woerden.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Gem-Woerden-OpenTopo.jpg|255px|thumb|''2014 topographic map of the municipality of Woerden'']]
'''Woerden''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋuːrdə(n)|-|287 Woerden.ogg}}) is a [[city]] and a [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in central [[Netherlands]]. Due to its central location between [[Amsterdam]], [[Rotterdam]], [[The Hague]], and [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], and the fact that it has rail and road connections to those cities, it is a popular town for commuters who work in those cities.

== History ==
The river [[Oude Rijn (Utrecht and South Holland)|Oude Rijn]] used to flow through the city center of Woerden, but in 1960 the old river was diverted around the city center. The city has a long and rich history in [[cheese]] making and trading; for years [[Gouda cheese]] for domestic and international use has been produced in this region. Woerden still holds its authentic (since 1885) cheese market at the market place in its center.

=== Roman castellum ===
[[File:Parkeergarage Castellum te Woerden.JPG|thumb|left|Underground parking facility [[Castellum]] with photos of Roman archeological finds]]

Woerden is situated on the river Oude Rijn, near the confluence with the former {{Interlanguage link multi|Linschoten (water)|nl|3=Linschoten (water)}} stream. The lower stretch of the Linschoten stream from [[Montfoort]] and [[Linschoten (village)|Linschoten]] to Woerden silted up a long time ago and its flow was diverted through the [[Lek River|Lek]] and [[Hollandse IJssel]] rivers, but at one time it was an important branch of the [[Rhine]] [[river delta|delta]], connecting the [[Nederrijn|Lower Rhine]] from [[Wijk bij Duurstede]] to the Oude Rijn near Woerden. Near the former confluence was an area that was slightly more elevated than the surroundings, a [[Levee#Natural levees|natural levee]], which &mdash; in an area that is prone to flooding &mdash; made it an attractive location for settlement.

Here, at the highest spot, the Romans built a [[castellum]] (''Castellum Laurum''), as part of the [[Limes (Roman Empire)|limes]] of the [[Roman Empire]] and thus part of the defense lines of the northern border of the Roman Empire. The first castellum was built in the 40s [[AD]] and was destroyed in 69 AD during the [[Batavian rebellion]]. In 70 AD, the castellum was rebuilt, and the Romans remained until 402 AD, with an interruption lasting from about 275-300 AD.

The Castellum was located at the present site of the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] Petruschurch and surrounding churchyard. During construction work on a new underground parking facility in the city center of Woerden, the remains of numerous old Roman buildings and a Roman cargo ship were found. During field research, a lot became known about the Roman time in Woerden: the location of the castellum, the zone of defense waters with the entrance road and the remains of a Roman cargo ship.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.woerden7.nl/|title=Woerden7|website=www.woerden7.nl|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>

=== The dark ages ===
Little is known about the period after the Romans left for good in 402 AD. It may be assumed that people continued to live here, but there is little archaeological evidence. A Frankish sword dated from the 8th century has been found on the site of the Roman Castellum in 2012. The area was contested between [[Frisia]]ns and [[Franks]]. Frankish King [[Dagobert I]] conquered the area around 630, and a small church was built in nearby [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]. Around 650, the Frisians came back, destroyed the Frankish church in Utrecht, and the Frisian king established his court there. Then, in 689 king [[Redbad, King of the Frisians|Redbad]] was defeated by Frankish [[Duke of the Franks|Duke]] [[Pippin of Herstal]] in the battle of [[Dorestad]] and the Franks regained control of the area. King Redbad reconquered Utrecht after Pippin died in 714, but the Frisian victory was short-lived: [[Dux Francorum|Duke]] [[Charles Martel]] defeated Redbad in 718. In 734, Charles Martel went on to vanquish the Frisians, in the [[Battle of the Boarn]].

The [[missionaries]] followed in the footsteps of the Frankish conquerors: In 695 AD, [[Willibrordus|Willibrord]], known as the "Apostle to the [[Frisians]]" became [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Bishop of Utrecht]], with interruptions due to Frisian incursions. [[Saint Boniface|Boniface]] worked here from 719 to 722. [[Ludger|Liudger]] reports that Boniface preached in ''Wyrda'', referring to ''[[Artificial dwelling hill|Wierde]]'', meaning that the place was on higher ground in the area. Around 850, the Bishop had to leave once more, this time because of [[Viking]] marauders. Bishop [[Balderic of Utrecht|Balderik]] returned to Utrecht in 918, after the Viking threat subsided. The Bishop claims Woerden as part of his jurisdiction: In a list prepared between 918 and 948 it is mentioned that {{lang|la|In UUrdin totum Sancti Martini}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hetutrechtsarchief.nl/thema/tijdbalk/0914 |title=In UUrdin totum Sancti Martini |publisher=Hetutrechtsarchief.nl |date=2008-03-14 |access-date=2014-07-13}}</ref> meaning: In Woerden everything belongs to Saint Martin, i.e. the church in Utrecht.

=== Between bishop and count ===
[[File:Kasteel Woerden.jpg|thumb|Castle of Woerden]]
The Bishop of Utrecht received land grants, first from the Frankish kings, and later from the [[Kingdom of Germany|Kings of Germany]], in particular [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor]]. In 1024 AD, the bishops were made Princes of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and the new [[Prince-bishopric of Utrecht]] was formed.

Around 1000 AD, settlement was limited to the river banks; further inland were undeveloped [[Bog|bogs]]. The bishops used their new authority to stimulate [[land reclamation|reclamation]] of this wilderness. [[contractual rights|Concession]]s were granted to settlers, who drained the bogs by digging dividing ditches beginning from rivers and streams and stretching about ¾ mile inland, thus creating the characteristic grid of fields still seen today. By about 1300 AD, the reclamation process had been completed.

In the meantime, a competing realm had developed to the west, along the coast. First known as [[West Frisia (historical)|West Frisia]] it became known as [[Holland]] when [[Floris II, Count of Holland]] moved his court to [[Leiden]] in 1101. The [[Count of Holland|Counts of Holland]] expanded their influence, and by 1165 they built a fort called Svadeburg, near present-day [[Zwammerdam]], about 7 miles to the west of Woerden. Around 1160, [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht|Bishop]] [[Godfrey van Rhenen]] built a [[castle]] in Woerden. Once more Woerden became a border town between two belligerent powers, a situation that lasted until 1527 when the [[Archdiocese of Utrecht (695–1580)|Bishop of Utrecht]] sold his territories to Emperor [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] and the two statelets were united under Charles' rule. Due to its strategic location on the border between the [[County of Holland]] and the [[Diocese|Bishopric]] of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]], various wars have been fought in and around Woerden by the various lords and ladies of these realms.

From about 1131 to 1296, the van Woerden family dominated local affairs in Woerden. Several scions of the family are known as ''Herman van Woerden''. Originally they were stewards of the castle for the Bishop, but in time they sought to become independent. In 1274 [[Herman VI van Woerden]] formed an alliance with [[Gijsbrecht IV van Amstel]], and revolted against bishop-elect [[John I, Bishop-Elect of Utrecht|John of Nassau]]. In 1278, [[Floris V, Count of Holland]], intervened on the side of the much-weakened bishop, and defeated the rebellious lords. Gijsbrecht was taken prisoner, and Herman went into exile. In 1281, Floris V was awarded the lands of the rebellious lords, including [[History of Amsterdam|Amsterdam]] and Woerden. In a 1288 peace agreement Floris restored the [[Manorialism|Lordship]] of Woerden to Herman van Woerden, but now as a [[vassal]] of the count. However, Herman did not prove himself to be a trustworthy vassal: in 1296 the humiliated lords Gijsbrecht IV van Amstel and Herman van Woerden entered the scene again as part of a conspiracy. Together with Gerard van Velzen they captured count Floris during a hunting party and the count was assassinated. In the aftermath, Gerard van Velzen was killed, and Herman van Woerden went again into exile. In 1300, [[John II, Count of Holland]] awarded the Lordship of Woerden to his brother [[Guy of Avesnes]], who became Bishop of Utrecht the following year. In 1311, Guy returned the Lordship to his nephew, [[William I, Count of Hainaut|Count William III]], and Woerden remained part of Holland thereafter.

[[File:Woerden c1550map.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Woerden (c. 1557)]]
Around 1370 [[bailiff]] {{Interlanguage link multi|Willem II van Naaldwijk|nl}} ordered the construction of [[defensive wall]]s and a [[moat]] to [[fortification|fortify]] the city, in order to shield Holland from renewed hostilities with Utrecht. Woerden received [[City rights in the Low Countries|city rights]] from [[Albert I, Duke of Bavaria]], and Count of Holland in 1372, even though Woerden was still a small town that harboured no more than about 720 citizens. Around the same time the Petruschurch was built; part of its [[Steeple (architecture)|steeple]] still stands. In 1410 [[John III, Duke of Bavaria-Straubing]] had the castle of Woerden constructed, and in 1510 the city hall was built. These buildings still exist, although the castle was extensively altered and renovated through the years.

On 1 November 1425, Woerden chose the side of [[Philip the Good]] in the [[Hook and Cod wars#Jacqueline of Bavaria vs Philip of Burgundy (1417-1432)|conflict]] with [[Jacqueline, Countess of Hainaut|Jacoba van Beieren]], after Philip confirmed the [[town privileges]] and promised that the [[Manorialism|Lordship]] of Woerden would never be separated from the County of Holland by awarding it to someone else. During the reign of the [[Dukes of Burgundy]], Philip the Good (1419&ndash;1467) and [[Charles the Bold]] (1467&ndash;1477) Woerden enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace, and by 1477 its population had almost tripled to about 1920. Charles the Bold's death before the gates of [[Nancy, France|Nancy]] was the prelude to renewed unrest, both with Utrecht and the duchy of [[Guelders]], and the town suffered economic hardship because of it.

=== Heretics and rebels ===
[[Erasmus]] probably spent his boyhood from age five to nine in Woeden in the household of his father, the local priest from 1471.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Goudriaan |first1=Koen |title=New Evidence on Erasmus’ Youth |journal=Erasmus Studies |date=6 September 2019 |volume=39 |issue=2 |pages=184–216 |doi=10.1163/18749275-03902002|hdl=1871.1/2eb41bd4-6929-41be-a984-94747300015a |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

The reign of Charles V was a period of relative peace and prosperity for Woerden, despite religious unrest. In April 1522, Charles V introduced the [[Inquisition]] in the [[Low Countries]].

Johannes Pistorius Woerdensis ([[Jan de Bakker]]), a catholic [[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|priest]], was the first preacher in the Northern Netherlands to be [[martyr]]ed as a direct result of his religious beliefs. His father was a [[Sexton (office)|sexton]] in Woerden and also tenant of the [[brickworks]], and his surname was derived from that profession.

Jan de Bakker was a pupil of {{Interlanguage link multi|Hinne Rode|nl}} (Johannes Rhodius), headmaster of St. [[Jerome]] School of the [[Brethren of the Common Life]] in Utrecht. Rode was a proponent of [[Sacramentarian]]ism, and in 1520 his father called Jan back to Woerden, perhaps out of concern about those heretic views. Jan transferred to [[Katholieke Universiteit Leuven|Leuven]], and in 1522 completed his education there. He returned to Woerden, was [[Ordination|ordained]] in Utrecht as a priest, and assisted his father as sexton and [[Deacon#Latin Catholicism|deacon]].
[[File:Eric II of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1528-1584), Duke of Calenberg-Göttingen.jpg|thumb|[[Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg]] with the collar of the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], awarded in 1573 by [[Philip II of Spain]] for his services as army commander.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.welfen.de/erich2.htm|title=Erich II|website=www.welfen.de|access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>]]
Jan started to spread the [[heresy|heretic]] views, and in May 1523 he and another priest were arrested by the steward of the castle. After a short while they were released, and it is thought that the two travelled to [[Wittenberg]], but there is no evidence he met with [[Martin Luther]]. After he returned he continued his preachings, and the conflict with the [[Roman Catholic Church]] was further aggravated by the fact that he broke his [[celibacy]], and got married. In the night of 9 May 1525, he was arrested and the next day transferred to [[The Hague]], where he appeared before the Inquisition. He was [[Defrocking|defrocked]] and sentenced to death, and on 15 September 1525 [[burned at the stake]] in [[The Hague]]. His widow saved her live by recanting the heresies and lived out her life in an [[abbey]].
[[File:Woerden stadhaus.jpg|thumb|The old stadhuis (city hall) in Woerden, now a museum]]
The city magistrates of Woerden were tolerant towards the Lutheran confession. In 1566 this resulted in a confrontation with duke Eric of Brunswick, who was Lord of Woerden at that time.

Although [[Eric II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg|Eric of Brunswick]] was raised Lutheran he converted to Catholicism in 1547, much to the regret of his mother [[Elisabeth of Brandenburg, Duchess of Brunswick-Calenberg-Göttingen|Elisabeth of Brandenburg]]. Eric served as commanding officer in the armies of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] and [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]], and fought on their side in the [[Schmalkaldic War]] (1546–1547) and the [[Italian War of 1551-1559|Franco-Habsburg War]] (1551–1559). During the [[Battle of St. Quentin (1557)]] he distinguished himself by taking French [[Marshal of France|Marshal]]s [[Anne de Montmorency]] and [[Jacques d'Albon de Saint-André]] prisoner. These prisoners were very important to Philip II as a bargaining chip during negotiations for the peace [[Italian War of 1551-1559#Le Cateau-Cambrésis (1559)|Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis]]. In 1558, Philip II granted [[Duke]] Eric of Brunswick the [[Manorialism|Lord]]ship of Woerden as compensation, over the objection of the city magistrates of Woerden who felt that this was an infringement of promises made by [[Philip the Good]] in 1425.

In the wake of [[Reformation iconoclasm|iconoclastic]] [[Dutch Revolt#1566—Iconoclasm and repression|riots]] that swept the country in 1566 a prominent citizen of Woerden, Warnaer Claesz, petitioned the city magistrates to introduce the [[Augsburg Confession]]. There was also a disruption of the church worship. As a precaution, the city magistrates removed icons and other valuables from the church and stored them in a safe place, and closed the church. The [[Hof van Holland|court of Holland]] concurred with the actions taken by the city magistrates, but Duke Eric of Brunswick objected. He demanded that Catholic worship would be restored. The city magistrates delayed by questioning his authority in this matter. Duke Eric responded by raising a small army and forced the city magistrates to comply.

Duke Eric was also instrumental in suppressing the ill-fated rebellion of [[Hendrik van Brederode]], Lord of [[Vianen]]. After the [[Les Gueux|rebel army]] was defeated in the [[Battle of Oosterweel]] (13 March 1567) Eric of Brunswick captured Vianen on May 5, 1567.

In later history, the town saw occupation by the Spanish (1575, 1576) and the French (1672, 1673, and particularly disastrous in 1813).

=== Modern era ===
[[File:De Windhond1 (Woerden).jpg|thumb|"[[De Windhond]]", a [[gristmill]] in the center of Woerden]]

In 1989, there was a local redrawing of province boundaries as a result of which Woerden found itself transferred from [[South Holland]] to the [[Utrecht (province)|province of Utrecht]]. In 2015, the city's refugee centre formed the scene of a violent attack by 20 hooded people, bearing fireworks and pushing down fences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news24.com/World/News/Emergency-refugee-accommodation-attacked-in-the-Netherlands-20151010 |title=Emergency refugee accommodation attacked in the Netherlands |publisher=news24.com |date=2015-10-10 |access-date=2015-10-15}}</ref>

== Geography ==

Woerden is located at {{coord|52|5|N|4|53|E}} in the west of the province of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]] in the center of the [[Netherlands]].

Woerden is bordered by the municipalities of [[De Ronde Venen]] (in the north), [[Stichtse Vecht]] (northeast), [[Utrecht]] (east), and [[Montfoort]] (south) in the province of Utrecht and [[Bodegraven-Reeuwijk]] (southwest) and [[Nieuwkoop]] (northwest) in the province of [[South Holland]].

The population centers in the municipality are [[Meije, Netherlands|De Meije]], [[Harmelen]], [[Kamerik]], [[Kanis]], Woerden, and [[Zegveld]].

== Notable people ==
[[File:Self Portrait of Leo Gestel.jpg|125px|thumb|Self Portrait of Leo Gestel, 1916]]
* [[Jan de Bakker]] (1499–1525), Protestant martyr
* [[Herman van Swanevelt]] (1603–1655), painter and etcher from the Baroque era
* [[Leo Gestel]] (1881-1941), Dutch modernist painter 
* [[Herman de Man]] (1898–1946), novelist
* [[Jaap Blonk]] (born 1953), composer and performance artist
* [[Gerda Verburg]] (born 1957) politician and diplomat, lives in Woerden
* [[Simone Angel]] (born 1971), TV host and singer

=== Sport ===
[[File:Peter Prijdekker 1971.jpg|125px|thumb|Peter Prijdekker, 1971]]
* [[Arie van Vliet]] (1916–2001), track cyclist, medallist at the [[1936 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Peter Prijdekker]] (born 1948), freestyle swimmer, competed at the [[1972 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Sam Oud]] (born 1978) slalom canoeist, competed at the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Esther Vergeer]] (born 1981), wheelchair tennis player
* [[Erwin l'Ami]] (born 1985) chess grandmaster. 
* [[Petra Hillenius]] (1968–2020), breaststroke swimmer, competed at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Anouk Hoogendijk]] (born 1985), international footballer
* [[Jiske Griffioen]] (born 1985) former wheelchair tennis player, three-time Paralympic medalist. 
* [[Ellen van Dijk]] (born 1987), professional racing cyclist
* [[Floortje Mackaij]] (born 1995), professional racing cyclist

== Buildings in Woerden ==
* [[Water Tower Woerden]]

== Schools in Woerden ==
* [[Kalsbeek College]]
* [[Minkema College]]
* [[Futura College]]

== Transportation ==
* [[Woerden railway station]]

===Rail accidents===
* [[Woerden train accident]] (November 1960), an accident with a British furlough train (2 deaths, 10 injured)
* [[Harmelen train disaster]] (January 1962), head-on collision, the worst railway accident in the history of the Netherlands (93 deaths)

==References==

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite journal | last = Plomp | first = Nico | title =Woerden 600 jaar stad  | journal = Hollandse Studiën | publisher = Stichting Stichts-Hollandse Bijdragen etc. | date =1972  | location = Woerden | pages = 100–103 | issn=0929-9718 }}

== External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.woerden.nl}}

{{Sister bar|auto=y}}
{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Woerden
 | North     = [[De Ronde Venen]]
 | Northeast = [[Stichtse Vecht]]
 | East      = [[Utrecht]]
 | South     = [[Montfoort]]
 | West      = [[Bodegraven-Reeuwijk]] ([[South Holland|ZH]])
 | Northwest = [[Nieuwkoop]] ([[South Holland|ZH]])
}}
{{Utrecht Province}}
{{Dutch municipality Woerden}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Woerden| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Populated places in Utrecht (province)]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Utrecht (province)]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Roman sites in the Netherlands]]