Oud-Beijerland

Oud-Beijerland
Municipality

Old city hall

Flag

Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Oud-Beijerland in a municipal map of South Holland
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 51°49′N 4°24′E / 51.817°N 4.400°E / 51.817; 4.400Coordinates: 51°49′N 4°24′E / 51.817°N 4.400°E / 51.817; 4.400
Country Netherlands
Province South Holland
Government[1]
  Body Municipal council
  Mayor Klaas Tigelaar (ChristenUnie)
Area[2]
  Total 19.61 km2 (7.57 sq mi)
  Land 18.75 km2 (7.24 sq mi)
  Water 0.86 km2 (0.33 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 0 m (0 ft)
Population (May 2014)[4]
  Total 23,683
  Density 1,263/km2 (3,270/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Oud-Beijerlander
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 3260–3263
Area code 0186
Website www.oud-beijerland.nl

Oud-Beijerland ( pronunciation ) is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. With a population of 23,683 in 2014, it is the most populous municipality on the Hoeksche Waard island. The town is located adjacent to the confluence of the Oude Maas and Spui River.

Oud-Beijerland, church (de Dorpskerk) and tower

The municipality of Oud-Beijerland also includes the communities Vuurbaken and Zinkweg.

History

Oud-Beijerland in 1866
Dutch Topographic map of the municipality of Oud-Beijerland, June 2015

After the St. Elizabeth's flood (1421), large parts of the islands Putten and Grote Waard were lost and became clay banks and salt marshes which would be inundated at high tide and be unsuitable for habitation. In subsequent centuries, portions of land would be reclaimed.

Oud-Beijerland was formed in 1559 as "Beijerland" by Lamoral, Count of Egmont. He was granted the rights to this area in 1557 and had the land reclaimed. This new polder was named Beijerland, Moerkerken, Cromstrijen en de Greup. Circa 1624 the smaller polders Bosschenpolder and Nieuwlandpolder were added to it. Beijerland was named after Sabina of Bavaria (Dutch: Beijeren), wife of the Count of Egmont.

In 1582 the name was changed to Oud-Beijerland, in order to distinguish it from Nieuw-Beijerland which was formed several kilometers to the west.

In 1604 the village got its churchtower from Sabina van Beijeren, and in 1622 the town hall was built. Oud-Beijerland then became one of the most important market places of the Hoeksche Waard. Its economy was dependent on trade, industry, agriculture and fishing. This brought prosperity which is still reflected in the elegant mansions along the Vliet.

From the end of the 19th century until ca. 1955, a tram connected Oud-Beijerland with Rotterdam. The tram was nicknamed "Het Moordenaartje" (The Little Murderer) because of the high rate of casualties involved with its operation.[5][6]

References

  1. "College van B & W" [Board of mayor and aldermen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Oud-Beijerland. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. "Postcodetool for 3262GM". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. "De tramwegen en stoombootveren van de RTM rondom Rotterdam". Engelfriet.net. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  6. "Rotterdam toen en nu". Rotterdam010.nl. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
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