Venlo

Origin

The origin of the name Venlo is not known with certainty. The most current theory is that " ven" would indicate a pond in marshy zone or moors and " lo" a wood, thus making venlo “the wood of the pond”.

Twin towns

These cities have in common, in addition to their comparable size, of all to be located near a border.

History

One finds agricultural traces of cultures to the Bronze Age and iron, like several funerary hillocks. The best known ones are in the valley of the tears (Jammerdal), near to the German border.

The settlement of Venlo goes up at the time Roman.

With the the Middle Ages, Venlo is an important shopping mall on the Meuse, and member of the Hanse. The duke Reinald II van Gelre confers into 1343 municipal rights to the city.

About 1590, the duchy of Gelre is divided into two parts, the southern half remaining Spanish possession. During the War Eighty Year old, battles are delivered regularly for the city, but the Traités of Westphalia which put an end to this period of war in 1648, allot Venlo to Spain.

Venlo remains Spanish until the War of succession of Spain in 1715, the duchy of Gelre as for him being divided between the Prussia, the archduchy of Austria, and the United Provinces of the Netherlands.

The city was conquered by the revolutionary French in 1795, the Napoleonean armies taking the relai a few years later. This French time, which is completed in 1814, upsets the administrative and social structures deeply. At the conclusion of this one, Venlo is attached to the lately formed province of Limbourg, integral part of the Belgium. In 1839, at the time of the scission of the Limbourg between a Belgian part and a part Dutchwoman, the city returns definitively to the Netherlands. Contrary to the remainder of Limbourg, Venlo (like Maastricht), will not become member of the German Confédération. The destruction of the walls surrounding the city is decided in 1867, thus allowing its expansion, by reducing the pressure on the downtown area and authorizing the installation of a suitable road infrastructure.

November 9th 1939, Venlo was the theater of the Incident of Venlo.

At the end of the Second world war, Venlo suffers from important destruction, following intense allied bombardments aiming at destroying the strategic bridge on the Meuse, as well as an airport close to the Luftwaffe. The frontline moreover remained in its center for 3 months.

The city is released on March 1st 1945 by the American army.

Culture

The bombardments of the Second world war destroyed many historic buildings of the downtown area. Among those which were saved, the town hall of the XVIIe century on the place of the market, is a major monument of the city. The layout means-âgeux of the lanes of the center, very rare in the Netherlands, has also preserved well him. Many religious organizations are there active, like that charged with the organization of the carnival, Jocus, as well as many associations of music and theater. The museum of Limburg presents the history and the culture of the Limbourg.

Sport

In the sporting field, the football club VVV Venlo defends the colors of the city in the first division.

Economy

The giant of printing works Océ as well as the haulage company Frans Maas have their origin with Venlo. The transport sector in particular knew during the XXe century a considerable growth, benefitting from the strategic situation of the city located close to a border, like with the crossing of the Meuse and the ways of railroads. The Meuse is currently used only to a lesser extent in the infrastructure of transport.

The economy of the downtown area benefits also much from the German neighbors, who come to visit the city and to make shopping there. The proximity of the city with the border in addition supported another form of tourism, dependant on the consumption of cannabis.

External bonds

Venlo in Site (French) a glance in the streets of Venlo using photographs of the crossings.
Official site of the city, also in English and German.
Site of Jocus association, organizing the carnival.

Simple: Venlo

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