Amerongen
Encyclopedia
Amerongen is a village in the central Netherlands
(province Utrecht
) on the border of the Utrecht Hill Ridge
. It lies about 7 km south west of Veenendaal (10.5 km by road).
The landscape rises from the flat water meadows of the Nederrijn
(Lower Rhine) to the Utrecht Hill Ridge
("Utrechtse Heuvelrug"). The highest point in the western Netherlands is located 2 km east of the village. The Amerongense Berg (Amerongen Mountain) has a height of 69 metres above sea level.
The history of Amerongen is closely related to that of Amerongen Castle. This castle was first established in 1286 as a wooden donjon but was rebuilt in stone. It was attacked or destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times during the following centuries. In 1672 the Netherlands were invaded by the French army and in early 1673, the castle was deliberately burned down as a punishment for non-payment of taxes levied by the French. Shortly afterwards the castle was rebuilt, under the capable supervision of Margaretha Turnor, wife of Van Reede, owner of the castle and special envoy to the court of Brandenburg at this time. The newly built and extended castle, arose in the Dutch Classisist style and, although the grounds and gardens were remodelled at various time and the interior brought up to date by Cuyper in the early twentieth century, it remains a prime example of this style.
The former Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, sought refuge in the Netherlands in November 1918 and lived in the castle until May 1920, when he moved to Doorn, where he spent the rest of his life. It was in the Castle of Amerongen that he signed the Act of Abdication.
Until January 1, 2006, Amerongen was a separate municipality, which covered the village of Amerongen itself, Overberg, and the western part of the village of Elst
. Elst has been transferred to the municipality of Rhenen
; the largest part of the municipality has merged with four other municipalities to form the new municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug
.
In 2001, the village of Amerongen had 5169 inhabitants. The built-up area of the village was 1.21 km², and contained 2072 residences.
"Amerongen", "Van Amerongen" and "Van NieuwAmerongen" are last names that possibly indicate that their ancestors emigrated from this area.
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...
(province Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
) on the border of the Utrecht Hill Ridge
Utrecht Hill Ridge
Utrecht Hill Ridge is a ridge of low sandhills that stretches in a direction from southeast to northwest over the Dutch province of Utrecht and over a part of North Holland. The total length of the region is about 50 km. It covers an area of approximately 23.000 ha...
. It lies about 7 km south west of Veenendaal (10.5 km by road).
The landscape rises from the flat water meadows of the Nederrijn
Nederrijn
thumb|left|300px|Course of the NederrijnNederrijn is the name of the Dutch part of the River Rhine from the confluence at the town of Angeren of the cut-off Rhine bend of Oude Rijn and the Pannerdens Kanaal...
(Lower Rhine) to the Utrecht Hill Ridge
Utrecht Hill Ridge
Utrecht Hill Ridge is a ridge of low sandhills that stretches in a direction from southeast to northwest over the Dutch province of Utrecht and over a part of North Holland. The total length of the region is about 50 km. It covers an area of approximately 23.000 ha...
("Utrechtse Heuvelrug"). The highest point in the western Netherlands is located 2 km east of the village. The Amerongense Berg (Amerongen Mountain) has a height of 69 metres above sea level.
The history of Amerongen is closely related to that of Amerongen Castle. This castle was first established in 1286 as a wooden donjon but was rebuilt in stone. It was attacked or destroyed by fire and rebuilt several times during the following centuries. In 1672 the Netherlands were invaded by the French army and in early 1673, the castle was deliberately burned down as a punishment for non-payment of taxes levied by the French. Shortly afterwards the castle was rebuilt, under the capable supervision of Margaretha Turnor, wife of Van Reede, owner of the castle and special envoy to the court of Brandenburg at this time. The newly built and extended castle, arose in the Dutch Classisist style and, although the grounds and gardens were remodelled at various time and the interior brought up to date by Cuyper in the early twentieth century, it remains a prime example of this style.
The former Emperor of Germany, Wilhelm II, sought refuge in the Netherlands in November 1918 and lived in the castle until May 1920, when he moved to Doorn, where he spent the rest of his life. It was in the Castle of Amerongen that he signed the Act of Abdication.
Until January 1, 2006, Amerongen was a separate municipality, which covered the village of Amerongen itself, Overberg, and the western part of the village of Elst
Elst (Utrecht)
Elst is a town in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Rhenen, and lies about 5 km southwest of Veenendaal....
. Elst has been transferred to the municipality of Rhenen
Rhenen
Rhenen is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands.The municipality also includes the villages of Achterberg, Remmerden, Elst and Laareind. The town lies at a geographically interesting location, namely on the southernmost part of the chain of hills known as the Utrecht Hill Ridge ,...
; the largest part of the municipality has merged with four other municipalities to form the new municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug
Utrechtse Heuvelrug
Utrechtse Heuvelrug is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It was formed on 1 January 2006 by combining the former municipalities of Amerongen, Doorn, Driebergen-Rijsenburg, Leersum, and Maarn.-Name:...
.
In 2001, the village of Amerongen had 5169 inhabitants. The built-up area of the village was 1.21 km², and contained 2072 residences.
"Amerongen", "Van Amerongen" and "Van NieuwAmerongen" are last names that possibly indicate that their ancestors emigrated from this area.