Groesbeek

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Country	Netherlands
Groesbeek

Province	Gelderland
Area (2006)
- Municipality	44.12 km² (17 sq mi)
- Land	44.12 km² (17 sq mi)
- Water	0.00 km² (0 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2007)
- Municipality	18,929
- Density	429/km² (1,111.1/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Groesbeek is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands.

1 Description
2 World War Two
3 Modern Groesbeek
4 In the area
5 Population centres
6 External links

[edit] Description

Groesbeek is named after a small river called the Groes, which does not exist anymore. Hills and forests surround the town, and, because of this, Groesbeek was isolated in the past, with a close community and a strong dialect.

[edit] World War Two

During Operation Market Garden the 82nd Airborne Division landed near Groesbeek. In the subsequent fighting the town was nearly completely destroyed and inhabitants were evacuated. The National Liberation museum is based in Groesbeek on one of the landing sites of operation Market Garden, and there is also a Canadian war cemetery.

[edit] Modern Groesbeek

Today Groesbeek is well known in the Netherlands for its soccer teams, and despite having under 20,000 inhabitants, had three clubs playing at the highest amateur level (De Treffers, Germania and Archilles'29) for 2 seasons. There are also 3 other football teams named: D.V.S.G., Groesbeekse boys and Rood-Wit, and this is apparently so exceptional it has been featured both on Dutch national television (NOS) and in a big Dutch magazine (Panorama).

In Groesbeek there is also a dirtbike circuit called den Hoek. This circuit is in use by the motor and moped club named MBC de Zevenheuvelen (the seven hills). In the year 2007 there are more than 200 active members. Through the past years a several national stars had rised from the Groesbeek dirtbike soil.

The town is also well known as the setting of the third day of the Nijmeegse Vierdaagse when walkers participating in this international event have to pass through the town and the surrounding hills.

Another thing Groesbeek is famous for is that it apparently has the biggest parade in the Netherlands on the Sunday of the Catholic carnival. Because of its huge success places are now going to be limited as the parade is getting too big.

[edit] In the area

The town has three notable museums: the Africa Museum, the National Liberation Museum and the Bible Open Air Museum. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial is located about two kilometers north of the town.