Poederoijen is a village in the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

province of

Gelderland Gelderland (), also known as Guelders () in English, is a province of the Netherlands, occupying the centre-east of the country. With a total area of of which is water, it is the largest province of the Netherlands by land area, and second by ...

. It is a part of the municipality of

Zaltbommel Zaltbommel (), also known, historically and colloquially, as Bommel, is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. History The city of Zaltbommel The town of Zaltbommel was first mentioned as "Bomela" in the year 850. Zaltbommel received ...

, and lies about 9 km southeast of

Gorinchem Gorinchem ( or ), also spelled Gorkum, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of of which is water. It had a population of in . The municipality of Gorinchem al ...

. Poederoijen was a separate municipality until 1955, when it was merged with

Brakel Brakel () is a municipality in the Belgian province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek and the Flemish Ardennes. The name is derived from a Carolingian villa ''Braglo'' first mentioned in 866 and located in the center of Opbrakel. Since 1970, t ...

. Loevestein Castle is located in Poederoijen.

History

It was first mentioned in 850 as in uilla Podarwic. The etymology is unclear. The village developed along the Afgedamde Maas. The tower of the Dutch Reformed Church dates from the 15th century. The church itself was rebuilt in 1897 after a fire. In 1840, Poederoijen was home to 425 people. In 1861, the village was flooded, and 1897, a large part of Poederoijen was lost in a fire.

Castles

Poederoijen Castle was built in 870 and has been restored and rebuilt many times. In 1672, it was destroyed by the French and never rebuilt. Loevestein Castle is located to the north-west of the village, and was built in 1365. It was enlarged many times, and in the 17th century became part of the

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 ...

, a defensive line of

inundation A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrolog ...

to protect Holland. The castle was decommissioned as a fortress in 1951, and extensively restored.

Gallery

File:Poederoijen - Maasdijk 42 - Nederlands Hervormde kerk.jpg, Protestant Church of Poederoijen File:5307 Poederoijen, Netherlands - panoramio (11).jpg, View on Poederoijen File:Netherlands, Gelderland, Poederoijen, bedrijventerrein Munnikenland.JPG, Industry along the river File:Willows near Slot Loevestein 4-5-08 - panoramio.jpg, Willows near Loevestein Castle

References

{{Authority control Populated places in Gelderland Former municipalities of Gelderland Zaltbommel