Veenendaal
Encyclopedia
Veenendaal (ˈveː.nə.ˌdaːl) is a municipality
and a town
in central Netherlands
, it is part of the province of Utrecht
. Veenendaal is the only population centre within its administrative borders. As of April 2011, the municipality
has 62,376 inhabitants and an area of 19.81 square kilometres, most of which is built up.
The original village
was founded in the 16th century as a peat
colony from which it got its name. 'Veen' is the old Dutch
word for peat
and 'daal' for valley
, so literally the name means 'peat[veen] and[en] valley[daal]'. Until just after World War II, Veenendaal remained a small community with only a few thousand residents. In the last fifty years the town grew rapidly to the 60,000+ inhabitants of today.
Until the second half of the 20th century, Veenendaal was divided into two parts, a 'Gelders' and an 'Utrechts' part ('Gelders' comes from Gelderland
and 'Utrechts' from Utrecht
, both Dutch provinces). This is because in the first few centuries of the town's existence it was too small to be its own municipality. The southern half eventually became independent from Rhenen
and Renswoude
in 1795. The northern half separated from Ede
in 1960.
In 1997 it was elected the greenest city of Europe and in 2004 of the Netherlands. In 2000 the town was elected best bicycle
city of the Netherlands.
(together with Ede
and Kampen), as it is inhabited by a considerable number (though not a majority) of conservative Protestants
.
. Many Famous hardstyle
artists are from the Netherlands including, Headhunterz
, Noisecontrollers and Wildstylez
.
Although not connected to the towns music culture, experimental musician and instrument builder Yuri Landman
lives in the city. More connected to the religious background of the city Ralph van Manen, Kees Kraayenoord and Gerald Troost are known acts in the Dutch gospel
music scene. DJ Jean
was born in the city and lives currently in the adjacent city Rhenen
.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and a town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in central 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...
, it is part of the province of 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...
. Veenendaal is the only population centre within its administrative borders. As of April 2011, the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
has 62,376 inhabitants and an area of 19.81 square kilometres, most of which is built up.
The original village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
was founded in the 16th century as a peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
colony from which it got its name. 'Veen' is the old Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
word for peat
Peat
Peat is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation matter or histosol. Peat forms in wetland bogs, moors, muskegs, pocosins, mires, and peat swamp forests. Peat is harvested as an important source of fuel in certain parts of the world...
and 'daal' for valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
, so literally the name means 'peat[veen] and[en] valley[daal]'. Until just after World War II, Veenendaal remained a small community with only a few thousand residents. In the last fifty years the town grew rapidly to the 60,000+ inhabitants of today.
Until the second half of the 20th century, Veenendaal was divided into two parts, a 'Gelders' and an 'Utrechts' part ('Gelders' comes from Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
and 'Utrechts' from 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...
, both Dutch provinces). This is because in the first few centuries of the town's existence it was too small to be its own municipality. The southern half eventually became independent from 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 ,...
and Renswoude
Renswoude
Renswoude is a municipality and a town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-External links:*...
in 1795. The northern half separated from Ede
Ede, Netherlands
' is a municipality and a town in the center of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :Community :* Bennekom: 14.749* De Klomp: 508* Deelen: 50* Ede : 67.812* Ederveen: 3.167* Harskamp: 3.464...
in 1960.
In 1997 it was elected the greenest city of Europe and in 2004 of the Netherlands. In 2000 the town was elected best bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
city of the Netherlands.
Religion
The town is known for being one of the bigger towns within the Dutch Bible BeltBible Belt (Netherlands)
The Bible Belt is the name given to a strip of land in the Netherlands, which is inhabited chiefly by conservative Protestants...
(together with Ede
Ede, Netherlands
' is a municipality and a town in the center of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :Community :* Bennekom: 14.749* De Klomp: 508* Deelen: 50* Ede : 67.812* Ederveen: 3.167* Harskamp: 3.464...
and Kampen), as it is inhabited by a considerable number (though not a majority) of conservative Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
.
Music
Veenendaal is the epicenter for the music genre, hardstyleHardstyle
Hardstyle is an electronic dance genre mixing influences from hardtechno, hard house, hard trance, hardcore and rave music. It is between 148 and 157 bpm in speed and is written in 4/4 time....
. Many Famous hardstyle
Hardstyle
Hardstyle is an electronic dance genre mixing influences from hardtechno, hard house, hard trance, hardcore and rave music. It is between 148 and 157 bpm in speed and is written in 4/4 time....
artists are from the Netherlands including, Headhunterz
Headhunterz
Headhunterz, formerly known as Nasty D-Tuners, is a Dutch DJ/producer team, consisting of Willem Rebergen and formerly Bobby van Putten. Their own label Scantraxx Reloaded, started in 2006 is a sublabel of Scantraxx....
, Noisecontrollers and Wildstylez
Wildstylez
Joram Metekohy is a Dutch Hardstyle DJ and record producer. He has had notable collaborations with artists Headhunterz, Noisecontrollers, and D-Block & S-te-Fan. He began with his first solo release "Life'z A Bitch / Missin" on Scantraxx Reloaded, the label of DJ Headhunterz...
.
Although not connected to the towns music culture, experimental musician and instrument builder Yuri Landman
Yuri Landman
Yuri Landman is a Dutch experimental luthier who has made several experimental electric string instruments for a list of artists including Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Liars, Jad Fair of Half Japanese and Liam Finn...
lives in the city. More connected to the religious background of the city Ralph van Manen, Kees Kraayenoord and Gerald Troost are known acts in the Dutch gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
music scene. DJ Jean
DJ Jean
DJ Jean is a Dutch disc jockey most popular for his space countdown themed single "The Launch". He has been an influential figure in the electronic music scene since the early 1990s. He is prolific, and releases three or more compilation compact discs per year...
was born in the city and lives currently in the adjacent city 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 ,...
.
Famous people from Veenendaal
- Rob BarelRob BarelRobert Alexander Barel is an athlete from the Netherlands. He competes in triathlon.-Career:...
(1957) - athlete, triathlon - Stef BosStef BosStef Bos is a Dutch singer who has been living in Antwerp, Belgium, since 1984. He sings in Dutch , and has been successful in Belgium, the Netherlands and South-Africa ever since his breakthrough single "Papa" came out in 1990.He wrote Belgium's entry into the 1989 Eurovision Song Contest, "Door...
(1961) - Dutch singer - Yuri LandmanYuri LandmanYuri Landman is a Dutch experimental luthier who has made several experimental electric string instruments for a list of artists including Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth, Liars, Jad Fair of Half Japanese and Liam Finn...
(1973) - Experimental musical instrument builder - Frits Wester (1962) - Dutch TV analist of politics
- Daryl van Wouw (1977) - Fashion designer
- Joram Metekohy (WildstylezWildstylezJoram Metekohy is a Dutch Hardstyle DJ and record producer. He has had notable collaborations with artists Headhunterz, Noisecontrollers, and D-Block & S-te-Fan. He began with his first solo release "Life'z A Bitch / Missin" on Scantraxx Reloaded, the label of DJ Headhunterz...
) - DJ - Willem Rebergen (HeadhunterzHeadhunterzHeadhunterz, formerly known as Nasty D-Tuners, is a Dutch DJ/producer team, consisting of Willem Rebergen and formerly Bobby van Putten. Their own label Scantraxx Reloaded, started in 2006 is a sublabel of Scantraxx....
) - DJ - Tirsa Andes Pagano - Fitness expert
- Jip Del Fuego El Cheapo - (2001) - Dancing cat
- DJ JeanDJ JeanDJ Jean is a Dutch disc jockey most popular for his space countdown themed single "The Launch". He has been an influential figure in the electronic music scene since the early 1990s. He is prolific, and releases three or more compilation compact discs per year...
- (1968) - DJ