Ven-Zelderheide
Encyclopedia
Ven-Zelderheide is a town in the far north of the province of Limburg
in The Netherlands. It is part of the municipality Gennep
.
Locally the town is referred to as “Het Ven”. In 2011 the population reached just over 800.
The town has a typical linear geography with most of its residences situated along its two main roads; the Kleefseweg and the Vensestraat. In the southwest, Ven-Zelderheide is bordered by the town Ottersum, and in northeast it is bordered by Germany
.
A windmill (Gristmill
) called; Rest after Labor (Dutch: Rust na Arbeid) is situated at the Kleefseweg.
The first part, “Ven” originates from the Dutch word “veen” which means peat
, referring to the original vegetation in the northern part before it was cultivated and turned into arable land.
The second part, “Zelderheide” means: moorland
of Zelder, referring to the former central situated moorland. Historically, the town consisted of three areas: an area of peat, an area with moorland and an area called Zelder, the latter is situated in the south.
Early writings on Zelder date from the end of the 14th century. In this time Zelder was part of Guelders
and was managed by Johan Kodken van Zeller who lived in Haus Driesberg in a neighboring town called Kessel.
made a visit to Lord van Zeller. The road in Ven-Zelderheide on the way back to her castle in Cleves was so bad that the axle of her carriage broke and the carriage got stuck in the mud. The two coachmen quickly scanned the area in the incoming darkness but there were no people around.
The Dutchess shouted for help but no one came. She then desperately prayed to Anthony the Great
and then, all of a sudden, men started rushing in to help.
As a way of gratitude to the people of Ven-Zelderheide, she had a chapel built, devoted to Anthony the Great. The chapel can be seen in the Vensestraat.
.
A large part of the estates consists of the national nature reserve the Zelderse Driessen.
During two separate archeological excavations on Zelder, in 1990 and 1997, a Merovingan
cemetery dating from 6th/7th century was exposed. Gifts, like weapons and jewelry, found along with the graves, and two horse graves, indicated that some of the people buried there where of great wealth.
On the estate is a company situated called Euro Grass, previously known as Zelder, that is specialized in breeding new grass varieties.
The estate also has a chapel situated on a mound, built around the year 1600. The chapel is surrounded by several old monumental farmhouses.
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
in The Netherlands. It is part of the municipality Gennep
Gennep
Gennep is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands.- Population centres :Aaldonk, Dam, De Looi, Diekendaal, Gennep, Heijen, Hekkens, Milsbeek, Ottersum, Smele, Ven-Zelderheide and Zelder.- The city of Gennep :...
.
Locally the town is referred to as “Het Ven”. In 2011 the population reached just over 800.
The town has a typical linear geography with most of its residences situated along its two main roads; the Kleefseweg and the Vensestraat. In the southwest, Ven-Zelderheide is bordered by the town Ottersum, and in northeast it is bordered by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
A windmill (Gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
) called; Rest after Labor (Dutch: Rust na Arbeid) is situated at the Kleefseweg.
History and naming of the town
The town comprised three areas, which have influenced the town’s current name.The first part, “Ven” originates from the Dutch word “veen” which means 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...
, referring to the original vegetation in the northern part before it was cultivated and turned into arable land.
The second part, “Zelderheide” means: moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
of Zelder, referring to the former central situated moorland. Historically, the town consisted of three areas: an area of peat, an area with moorland and an area called Zelder, the latter is situated in the south.
Early writings on Zelder date from the end of the 14th century. In this time Zelder was part of Guelders
Guelders
Guelders or Gueldres is the name of a historical county, later duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries.-Geography:...
and was managed by Johan Kodken van Zeller who lived in Haus Driesberg in a neighboring town called Kessel.
Legend
According to a local legend; somewhere in the 15th century, the Dutchess of ClevesMarie of Burgundy, Duchess of Cleves
Marie of Burgundy, Duchess of Cleves was the second child of John the Fearless and Margaret of Bavaria, and an elder sister of Philip the Good. Born in Dijon, she became the second wife of Adolph, Count of Mark in May 1415. He was made the 1st Duke of Cleves in 1417...
made a visit to Lord van Zeller. The road in Ven-Zelderheide on the way back to her castle in Cleves was so bad that the axle of her carriage broke and the carriage got stuck in the mud. The two coachmen quickly scanned the area in the incoming darkness but there were no people around.
The Dutchess shouted for help but no one came. She then desperately prayed to Anthony the Great
Anthony the Great
Anthony the Great or Antony the Great , , also known as Saint Anthony, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Abba Antonius , and Father of All Monks, was a Christian saint from Egypt, a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers...
and then, all of a sudden, men started rushing in to help.
As a way of gratitude to the people of Ven-Zelderheide, she had a chapel built, devoted to Anthony the Great. The chapel can be seen in the Vensestraat.
The Zelder estate
The southern part of Ven-Zelderheide is considered an estate named Zelder. It is largely surrounded by the river NiersNiers
The Niers is a river in Germany and the Netherlands, right tributary to the river Meuse. Its source is near Erkelenz, south of Mönchengladbach, in North Rhine-Westphalia . The Niers flows through Mönchengladbach, Viersen, Wachtendonk, Geldern and Goch before flowing into the Meuse just across the...
.
A large part of the estates consists of the national nature reserve the Zelderse Driessen.
During two separate archeological excavations on Zelder, in 1990 and 1997, a Merovingan
Merovingian dynasty
The Merovingians were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region largely corresponding to ancient Gaul from the middle of the 5th century. Their politics involved frequent civil warfare among branches of the family...
cemetery dating from 6th/7th century was exposed. Gifts, like weapons and jewelry, found along with the graves, and two horse graves, indicated that some of the people buried there where of great wealth.
On the estate is a company situated called Euro Grass, previously known as Zelder, that is specialized in breeding new grass varieties.
The estate also has a chapel situated on a mound, built around the year 1600. The chapel is surrounded by several old monumental farmhouses.