Roermond
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Roermond is a municipality, a diocese and a city in the southeastern Netherlands.
Population centres
The city of Roermond
Roermond received city rights in 1231.Roermond, the heart of Middle- Roermond is a historically important town situated on the banks of the river Maas (Meuse). Contrary to popular belief its name does not come from the "mond of the Roer", which means "mouth of the river Roer" in Dutch. The name is much older and since Dutch was not widely spoken in Limburg until the 1900s its origin is older. The name comes from "Ruramonde". Rura was on old Celtic-Germanic goddess associated with water. After Rura the river Roer which flows through Roermond is named. It did not flow into the river Maas until 1338-1342 ,when the flow of the river Maas was altered to pass the city. "Monde" is an old Celtic-Germanic word meaning "bridge". Roermond therefore means "bridge of Rura". With its own unique character and bustling shopping area it is an historic town full of monuments, waiting to be discovered.
History
Due to its impressive architetecture and charming skyline, Roermond town centre has been designated as a conservation area. Through the centuries the town has filled the role of commercial centre, principal town in the duchy of Guelders and since 1559 it has served as the seat of the bishop. In addition to important churches, the town centre boasts many listed buildings and monuments. The skyline of the historic town is dominated by the towers of two churches: St. Christopher Cathedral and Munster Church.Villa Optima
Villa Optima was the Roman name for the municipality and city of Roermond.When Julius Caesar reached the location of Roermond he found the location so ideal that he called it "Villa Optima" , which translates into "ideal location".
Another name for Roermond given by the Romans is Ruramonde.
The original town of Roermond was in Roman times based around the area of the Roerquays. The bridge, the Steene Brök', is on the spot where the Celtic inhabitants of this region used to live. It is now a suburb of Roermond called Faubourg Saint Jacques (or Voorstad Sint Jacob in Dutch).
Timeline
3rd century B.C.Altarstone dedicated to Rura
1130
1st mention of the name Roermond
ca. 1180-1543
Roermond belongs to the duchy of Guelders
1213 Destruction of Roermond (Villa Optima) by Otto IV of Brunswick, the Holy Roman Emperor and German King.
ca. 1218
Start building the Muensterabbey. 1224
Foundation of the Muensterabbey.
1232
Roermond gets its own seal, its own reign, its own mint and its own court. 1259
Hospital of the Holy Spirit (Hospitaal van de Heilige Geest) is being built.
1279
First mention of Begijnhof (Béguinage).
1309
First mention of Minderbroederklooster
1338-1342
Transfer of the flow of the Maas to Roermond.
From ca. 1350
Roermond is the capital of the "Overkwartier van Gelre" (Overquarter of Gelre)
1361
Chapter of the holy Spirit is moved from St. Odiliënberg to Roermond.
1376
Foundation of the Karthuizerklooster.
1388
Siege by the French in vain. Battle of the pre-city fortifications Buiten Op and destruction of the pre-city fortifiactions Buiten Op and the old parish church by the French.
From ca. 1410
Start building new parish church: the current cathedral of St. Christopher.
1441
Roermond becomes a member of the Hanseatic League.
1472
Roermond again acquires the right to mint.
1543-1702
Under Spanish rule.
1554
First big city fire
1559
Foundation of the diocese of Roermond.
23-4-1568
Battle of Rheindalen near Roermond; start of the "Tachtigjarige Oorlog" (Eighty Years' War). In 1632 the Dutch Stadhouder conquered Venlo, Roermond and Maastricht during his famous "March along the Meuse". Attempts in the next years to attack Antwerp and Brussels failed, however. The Dutch were disappointed by the lack of support they received from the local population in Limburg who were fighting on the Spanish side. It was clear that by now a new generation had grown up in Flanders and Brabant and the areas in what is now Limburg, that had been thoroughly reconverted to Roman catholicism and now distrusted the Calvinist Dutch even more than they loathed the Spanish occupiers.
1572
Roermond is occupied by Willem de Zwijger, a Dutch prince, and he murders the "Karthuizers" (Karthuizer monks).
1580
Transfer of the "Souverein Hof van Gelre" (Souvereign court of Gelre) from Arnhem to Roermond.
1599
Foundation of Seminary for the diocese
1611
Arrival of the Jesuits.
1613
64 witches are burnt on the Galgeberg in the Kapel in het Zand in Roermond; The biggest witches' trial in the Netherlands ever.
1632-1637
Roermond becomes "Staats", in other words a part of the Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden
1646
Establishment of the Ursulinenklooster
1659
St. Christopher's church becomes a cathedral
1665
Second large city fire
1702-1716
Roermond becomes "Staats" again.
1716-1794
Roermond becomes Austrian, a part of the Habsburg empire
1782-1790
Dismantling of the fortifications
1783-1786
Dismantling of several monasteries in Roermond by emperor Joseph II.
11-12-1792
The French under General De Miranda conquer Roermond
5-3-1793
Roermond becomes Austrian, a part of the Habsburg empire again
5-4-1794
The French occupy Roermond
1795-1814
Roermond officially becomes a part of France
1797
Dismantling of the remaining monasteries
1801
Dismantling of the diocese of Roermond
1814
Roermond is liberated by the Russians.
1815-1830
After the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 Roermond becomes Dutch.
1830-1839
Roermond chooses the Belgian side in the Belgian war of independence. In 1814/1815, with the formation of the new Kingdom of the Netherlands, one of the new provinces was to receive the name Maastricht, after its capital. King William, who did not want the name Limburg to be lost, insisted that the name be changed to Limburg. As such, the name of the new province derived from the old duchy of Limburg that had existed until 1648 within the triangle Maastricht - Liège - Aachen.
When the Netherlands and Belgium separated in 1830, there was support for adding Limburg to Belgium, but in the end (1839) the province was divided in two, with the eastern part going to the Netherlands and the western part to Belgium. Dutch Limburg was from that moment on, as the Duchy Limburg, also part of the German Confederation.
1829
Establishment of the first Chamber of Commerce.
1839-1867
Limburg a part of the German Confederation
1846
First road Maastricht-Roermond-Venlo.
1853
Re-establishment of the diocese of Roermond; first new bishop is Paredis.
1864
First railroad Maastricht-Roermond-Venlo.
1866-1867
Building of the "Maasbrug", a bridge over the river Maas
1867-now
Under loud protest Roermond becomes Dutch again
1879
Railroad Antwerpen-Roermond-Mönchengladbach by the "NMBS/SNCB" (Belgian railways).
ca. 1925
Canalisation of the river Maas
1940-1945
German occupation
1-3-1945
Liberation by the Recce Troop of the 35th US Infantry Division during Operation Grenade
1959
Maasniel becomes part of Roermond
1967
Opening of the Willem-Alexanderhaven (Willem-Alexander harbor).
1973
Opening Cultureel Centrum De Oranjerie.
1991
Herten becomes part of Roermond
1992
Earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale
1993
Major flooding and evacution of a part of the population around Christmas
1995
Major flooding and evacution of a part of the population
Anthem
Roermond has had its own anthem since 1912. The text is written by A. F. van Beurden, the music is by H. Tijssen, who also composed the Limburg Anthem (Waar in 't bronsgroen eikenhout).
In everyday life in Limburg around 1900 Dutch was of no importance. Everything was done in Limburgs. Newspapers in the 19th and 20th century were written in German or Limburgs and in most parts of Limburg German was the language used in church and education. In this time Maastricht still had a very strong connection with French-speaking areas around Liege. Van Beurden's poem was used on purpose to force the people of Limburg into speaking Dutch. Proof of this is the very un-Limburg part in the anthem, the reference to the Dutch Royal family, who were (and still are) very unpopular in Limburg. In 1900 the people in Limburg had to swear their allegiance to the Dutch royal family of the House of Orange-Nassau in a "aanhankelijkheidsverklaring aan het Oranjehuis" and had to start using Dutch instead of Limburgs.
Shopping area
The town centre with its medieval street pattern has an attractive shopping area. In addition to department stores, you will find a variety of small shops which, together with an abundance of cafes and restaurants, contribute to the bustling atmosphere in Roermond. About 5 minutes walking distance from the centre of town you will find the Designer Outlet Centre, made up of around 100 shops selling designer fashion and other goods at discount prices.Water-sport
Situated along the river Maas (Meusse), in the front garden of the town one could say, is an extensive recreational area known as the "Maasplassen". This chain of lakes both large and small (flooded gravel pits) and the surrounding lush green meadows form an idyllic backdrop for yachtsmen, windsurfers, anglers and sunbathers.Green belt
Roermond is encircled by a green belt, which offers many opportunities for hiking and cycling. Nature reserves, such as the Meinweg National Park, the valley of the Leu (Leudal) and the Swalm and Roer rivers, provide an interesting variety of woodlands, heath and meadows. For good reason, the region around Roermond has been designated as an area of scenic interest.Monuments
As an old city , Roermond is rich in monuments. Here are a few of them:Muensterchurch
Stateroom of city hall
The old cemetery
Kapel in 't Zand
Roermond City Hall
St. Christopher Cathedral
Caroluschapel
National Indiëmonument
Kasteeltje Hattem
Rattentoren
Notable natives
External links
- [Official website]
- [Map of Asenray]
- [Map of Leeuwen]
- [Map of Maasniel]
- [Map of Roermond]
- [Hotels in Roermond]
- [Restaurants in Roermond]
- [Sights in Roermond]
- redirect
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