Gorinchem ( or ), also spelled Gorkum, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of

South Holland South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of October 2021 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely ...

. The municipality covers an area of of which is water. It had a population of in . The municipality of Gorinchem also includes the population centre of Dalem.

History

It is assumed that Gorinchem was founded circa 1000 CE by fishermen and farmers on the raised land near the mouth of the river

Linge The Linge is a river in the Betuwe that is 99.8 km long, which makes it one of the longest rivers that flow entirely within the Netherlands. It starts near the village Doornenburg near the German border. A legend tells us that if there wi ...

at the

Merwede The Merwede () etymology uncertain, possibly derived from the ancient Dutch language, Dutch ''Merwe'' or ''Merowe'', a word meaning "wide water") is the name of several connected stretches of river in the Netherlands, between the cities of Woudrich ...

. "''Goriks Heem''" (Home of Gorik) is first mentioned in a document from 1224 in which

Floris IV Floris IV (24 June 1210 – 19 July 1234) was the count of Holland from 1222 to 1234. He was born in The Hague, a son of William I of Holland and his first wife, Adelaide of Guelders. Floris succeeded his father in 1222. His regent was Baldwin ...

granted people from Gorinchem exemption of toll payments throughout

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...

. Somewhere between 1247 and 1267, Gorinchem became property of the

Lords of Arkel The Land van Arkel was a fief of the Counts of Holland, and was managed by the Lords of Arkel until 1412. The territory was bordered by the river Merwede on the south, and the river Linge on the east. The northern border might have reached as far a ...

. At the end of the 13th century earthen mounts reinforced with

palisade A palisade, sometimes called a stakewall or a paling, is typically a fence or defensive wall made from iron or wooden stakes, or tree trunks, and used as a defensive structure or enclosure. Palisades can form a stockade. Etymology ''Palisade' ...

s were built around the settlement to protect it from domination by the neighboring counties of Holland and Gelre. Half a century later real

city wall A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or earthworks to extensive military fortifications with towers, bastions and gates ...

s were built complete with 7

gates Gates is the plural of gate, a point of entry to a space which is enclosed by walls. It may also refer to: People * Gates (surname), various people with the last name * Gates Brown (1939-2013), American Major League Baseball player * Gates McFadde ...

and 23

watchtower A watchtower or watch tower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to ...

s. Otto van Arkel granted it

city rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...

on 11 November 1322. Jan van Arkel had a dispute with

Albert I Albert I may refer to: People Born before 1300 * Albert I, Count of Vermandois (917–987) *Albert I, Count of Namur () *Albert I of Moha *Albert I of Brandenburg (), first margrave of Brandenburg *Albert I, Margrave of Meissen (1158–1195) *Alber ...

, brother of Willem V of Holland, leading to war and subsequently to the annexation of Gorinchem to Holland in 1417. This resulted in increased trade and Gorinchem grew to be the eighth city of Holland. On 9 July 1572, the

Watergeuzen Geuzen (; ; french: Les Gueux) was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen (; ; frenc ...

(Dutch rebels against Spanish rule) conquered the city and captured 19 Catholic priests and monks. Because they refused to renounce their faith, these priests and monks were brought to

Brielle Brielle (), also called Den Briel in Dutch and Brill in English, is a town, municipality and historic seaport in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, on the north side of the island of Voorne-Putten, at the mouth of the New ...

where they were hanged and were from then on known among Catholics as the

Martyrs of Gorkum The Martyrs of Gorkum ( nl, Martelaren van Gorcum) were a group of 19 Dutch Catholic clerics, secular and religious, who were hanged on 9 July 1572 in the town of Brielle by militant Dutch Calvinists during the 16th-century religious wars—sp ...

. By the 16th century, the city walls were so deteriorated that they were replaced with new fortifications and eleven

bastion A bastion or bulwark is a structure projecting outward from the curtain wall of a fortification, most commonly angular in shape and positioned at the corners of the fort. The fully developed bastion consists of two faces and two flanks, with fi ...

s that still are almost completely intact. The new walls were completed in 1609 and were located further from the town centre, making the city twice as large. In 1673, Gorinchem became part of the old

Dutch Water Line The Dutch Waterline ( nl, Hollandsche Waterlinie, modern spelling: ''Hollandse Waterlinie'') was a series of water-based defences conceived by Maurice of Nassau in the early 17th century, and realised by his half brother Frederick Henry. Combine ...

. The city walls had four city gates: the Arkel Gate in the north, the Dalem Gate in the east, the Water Gate in the south (where the ferry to Woudrichem was), and the Kansel Gate in the west. Of these four gates, only the Dalem Gate remains. The others were removed in the 19th century to make way for vehicular traffic. A portion of the Water Gate was preserved in the gardens of the

Rijksmuseum The Rijksmuseum () is the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history and is located in Amsterdam. The museum is located at the Museum Square in the borough of Amsterdam South, close to the Van Gogh Museum, the St ...

in Amsterdam. In the 18th century, the economy went into decline. After the French domination, the retreating French troops took station in the

bastion fortress A bastion fort or ''trace italienne'' (a phrase derived from non-standard French, literally meaning ''Italian outline'') is a fortification in a style that evolved during the early modern period of gunpowder when the cannon came to domin ...

of Gorinchem. After a three-month siege they capitulated but the city was heavily damaged. During the Industrial Revolution, Gorinchem recovered. Increased shipping led to new canals being dug and a railway connection to the city. Its population quickly increased, filling the innercity, and new neighbourhoods had to be built outside the city walls. At the beginning of the 20th century, expansion took place in the Lingewijk and West neighbourhoods. After World War II, expansion started in the north-western portion of the municipality which was completed in the 1970s. This was followed by developments of the neighbourhoods Wijdschild and Laag Dalem east of the city center. In 1986, the town Dalem was added to the municipality. In August 2021

ANWB The Royal Dutch Touring Club ANWB (), known simply as ANWB (), is a travelers' association in the Netherlands, supporting all modes of travel. It provides test reports, travel services and roadside assistance and is comparable to the German ''Al ...

named Gorinchem the most beautiful star fort in the Netherlands.

Demographics

Gorinchem had 37,456 inhabitants on 1 January 2021.

Politics

The current mayor of Gorinchem is Reinie Melissant-Briene of the CDA. The municipal executive consists of the City Interest, Democrats Gorinchem, PvdA and CDA. The municipal council of Gorinchem has 25 members, which are directly elected. The composition of the municipal council as of the

2018 Dutch municipal elections The Dutch municipal elections of 2018 were held on 21 March in 335 municipalities in the Netherlands. This election determined the composition of the municipal councils for the following four years. The election coincided with the Intelligence an ...

is as shown in the table below.

Transport

The city is crossed by two motorways; the A15 on the northside, and the A27 on the westside. The city also has a railway station:

Gorinchem Gorinchem ( or ), also spelled Gorkum, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of Oc ...

Notable natives and residents

Public thinking & public service

John V, Lord of Arkel John V, Lord of Arkel (11 September 1362 in Gorinchem – 25 August 1428 in Leerdam) was Lord of Arkel, Haastrecht and Hagestein and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and West Frisia. He was a son of Lord Otto of Arkel and his wife, Elisabeth ...

(1362–1428)

stadtholder In the Low Countries, ''stadtholder'' ( nl, stadhouder ) was an office of steward, designated a medieval official and then a national leader. The ''stadtholder'' was the replacement of the duke or count of a province during the Burgundian and H ...

of Holland, Zeeland and West Frisia *

Henry of Gorkum Henry of Gorkum (c. 1378 – February 19, 1431) was a Dutch theologian known for his commentaries on St. Thomas Aquinas and his defense of Thomism.Janz, Denis (1983). ''Luther and late medieval Thomism: a study in theological anthropology.'' Wilfri ...

(ca.1378– 1431) a Dutch theologian *

Willem Hessels van Est Willem Hessels van Est, Latinized as Estius (1542 – 20 September 1613), was a Dutch Catholic commentator on the Pauline epistles. Biography He was born at Gorcum, County of Holland. He received his early education at home, after which he we ...

(1542–1613) a Dutch Catholic theologian * The

a group of 19 Dutch Catholic clerics who were hanged in 1572 *

Thomas van Erpe Thomas van Erpe, also known as Thomas Erpenius (September 11, 1584November 13, 1624), Dutch Orientalist, was born at Gorinchem, in Holland. He was the first European to publish an accurate book of Arabic grammar. After completing his early educa ...

(1584–1624) a Dutch Orientalist, published a book of Arabic grammar * Dirk Rafelsz Camphuysen (1586–1627) theologian, poet, painter *

Johannes van Neercassel Johannes Baptista van Neercassel (Gorinchem, 1626 – Zwolle, 6 June 1686) served as Archbishop of Utrecht from 1661 to 1686. Life Neercassel was born in Gorinchem, where his father was a wealthy brewer and city alderman. He probably received hi ...

(1625–1686)

Archbishop of Utrecht List of bishops and archbishops of the diocese and archdioceses of Utrecht. Medieval diocese from 695 to 1580 Founders of the Utrecht diocese * * * * * Bishops * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

1661 to 1686. * Hendrik Hamel (1630–1692) seafarer and writer *

Aegidius van Braam Aegidius van Braam (30 July 1758 in Gorinchem – 17 May 1822 in Delft) was a Dutch naval officer who attained the rank of vice-admiral. When the Dutch Republic was overrun by French Revolutionary troops in 1795, he remained loyal to the House of ...

(1758–1822) a Dutch naval vice-admiral * Pierre van Paassen (1895–1968) a Dutch–Canadian-American journalist, writer, and Unitarian minister *

Roger van Boxtel Roger Henri Ludovic Maria van Boxtel (born 8 February 1954) is a retired Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 (D66) party and businessman. Van Boxtel attended a Keizer Karel Gymnasium in Amstelveen from April 1966 until May 1973 and applied at ...

(born 1954) a retired Dutch politician and businessman, lives in Gorinchem Meyssens, Johannes - Abraham Bloemaert

The Arts

Abraham Bloemaert Abraham Bloemaert (25 December 1566 – 27 January 1651) was a Dutch painter and printmaker in etching and engraving. He was initially working in the style of the "Haarlem Mannerists", but in the 16th century altered his style in line with the ...

(1566–1651) Dutch painter and printmaker in etching and engraving * Anthonie Verstraelen (1593/1594-1641) a Dutch landscape painter of winter scenes *

Aert van der Neer Aert van der Neer, or Aernout or Artus (c. 16039 November 1677), was a landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, specializing in small night scenes lit only by moonlight and fires, and snowy winter landscapes, both often looking down a canal ...

(ca.1603–1677) a

Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...

landscape painter *

Cornelis Saftleven Cornelis Saftleven (c. 1607 in Gorinchem – 1 June 1681 in Rotterdam) was a Dutch painter who worked in a great variety of genres. Known in particular for his rural genre scenes, his range of subjects was very wide and included portraits, farmho ...

(ca.1607–1681) a Dutch painter, worked in many genres *

Jacob van der Ulft Jacob van der Ulft (; 1621–1689) was a Dutch painter, glass painter, print artist, architect and mayor. He was known for his architectural and city views, landscapes and topographical views.Hendrik Verschuring Hendrik Verschuring (1627–1690) was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter from Gorinchem who often decorated his landscapes with soldiers on horseback. Biography His father was a ''hopman'', which is a Dutch term for a flag bearer of a schutteri ...

(1627–1690) a

landscape painter *

Jan van der Heyden Jan van der Heyden (5 March 1637, Gorinchem – 28 March 1712, Amsterdam) was a Dutch Baroque-era painter, glass painter, draughtsman and printmaker. Van der Heyden was one of the first Dutch painters to specialize in townscapes and became ...

(1637–1712) a Dutch Baroque-era painter, glass painter, draughtsman and printmaker *

Ida Gerhardt Ida Gerhardt (11 May 1905, Gorinchem – 15 August 1997, Warnsveld) was a classicist and Dutch poet of a post-symbolist tradition. Life In her hometown Rotterdam Ida Gerhardt attended the Erasmus Gymnasium, where the poet J.H. Leopold was her C ...

(1905–1997) a classicist and Dutch poet of a post-symbolist tradition *

A. Teeuw Andries Teeuw (12 August 1921 – 18 May 2012), better known as A. Teeuw in scholarly circles and Hans Teeuw to his friends, was a Dutch critic of Indonesian literature. Biography Teeuw was born in Gorinchem, Netherlands, on 12 August 1921 ...

(1921–2012) a Dutch critic of Indonesian literature *

Jan van Munster Jan Nicolaas van Munster (born 3 July 1939 in Gorinchem) is a Dutch sculptor and installation artist whose work appears in many public places in the Netherlands and Germany.RTV N-H">RTV N-H TV documentary and interview with Jan van MunsterJan Van ...

(born 1939) a Dutch sculptor and installation artist *

Dinand Woesthoff Kane was a Dutch rock band. In its final stage, the group consisted of the two original members, Dinand Woesthoff (lead vocals) and Dennis van Leeuwen (guitar). The band was inspired by U2, Pearl Jam, Queen, and Nirvana. History Kane got its ...

(born 1972) a Dutch musician, lead singer with Dutch band Kane *

Nikos Vertis Nikolaos Arvanitidis (Greek: Νικόλαος Αρβανιτίδης; 21 August 1976), better known by his stage name Nikos Vertis (Greek: Νίκος Βέρτης) is a popular Greek singer. He was born in Gorinchem, Netherlands and his origin is ...

(born 1976) a Greek singer * Boaz de Jong (born 1988) stage name ''

Boaz van de Beatz Boaz de Jong (born December 15, 1988), better known by his stage name Boaz van de Beatz, is a Dutch-Israeli record producer and DJ. He is the founder of the Nouveau Riche record label, which includes popular Dutch artists Mr. Polska and Jebroer. ...

'', a Dutch record producer and DJ * Chu Lan-ting (born 1990) stage name ''

Diana Wang Diana Wang (born 14 November 1990) is a Netherlands, Dutch-born Taiwanese singer and film actress. Early life and education Wang was born Chu Lan-ting (朱蘭亭) on 14 November 1990 in Gorinchem, the Netherlands, with ancestry from Shanghai. ...

'', a Dutch-born Taiwanese singer and film actress

Science & Business

Gerard Boate Gerard Boate (also Gérard de Boot, Bootius or Botius) (1604, Gorinchem – 1650, Dublin) was a Dutch physician, known for his ''Natural History of Ireland''. Life Boate was born Gerrit/Gerard Boot, in Gorinchem, son of the knight Godfried de Boot ...

(1604–1650) physician and author of ''The Natural History of Ireland'' and his brother *

Arnold Boate Arnold Boate, originally called de Boot (1606–1653) was a Dutch physician, writer and Hebraist who spent much of his life abroad, and lived for several years in Dublin. There he married Margaret Dongan, a judge's daughter, whom he portrayed lovin ...

(1606–1653) a Dutch physician and Hebrew scholar *

Louis Jérôme Reiche Louis Jérôme Reiche (20 December 1799, Gorinchem, Netherlands – 16 May 1890, Neuilly-sur-Seine), was a French merchant, manufacturer and entomologist. Reiche travelled widely in Europe making a large insect collection principally of beetles. H ...

(1799–1890) a French merchant, manufacturer and entomologist *

Berend George Escher Berend George Escher (4 April 1885 – 11 October 1967) was a Dutch geologist. Escher had a broad interest, but his research was mainly on crystallography, mineralogy and volcanology. He was a pioneer in experimental geology. He was a half-bro ...

(1885–1967) a Dutch geologist and vulcanologist *

Frans Michel Penning Frans Michel Penning (12 September 1894 – 6 December 1953) was a Dutch experimental physicist. He received his PhD from the University of Leiden in 1923, and studied low pressure gas discharges at the Philips Laboratory in Eindhoven, developing ...

(1894–1953) a Dutch experimental physicist

Sport

Ab Oord Ab Oord (21 December 1885 – 3 August 1961) was a Dutch weightlifter. He competed in the men's heavyweight event at the 1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the ...

(1885–1961) a Dutch weightlifter, competed at the

1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIIe olympiade) and also known as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The op ...

Hadriaan van Nes Hadriaan van Nes (born 7 August 1942) is a retired rower from the Netherlands, who won the silver medal in the coxed pairs at the 1968 Summer Olympics, alongside Roderick Rijnders and Herman Suselbeek Herman Johan "Suus" Suselbeek (born 27 ...

(born 1942) a retired rower, team silver medallist at the

1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...

Ruud Brood Ruud Brood (born 19 October 1962) is a Dutch football manager who last managed ADO Den Haag, and he is a former player. Football career Player Brood was born in Gorinchem. After joining the Feyenoord youth academy from hometown amateur side Uni ...

(born 1962) a football manager and former player with over 300 club caps *

Arie Loef Arie Cornelis Loef (born 11 February 1969) is a retired speed skater from the Netherlands who was active between 1987 and 1994. He competed at the 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic ...

(born 1969) a retired speed skater, competed at the

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...

and

1994 Winter Olympics The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games ( no, De 17. olympiske vinterleker; nn, Dei 17. olympiske vinterleikane) and commonly known as Lillehammer '94, was an international winter multi-sport event held fro ...

* Marco van Hoogdalem (born 1972) a retired Dutch football player with over 350 club caps *

Henk Norel Henk Norel (born 17 September 1987) is a Dutch retired basketball player. He currently is a performance coach for the Heroes Den Bosch of the Dutch Basketball League (DBL). He was drafted with the 47th overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft by the Min ...

(born 1987) a Dutch basketball player, 79 games with the

Netherlands national basketball team The Netherlands men's national basketball team ( nl, Het Nederlands nationaal basketbalteam) represents the Netherlands in international basketball matches. The national team is governed by Basketball Nederland. The Dutch have reached the Euro ...

Frenkie de Jong Frenkie de Jong (born 12 May 1997) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for La Liga club Barcelona and the Netherlands national team. A versatile midfielder, he is known for his vision, passing, dribbling, technique, alo ...

(born 1997) a Dutch football player who is currently playing for

FC Barcelona Futbol Club Barcelona (), commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça (), is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football. Founded ...

International relations

Gorinchem is twinned with

Gallery

Image:Gorichem, Grote Kerk foto1 2010-06-27 13.37.JPG, Gorinchem, church: de Grote Kerk File:Gorinchem 2019 2.jpg, Gorinchem Image:Gorinchem, monumentaal pand 2006-06-13 15.14.JPG, Gorinchem, monumental building Image:Gorinchem, molen 2007-03-15 15.43.JPG, Gorinchem, windmill Image:Tussen Gorinchem en Arkel, de Haarbrug foto3 2010-06-27 12.36.JPG, between Gorinchem and Arkel, bridge: de Haarbrug

References

External links

Official website
* {{Authority control Municipalities of South Holland Populated places in South Holland Alblasserwaard