Deventer | |
Country | Netherlands |
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Province | Overijssel |
Area (2006) | |
- Total | 134.37 km² (51.9 sq mi) |
- Land | 131.31 km² (50.7 sq mi) |
- Water | 3.07 km² (1.2 sq mi) |
Population (1 January, 2007) | |
- Total | 96,596 |
- Density | 736/km² (1,906.2/sq mi) |
Source: CBS, Statline. | |
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
- Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen (pop. 5,000) was merged with Deventer as part of a national effort to reduce bureaucracy in the country.
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Associated hamlets at second level
Deventer was probably founded by the English missionary Lebuinus around 768, who built a wooden church on the right bank of the river IJssel. This was not the first human settlement at the location; from the Bronze Age to about 400 A.D., there was a settlement at Colmschate, 4 km east of the city centre. Remains of this settlement were excavated between 1981 and 2006.
The village of Deventer, already important because of a trading road crossing the river IJssel, was looted and burnt down by the Vikings in 882. It was immediately rebuilt and fortified with an earthen wall (in the street Stenen Wal remains of this wall have been excavated and restored). Deventer received city rights in 956, after which fortifications were built or replaced by stone walls around the city for defense. Between 1000 and 1500, Deventer grew to be a flourishing trade city because of its harbour on the river IJssel, which was capable of accommodating large ships. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 15th century, Deventer had a common mint, where coins for the 3 IJssel cities Deventer, Zwolle, and Kampen were made.
Deventer is the place of birth of Geert Groote and home to his Brethren of the Common Life, a school of religious thought that was of great influence on Thomas a Kempis and Erasmus in later times. It had book printing shops dating back to as early as 1477, and an internationally famous Latin School, where the famous scholar Desiderius Erasmus went when he was a boy.
Between 1500 and 1800, the mass of water flowing through the IJssel decreased, decreasing the importance of Deventer's harbour. The competition of trade centres in Holland, as well as the religious war between 1568 and 1648, brought a decline in the city's economy. In the 18th century, the iron industry came to Deventer. East of the town, so-called "oer", riversand containing iron, was found as early as 900. From this material, ore was produced and brought to town. The main road of the villages Okkenbroek, Lettele and Schalkhaar is still named Oerdijk (Ore Dyke). In the 19th century, Deventer became an industrial town. Bicycles, carpets, tins and cans for food and drinks, cigars, books, machinery, mattress were produced until the mid-20th century.
Deventer has seen few military engagements throughout its long history, although it was a garrison city of the Dutch cavalry. The industrial area and harbour were bombed heavily during World War II. The city centre has been largely spared, thus offering a view that has remained largely unchanged for the past few centuries.
The female Jewish poet and writer, Etty Hillesum, lived in Deventer during the war before being deported to Auschwitz.
In Schalkhaar, a village only 2 km northeast of the city centre, barracks were used by the German occupying forces to train Nazi policemen. The compound is now a centre for asylum seekers.
Deventer has been somewhat popular with the film industry. During the production of the movie A Bridge Too Far all of the scenes taking place in nearby Arnhem were filmed in Deventer - as Arnhem itself had lost its historic center.
The city's trade and industry is still of some importance. The city is host to a factory producing central heating systems, as well as an editor and publisher named Kluwer. The Deventer honey cake (Deventer Koek), produced in Deventer for over 500 years, is still manufactured locally and sold all over the Netherlands.
Deventer has 2 railway stations - for destinations see
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