Vianen
Encyclopedia
Vianen is a municipality
and a city
in the central Netherlands
, in the province of Utrecht
. It is the only municipality in Utrecht located south of the Lek River
. Before 2002 it was part of the province of South Holland
. Vianen is bordered by two major motorways leading to Utrecht: the A2
(Amsterdam-Maastricht) on its west, and the A27
(Breda-Almere) just east of the town. Both roads can be notoriously congested near Vianen during peak commute hours.
(Population as of February, 2006)
Vianen received city rights
in 1337. Vianen thrived under the counts of Brederode, who acquired its lordship through marriage early in the 15th century. It formed a self-proclaimed sovereign seignory till 1795, including Vianen, Lexmond, Hei- en Boeicop and Meerkerk. During the Middle Ages, as a "free city," Vianen could be a haven for felons and escaped serfs. Of the three castles built during the town's history, Castle Batestein was said to be one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Its only remnants are a 17th century brick gate and water-pump. Remnants of the old city wall are visible girdling parts of the old downtown.
Vianen celebrates its city rights every year in October with a horse-market. Besides the horses there are also other activities on this day, such as a fair and market
and traditional Dutch games.
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 city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
in the 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...
, in 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...
. It is the only municipality in Utrecht located south of the Lek River
Lek River
The Lek is a river in the western Netherlands of some 60 km in length. It is the continuation of the Nederrijn after the Kromme Rijn branches off at the town of Wijk bij Duurstede. The main westbound waterway is hereafter called the Lek River...
. Before 2002 it was part of 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...
. Vianen is bordered by two major motorways leading to Utrecht: the A2
A2 motorway (Netherlands)
The A2 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is one of the busiest highways in the Netherlands. The road connects the city of Amsterdam, near the interchange Amstel, with the Belgian border, near Maastricht and Liège , and the Belgian road A25....
(Amsterdam-Maastricht) on its west, and the A27
A27 motorway (Netherlands)
The A27 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is approximately 109 kilometers in length.The A27 is located in the Dutch provinces North Brabant, South Holland, Utrecht, North Holland, and Flevoland. It connects the city of Breda with the Almere...
(Breda-Almere) just east of the town. Both roads can be notoriously congested near Vianen during peak commute hours.
Population centres
(links to additional info bolded)- EverdingenEverdingenEverdingen is a former municipality in the Netherlands. Together with Zijderveld and Hagestein, it has been part of Vianen municipality since 1986. It enjoys a strategic position on the Lekdijk to the south of the river Lek. The eastern limits of Everdingen are marked by the Diefdijk, which also...
(1,287) - HagesteinHagesteinHagestein is a small city in the municipality of Vianen, Utrecht, Netherlands, on the Lek River, about 2 km east of Vianen. It received city rights in 1382....
(1,477) - Vianen (19,697)
- ZijderveldZijderveldZijderveld is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht . It is located about 6 km northeast of Leerdam, in the municipality of Vianen....
(788)
(Population as of February, 2006)
The city of Vianen
City rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
in 1337. Vianen thrived under the counts of Brederode, who acquired its lordship through marriage early in the 15th century. It formed a self-proclaimed sovereign seignory till 1795, including Vianen, Lexmond, Hei- en Boeicop and Meerkerk. During the Middle Ages, as a "free city," Vianen could be a haven for felons and escaped serfs. Of the three castles built during the town's history, Castle Batestein was said to be one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Its only remnants are a 17th century brick gate and water-pump. Remnants of the old city wall are visible girdling parts of the old downtown.
Vianen celebrates its city rights every year in October with a horse-market. Besides the horses there are also other activities on this day, such as a fair and market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
and traditional Dutch games.
People born in Vianen
- Frans van BrederodeFrans van BrederodeFrans van Brederode was a rebel in Holland against the rule of king Maximilian of Germany, father and regent of Duke Philip the Handsome of Burgundy. Duke Philip was Count of Holland - Brederode belonged to the Hook faction in Holland, which didn't acknowledge Maximilian...
(1465 - 1490), military leader - Marian van de WalMarian van de WalMarian van de Wal was the representative of Andorra at the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev, Ukraine.Originally from the Netherlands, van de Wal runs a small hotel in the Andorran town of L'Aldosa. She entered Eurocasting 2005, and was one of three finalists selected to go to the country's...
(born 1970), singer - Jeannette Lewin (born 1972), hockey player