Rijnsburg is a community in the eastern part of the city Katwijk

Katwijk

Katwijk is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. It has a population of 61,292.-Location:...

, in the western 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...

, in the province of South Holland

South Holland

South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...

. The name means Rhines Burg

Burg

Burg is the word for castle in various Germanic languages.Burg or Bürg or Buerg may refer to:*Burg bei Magdeburg, a city in Germany*Den Burg, a town in the Netherlands* Burg, former name of Melber, Kentucky...

 in Dutch.

History

The history starts way before the 6th century when a town called ‘Rothulfuashem’ (Rudolfsheim). Later about 900 there was a stronghold, which could explain the current name of the village Rijnsburg, which means 'Rhine fortress'

Rijnsburg used to be a separated municipality until 1 January 2006, when, together with Valkenburg

Valkenburg (South Holland)

Valkenburg is a village and former municipality in the province of South Holland, in thewestern Netherlands. Valkenburg is now part of the municipality Katwijk....

, it was added to the municipality and city of Katwijk. Before that, the municipality covered an area of 6.07 km² (2.34 mile²) of which 0.21 km² (0.08 mile²) is water, and had a population of 14851 inhabitants on 1 June 2005.

Rijnsburg's main claim to fame is that the philosopher Spinoza lived there from 1661 to 1663. The modest house in which he lived is still preserved, and can be visited.

Rijnsburg is located in an area called the "Dune and Bulb Trek" (Duin- en Bollenstreek

Duin- en Bollenstreek

The Duin- en Bollenstreek is a region in South Holland, The Netherlands, that features coastal dunes and the cultivation of flower bulbs. Situated at the heart of historical Holland between Leiden and Haarlem, the combination of beaches, flower fields, lakes and history makes this area attractive...

).

An Abbey

Abbey

An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...

 (a convent) was established by Petronilla, consort of Floris II, Count of Holland

Floris II, Count of Holland

Floris II, Count of Holland was the first from the native dynasty of Holland to be called Count of Holland.He was the son of his predecessor Dirk V and Othilde...

, in 1133. It flourished for many years. Two of her granddaughters, Sophie and Hedwig, would later join this abbey, one of them as abbess

Abbess

An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....

.

External links

• Official Website