Geffen (Netherlands)
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Geffen had been an independent town in the Netherlands until 1993, when it became a part of Maasdonk in North Brabant.
Archeological findings show that the area had been inhabited since the stoneage (2000bc). The date of settlement is not known, the first time Geffen has been mentioned in official documents was on the first of October 1246. There have been many different names for Geffen, including Ghiffen and Gheneffen. Gheneffen most probably had been created as a fusion betwene "gen" + "effa", which means "on the water's edge". In the year 1298, Hertog Jan II of Brabant grants the town of Geffen rights for peat harvesting.
In the following centuries, Geffen becomes a fiefdom, the Vassal of Geffen resides in a the castle of Geffen close to the border of Nuland. During a french raid in the 18th century this castle gets destroyed and at this time only the fortificated ditch can be found.
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[edit] After the second world war
Up until the second world war things didn't really change in Geffen, maintaining a population of roughly 1,200. In 1956 the first planned neighbourhood starts its construction. During this time, neighbouring [Oss] is starting to become a true city and many facilities move away. Geffen itself grew into every direction except north, this is mainly because of the railway embankment which protects Geffen from flooding from the Meuse. With the creation of the A50 highway a digsite was opened at the border of Oss, Heesch and Geffen. After the construction of the highway was completed this area was reformed into swimmingpont (the Geffenseplas) and a 'forrest'.
[edit] Education
There are two schools in Geffen, both are catholic schools. The Aloysiusschool, which can be found between Townhall and the local supermarket. And the Mariaschool, which lies next to the Church and has a more religious background.
[edit] Religion
Around 1450 the belltower of the Maria Magdalena Church has been build. The church survived numerous fires and floods, even the burning of Geffen by Karel of Gelder in 1487. At the end of the second world war, the German military tried to blow up the church like they did with the churches of Nuland, Heesch and Vinkel. At the ceiling this is still visible.
One of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in North Brabant can be found in Geffen. As early as 1693 the archives speak of this cemetery and until 1908, 20 years after the founding of a new regional cemetery, it has been in use. Many forefathers of the Van den Bergh, Hartog and Zwanenberg families can be found here. Today, more that 300 people lie here.
[edit] Present
Geffen is a typical town of east-Brabant with around 5500 inhabitants. Every year a farmersmarket is organized under the name of 'effe noar geffe'. Every year more people visit this festival and in 2004 more than 35,000 people where welcomed. Because of mismanagement of funds among other problems, integration into Oss or Den Bosch belongs to the possibilities.
[edit] Famous Geffenaren
- Simon van den Bergh (1819) Industrial, founder of Unilever
- Ruud van Nistelrooij (1976) Soccer player, born in Oss
- Antoon van Nistelrooij (1986) Activist
- Peter van Grinsven (1521) Filantropist
[edit] External links
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