Elburg

Elburg (pronunciation ) is a municipality and a city in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands.

Elburg
Municipality
View of Elburg from the church tower
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in Gelderland
Coordinates: 52°27′N 5°51′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceGelderland
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorJan Nathan Rozendaal (SGP)
Area
 • Total65.91 km2 (25.45 sq mi)
 • Land63.82 km2 (24.64 sq mi)
 • Water2.09 km2 (0.81 sq mi)
Elevation1 m (3 ft)
Population
 (January 2019)[4]
 • Total23,086
 • Density362/km2 (940/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Elburger
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
8080–8085
Area code0525
Websitewww.elburg.nl
Dutch Topographic map of Elburg, June 2015

History

There is evidence of a Neolithic settlement at Elburg consisting of stone tools and pottery shards. From Roman times there are names and shards of earthenware which suggest that there was an army camp at the site of Elburg. The earliest extant written record of Elburg is from 796 AD.

Between 1392 and 1396 Elburg was rebuilt after a flood in the form it is seen today, with a moat and a city wall, together with a gridiron street plan. This rapid rebuilding was expensive, indicating that Elburg was reasonably affluent in medieval times. Several records of Elburg date back to the 14th century. Elburg was granted town status by Earl Jan van Geel early in the century. There is a record that Elburg got its fishing right granted in 1313. In 1367 the city was recorded as a member of the Hanseatic League.

Throughout the centuries, Elburgh remained a fishing and farming center until the end of World War II. Unlike many other Dutch towns, Elburg had refused to use city funds to build a railroad station in 1863. Because the land owners were asking unreasonably high prices for the right of way over their property, the track line Utrecht-Amersfoort-Zwolle bypassed Elburg. As a consequence, Elburg became less attractive for manufacturers compared with neighboring places like Harderwijk. In addition, the closing off of the Zuiderzee in 1932 meant an end to the fishing industry of Elburg, since the former salt water bay gradually became a fresh water body. Therefore, since 1956, the city concluded that only tourism would be the most viable sector for the local economy. Because of its favourable position both on the edge of the canal and near the Veluwemeer, tourists have made it a popular tourist destination. Each year many visit to see the largely unchanged medieval town, especially during the 'Midweekfeesten' (mid-week feasts), 'Botterdagen' (Botter days - a botter is a type of flat-bottomed fishing boat) and 'Winter in de Vesting' (Winter in the Fortress), which attract more than 30,000 visitors each year.

Population Centers

Notable people
Jaap Smit, 2018

Sport
  • Church tower (de Sint Nicolaaskerk)
  • View of the port
  • Vischpoort (Fish Gate)
  • Synagogue in Elburg
  • Beekstraat in Elburg, view NE

References
  1. "Burgemeester H. Dijksma" [Mayor H. Dijksma] (in Dutch). Gemeente Elburg. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. "Postcodetool for 8081LA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
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