| Province of Gelderland | |
| Settlement Type: | Province of the Netherlands |
| Image Map1: | Prov-Gelderland-OpenTopo.jpg |
| Map Caption1: | Topography map of Gelderland |
| Coordinates: | 52.06°N 5.95°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Arnhem |
| Seat1 Type: | Largest city |
| Seat1: | Nijmegen |
| Leader Title: | King's Commissioner |
| Leader Name: | Henri Lenferink |
| Leader Party: | PvdA |
| Leader Title1: | Council |
| Leader Name1: | States of Gelderland |
| Anthem: | "Ons Gelderland" "Our Gelderland" |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | (2023)[1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 5136 |
| Area Land Km2: | 4960 |
| Area Water Km2: | 176 |
| Area Rank: | 2nd |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 2,133,708 |
| Population As Of: | 1 January 2023 |
| Population Density Km2: | 430 |
| Population Density Rank: | 6th |
| Population Rank: | 4th |
| Iso Code: | NL-GE |
| Website: | www.gelderland.nl |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Religion (2015) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 46% Not religious, 23% Protestant, 22% Catholic |
| Demographics Type1: | GDP |
| Demographics1 Footnotes: | [3] |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Total |
| Demographics1 Info1: | €86.736 billion |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Per capita |
| Demographics1 Info2: | €42,100 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | HDI (2021) |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 0.930[4] · 5th of 12 |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Gelderland.svg |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Brandmark |
| Blank Emblem Size: | 120px |
Gelderland (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈɣɛldərlɑnt/), also known as Guelders [5] in English, is a province of the Netherlands, occupying the centre-east of the country. With a total area of 5136km2 of which 176km2 is water, it is the largest province of the Netherlands by land area, and second by total area.[6] Gelderland shares borders with six other provinces (Flevoland, Limburg, North Brabant, Overijssel, South Holland and Utrecht) and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The capital is Arnhem (pop. 159,265[7]); however, Nijmegen (pop. 176,731) and Apeldoorn (pop. 162,445) are both larger municipalities. Other major regional centres in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Harderwijk, Tiel, Wageningen, Zevenaar, and Winterswijk. Gelderland had a population of about 2,134,000 as of January 2023.[2] It contains the Netherlands's largest forest region (the Veluwe), the Rhine and other major rivers, and a significant amount of orchards in the south (Betuwe).
Historically, the province dates from states of the Holy Roman Empire and takes its name from the nearby German city of Geldern. According to the Wichard saga, the Lords of Pont fought and killed a dragon in 878 AD, and named the town they founded after the death-rattle of the dragon: "Gelre!"[8]
The County of Guelders arose out of the Frankish pagus Hamaland in the 11th century around castles near Roermond and Geldern. The counts of Gelre acquired the Betuwe and Veluwe regions and, through marriage, the County of Zutphen. Thus the counts of Guelders laid the foundation for a territorial power that, through control of the Rhine, Waal, Meuse and IJssel rivers, was to play an important role in the later Middle Ages. The geographical position of their territory dictated the external policy of the counts during the following centuries; they were committed to the interests of the Holy Roman Empire and to expansion south and west.
Further enlarged by the acquisition of the imperial city of Nijmegen in the 13th century, the countship was raised to a duchy in 1339 by the Holy Roman Emperor Louis IV. After 1379, the duchy was ruled from Jülich and by the counts of Egmond and Cleves. The duchy resisted Burgundian domination, but William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg was forced to cede it to Charles V in 1543, after which it formed part of the Burgundian-Habsburg hereditary lands.[9]
The duchy revolted with the rest of the Netherlands against Philip II of Spain and joined the Union of Utrecht (1579). After the deposition of Philip II, its sovereignty was vested in the States of Gelderland, and the princes of Orange were stadtholders. In 1672, the province was temporarily occupied by Louis XIV and, in 1713, the southeastern part, including the ducal capital of Geldern, fell to Prussia. Part of the Batavian Republic (1795–1806), of Louis Bonaparte's Kingdom of Holland (1806–10), and of the French Empire (1810–13), Gelderland became a province of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815.[9]
During the Second World War, it saw heavy fighting between Allied Paratroopers, British XXX Corps and the German II SS Panzer Corps, at the Battle of Arnhem.
In Gelderland there are many museums, like the Netherlands Open Air Museum and Museum Arnhem in Arnhem, Valkhof Museum in Nijmegen, the Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn and in Otterlo the Kröller-Müller Museum. There are several large theatres in Gelderland such as the Stadsschouwburg in Nijmegen, Stadstheater in Arnhem and Orpheus (theater) in Apeldoorn. Some cities are also equipped with large concert halls like MUSIS (formerly: Musis sacrum) in Arnhem and Concertgebouw de Vereeniging in Nijmegen. The known by a larger public pop-music venues are Luxor Live in Arnhem, Doornroosje in Nijmegen, Gigant in Apeldoorn and the GelreDome stadium in Arnhem. Every year the municipality Renkum and Overbetuwe receive a large amount of tourist visiting because of the Battle of Arnhem. Often historical locations are visited, like the John Frost Bridge and the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery in Oosterbeek.
Gelderland can roughly be divided into four geographical regions: the Veluwe in the north, the Rivierenland including the Betuwe in the southwest, the Achterhoek (literally meaning the "back corner") or Graafschap (which originally means earldom or county) in the east and the city-region of Arnhem and Nijmegen in the centre-south.
poly 898 653 906 632 901 603 912 593 915 579 919 564 927 562 929 554 937 548 933 542 950 535 959 539 984 540 1000 544 999 550 993 555 997 563 998 574 1009 578 1013 579 1012 585 1020 592 Aaltenpoly 496 364 496 351 490 340 498 331 485 317 459 319 445 307 445 299 454 295 451 287 447 282 446 278 465 268 458 250 498 249 501 244 517 250 522 261 544 251 570 246 593 244 598 233 605 234 603 244 623 242 627 246 630 253 625 268 631 283 626 290 636 294 645 318 641 330 650 351 648 359 656 375 639 393 635 399 629 410 629 419 614 441 593 436 584 441 580 437 578 416 554 414 551 411 546 411 528 391 525 368 520 364 Apeldoornpoly 491 511 496 493 516 467 523 462 530 465 550 465 550 452 558 452 577 437 584 442 576 451 571 467 574 500 585 521 605 536 585 544 584 562 572 553 569 562 563 563 558 566 558 570 553 580 545 579 534 572 524 568 509 568 507 553 512 540 529 546 531 539 529 535 528 517 Arnhempoly 294 353 299 345 298 338 307 328 314 331 323 325 325 328 325 335 332 342 348 338 348 331 352 330 352 325 369 323 384 325 392 308 409 295 418 294 421 277 437 281 447 274 447 284 453 295 449 298 449 307 460 322 485 321 495 330 491 340 494 348 496 366 473 364 465 368 456 367 440 370 440 378 432 381 423 379 418 384 409 381 354 394 343 395 336 406 338 413 326 416 318 414 316 417 303 402 314 404 306 396 306 387 316 381 307 375 305 370 297 367 Barneveldpoly 546 730 546 718 540 702 545 701 542 693 557 681 565 692 580 696 580 700 599 712 597 721 597 726 608 727 604 734 604 738 608 742 586 760 586 766 575 769 573 767 573 760 564 759 560 748 Berg en Dalpoly 854 423 864 425 867 414 885 405 891 408 898 406 901 413 909 390 904 373 893 360 903 354 910 337 927 332 967 331 976 340 975 344 978 346 981 349 992 339 1001 343 1003 336 1018 349 1021 369 1012 380 1049 394 1069 391 1068 411 1064 417 1064 424 1059 434 1035 439 1029 454 1027 467 1013 458 1013 449 1007 446 998 454 988 446 985 442 977 444 977 457 970 462 972 470 956 480 940 485 925 468 922 467 895 490 876 485 871 466 865 464 Berkellandpoly 412 646 420 616 433 620 452 629 462 629 478 636 489 635 504 645 504 649 506 651 501 662 495 660 483 670 476 667 469 679 448 673 415 668 420 664 417 654 413 650 Beuningenpoly 680 467 716 438 717 422 729 421 739 420 748 412 747 408 754 400 768 404 775 401 781 391 808 375 827 377 828 384 831 389 851 382 848 389 852 394 849 399 870 416 865 422 855 424 855 431 862 451 867 466 877 483 877 487 892 489 894 503 891 505 894 510 891 512 901 522 896 533 886 540 865 537 856 528 846 533 849 541 835 542 838 535 811 535 815 525 807 516 791 522 791 517 775 527 767 522 762 525 767 530 765 536 753 522 748 527 751 533 741 533 711 533 710 514 709 509 711 499 720 493 717 474 710 475 706 469 700 469 694 480 681 476 Bronckhorstpoly 615 447 615 440 631 418 631 409 636 401 641 392 654 384 659 377 657 371 697 357 697 367 701 371 714 368 720 378 723 391 724 400 737 401 743 406 745 415 739 421 731 418 727 423 716 419 715 434 706 442 695 453 689 448 686 449 684 444 672 434 661 431 654 424 634 437 628 445 622 447 617 447 Brummenpoly 151 567 161 563 159 560 167 549 187 553 196 559 207 560 219 544 237 545 258 539 267 530 278 530 284 532 300 532 318 544 331 545 336 556 347 560 358 562 360 566 351 573 342 569 339 571 327 570 334 579 341 578 338 592 307 591 304 595 300 589 293 591 283 589 271 594 260 600 255 601 245 615 210 640 206 631 196 632 201 624 193 615 184 613 171 593 176 591 176 584 173 582 164 581 158 577 Burenpoly 94 583 113 547 129 556 135 555 148 535 165 550 151 568 157 578 133 593 130 587 100 594 103 588 99 585 Culemborgpoly 679 515 679 507 688 503 690 496 690 480 700 475 700 471 708 476 718 475 719 492 711 497 710 507 696 515 Doesburgpoly 700 532 712 533 753 536 748 525 752 523 754 529 764 537 768 530 763 527 768 523 777 528 790 518 792 523 804 517 811 521 816 525 810 536 836 534 835 541 850 543 847 531 856 530 864 536 843 574 844 577 832 587 815 585 804 574 797 571 796 566 779 568 747 567 736 568 736 575 728 569 724 564 717 559 706 551 703 538 Doetinchempoly 340 650 340 643 349 635 347 628 356 621 338 624 326 620 352 611 380 615 401 617 419 619 419 628 410 644 410 647 392 646 390 661 394 669 374 676 368 673 358 674 356 662 360 657 356 652 355 647 Drutenpoly 592 575 604 569 604 540 614 535 624 536 627 541 632 542 639 533 648 531 654 533 653 537 648 538 648 551 643 559 650 565 644 572 644 582 640 586 640 593 632 597 630 596 619 595 607 600 594 586 597 582 Duivenpoly 343 465 347 439 346 432 344 430 334 407 345 394 352 397 412 383 417 387 421 380 438 381 441 378 444 372 455 367 466 370 475 364 521 364 526 371 528 392 542 410 549 411 558 415 581 417 579 437 556 452 550 451 549 464 540 466 520 462 513 468 497 492 454 495 450 513 418 521 379 521 377 514 371 519 364 510 362 501 363 481 349 473 351 466 Edepoly 461 113 496 83 495 80 497 64 509 48 534 67 529 75 551 102 557 106 551 110 562 126 553 134 534 160 529 156 528 159 501 130 500 124 497 118 494 116 481 122 480 119 476 120 471 123 Elburgpoly 528 167 542 151 554 134 580 121 628 150 629 155 634 156 635 162 639 157 656 155 666 160 654 167 654 188 642 187 630 225 634 240 635 249 628 246 629 241 603 241 605 232 601 232 592 244 572 241 536 252 523 260 517 241 521 238 515 230 516 226 512 214 520 210 535 191 534 189 537 183 Epepoly 336 228 340 206 352 195 372 203 380 191 389 194 415 218 418 211 430 190 458 202 454 231 461 238 458 247 465 271 434 279 417 276 406 262 398 249 377 242 358 240 Ermelopoly 73 625 92 586 99 586 104 587 100 594 128 587 132 594 159 580 164 582 175 583 175 591 170 594 184 613 187 613 201 625 194 630 196 634 202 632 211 637 203 647 203 655 197 654 191 661 176 657 162 655 146 656 138 656 133 660 127 661 121 665 94 666 96 650 86 636 77 642 74 636 76 631 Geldermalsenpoly 343 203 358 161 370 156 374 161 394 149 399 155 414 141 427 161 427 164 429 177 435 180 435 187 414 217 386 191 380 191 374 200 363 201 352 194 Harderwijkpoly 610 21 613 14 622 17 624 11 641 22 649 36 668 53 668 65 666 67 665 63 654 67 652 66 628 75 619 75 630 55 631 44 624 36 617 36 619 30 Hattempoly 579 120 587 115 620 76 631 76 653 69 662 64 668 66 668 75 678 84 680 94 675 97 678 104 674 112 687 120 684 124 683 136 656 146 653 157 639 157 634 161 634 154 629 157 629 151 624 150 604 142 Heerdepoly 448 737 451 732 454 734 472 731 472 726 478 727 489 716 499 720 507 714 512 706 514 708 518 702 525 704 533 701 538 701 538 705 542 713 544 726 544 732 533 736 534 750 531 753 527 750 495 753 481 757 469 757 454 748 451 740 Heumenpoly 1 652 37 656 43 653 38 646 38 639 53 639 58 625 72 624 74 633 78 643 85 640 95 651 95 664 98 667 94 679 100 695 85 695 58 684 38 690 18 691 22 671 4 666 4 658 Lingewaalpoly 525 616 536 616 539 611 535 609 535 603 545 604 550 591 546 586 550 579 557 566 563 560 571 561 572 553 585 565 594 582 594 587 610 608 626 616 629 627 638 640 619 630 610 634 602 645 597 657 584 655 576 642 562 637 547 641 544 647 541 644 536 629 533 621 527 623 Lingewaardpoly 710 286 720 282 724 287 742 291 742 287 765 289 770 288 780 284 787 285 792 290 815 289 814 281 822 271 830 274 837 267 844 271 862 273 862 275 868 290 886 312 893 312 899 328 910 336 905 354 891 360 897 369 907 382 904 398 902 409 898 405 891 406 884 403 880 407 869 414 849 400 853 393 848 388 850 380 833 388 828 384 827 377 810 375 808 360 774 364 755 367 751 358 741 356 735 349 731 350 727 346 727 337 721 335 714 326 705 325 708 314 720 311 726 302 722 293 Lochempoly 108 747 118 746 129 742 166 738 166 720 176 713 174 692 191 689 204 700 220 707 236 688 246 674 256 689 250 691 224 730 221 746 221 754 184 776 174 770 167 770 154 778 142 768 135 766 123 772 114 768 115 756 Maasdrielpoly 624 671 618 667 618 663 628 656 629 647 620 640 604 642 611 633 617 630 629 632 640 641 652 648 646 653 645 657 634 667 Millingen aan de Rijnpoly 668 574 668 549 666 549 666 544 674 546 686 541 685 538 699 533 702 537 702 542 710 557 717 560 721 564 739 574 738 570 752 567 796 566 797 572 793 575 788 584 791 589 802 589 804 592 804 598 798 601 802 610 810 614 814 615 812 621 813 633 815 634 812 639 794 642 780 635 772 641 752 640 743 642 725 625 728 619 707 603 708 599 703 600 Montferlandpoly 286 624 280 610 288 605 283 602 285 595 282 589 295 593 300 588 301 595 305 596 307 591 339 595 342 579 335 578 329 571 330 571 338 572 345 570 351 574 361 564 374 573 388 576 394 574 405 569 410 574 404 578 404 585 426 580 418 585 416 595 425 595 431 602 433 609 436 620 410 618 398 616 369 615 357 611 341 613 325 621 306 623 Neder-Betuwepoly 97 664 118 666 135 662 143 656 145 658 171 657 192 663 198 655 210 655 231 649 244 659 256 661 238 682 225 706 211 706 195 690 187 687 163 695 146 697 128 702 115 699 108 694 99 697 101 689 96 681 Neerijnenpoly 242 297 250 270 295 259 296 279 310 285 317 285 338 314 387 310 389 315 384 324 378 325 371 319 353 323 354 330 346 330 348 340 336 343 329 334 329 330 327 326 318 326 315 330 311 328 296 334 297 346 295 352 272 347 271 314 254 299 250 303 Nijkerkpoly 466 689 474 668 482 672 496 660 501 665 506 651 503 643 507 640 509 643 513 630 509 620 522 616 526 624 536 625 536 635 545 648 545 658 541 668 548 677 555 683 541 690 541 696 544 702 532 702 514 704 506 710 499 720 486 713 474 689 Nijmegenpoly 415 142 424 141 461 115 469 125 480 120 482 124 495 119 500 123 500 129 527 159 534 161 527 168 537 184 534 188 534 192 519 211 512 214 516 236 517 242 518 249 517 251 501 243 499 246 457 247 462 241 461 236 456 231 459 202 432 191 435 188 436 180 432 180 427 163 428 161 427 158 425 158 Nunspeetpoly 513 50 518 34 518 28 525 4 534 1 563 47 581 37 588 44 611 22 619 30 619 38 624 38 628 46 628 60 622 75 620 75 589 112 577 118 579 121 562 126 552 110 558 106 547 98 530 76 531 71 535 67 Oldebroekpoly 896 532 902 523 892 514 897 510 893 503 895 503 892 492 902 479 906 480 912 472 917 474 919 467 925 470 939 484 958 480 968 471 974 467 974 461 979 459 980 445 982 442 992 446 993 450 998 453 1005 446 1013 448 1013 457 1030 466 1027 480 1015 489 1010 495 1009 510 1012 531 1002 544 992 541 970 536 952 534 934 542 918 540 Oost Gelrepoly 800 659 794 641 814 641 812 620 814 616 807 611 800 602 803 596 803 593 801 591 795 591 790 584 794 571 802 573 816 585 833 588 846 578 844 574 865 537 886 540 896 532 920 542 932 541 937 546 928 554 927 560 921 562 913 579 913 588 901 603 904 612 905 623 908 630 905 638 898 654 887 641 878 646 873 642 863 637 856 638 852 634 848 645 862 655 858 664 862 671 858 673 860 681 849 674 838 675 833 663 823 656 811 657 Oude IJsselstreekpoly 396 560 408 561 419 555 441 550 453 544 460 544 476 553 481 553 503 542 513 549 507 553 509 568 522 571 534 570 548 579 545 586 548 592 547 596 546 606 534 605 535 611 535 615 506 619 512 628 509 638 503 642 490 634 477 635 460 627 451 627 435 620 437 616 434 615 435 605 424 593 417 593 417 586 425 582 424 578 405 581 405 577 410 573 407 569 395 573 Overbetuwepoly 296 258 329 248 336 229 337 232 360 241 371 241 373 244 393 247 402 258 416 272 416 278 417 292 411 294 387 308 338 313 316 282 310 285 305 281 299 281 295 277 Puttenpoly 455 495 495 491 490 511 508 517 527 519 528 534 532 539 527 542 505 542 482 552 476 553 462 545 455 543 445 551 439 548 442 535 440 533 443 513 451 514 Renkumpoly 598 461 611 461 615 449 625 448 652 427 659 430 677 438 683 446 695 454 684 462 678 474 682 479 692 489 688 502 683 509 680 517 667 519 659 510 660 502 653 497 638 505 638 512 632 517 621 517 615 522 614 534 605 540 587 524 582 514 598 508 600 497 609 489 Rhedenpoly 608 601 624 596 630 594 638 597 670 602 669 605 677 615 675 620 684 619 697 623 700 642 715 649 713 652 715 669 696 662 675 664 652 644 645 642 636 638 630 628 627 615 622 609 Rijnwaardenpoly 575 502 572 466 576 451 585 442 607 436 617 441 616 447 614 457 609 460 599 459 609 489 599 497 599 509 591 512 583 512 Rozendaalpoly 284 435 299 425 299 411 304 405 322 417 330 420 330 428 328 435 313 440 298 447 Scherpenzeelpoly 204 655 204 647 247 616 257 601 267 592 284 593 283 600 286 606 279 611 286 624 272 630 259 646 255 661 242 659 233 650 223 655 Tielpoly 542 667 545 652 542 653 552 639 570 639 583 653 596 659 603 653 604 642 621 641 627 645 628 653 627 660 619 664 622 672 616 678 601 680 590 675 581 686 585 696 580 697 562 690 554 680 548 675 550 671 Ubbergenpoly 630 225 641 186 654 188 648 197 654 200 658 205 659 215 671 217 675 228 677 239 686 256 685 264 699 268 701 272 695 280 708 295 713 287 728 301 720 311 709 316 707 321 711 327 722 336 728 347 723 357 699 357 659 370 649 359 650 348 642 332 645 321 640 296 631 292 630 284 625 268 632 250 634 247 636 238 Voorstpoly 372 570 387 562 381 548 385 542 377 533 380 526 373 521 376 516 381 521 410 519 416 524 419 520 442 515 439 532 441 535 437 545 441 550 431 550 414 556 407 561 396 561 396 572 387 576 Wageningenpoly 248 676 258 655 268 637 281 626 304 625 328 619 336 626 355 619 341 650 352 650 359 655 356 661 360 673 373 676 373 680 370 683 362 680 355 685 340 684 336 695 318 693 308 682 299 683 295 691 288 700 275 702 262 698 West Maas en Waalpoly 583 563 584 547 602 540 604 569 590 575 Westervoortpoly 372 685 375 677 394 667 392 661 393 656 393 645 412 646 420 663 415 666 469 680 464 689 473 690 487 715 492 717 478 728 474 726 473 729 455 733 451 731 447 738 435 734 425 722 422 719 409 719 402 710 396 694 381 692 Wijchenpoly 1030 470 1047 469 1105 507 1103 511 1114 513 1118 536 1116 541 1111 541 1099 547 1097 566 1081 589 1073 591 1070 599 1063 601 1054 610 1035 592 1028 587 1022 593 1013 581 1008 578 997 572 999 561 996 558 1001 548 1001 544 1010 531 1010 508 1012 499 1011 495 1024 479 1028 481 Winterswijkpoly 11 695 31 695 53 687 84 700 104 695 133 703 173 689 175 713 165 719 166 736 109 748 113 752 114 768 81 773 80 767 89 758 87 751 88 739 78 734 63 722 55 723 51 733 45 729 35 716 13 705 Zaltbommelpoly 613 534 614 525 622 516 630 518 639 511 639 505 646 499 660 505 660 513 665 520 677 517 680 515 698 516 703 513 708 514 709 532 692 533 686 537 685 542 676 546 666 543 665 548 668 549 668 573 709 604 709 605 688 613 686 610 678 614 669 606 671 602 662 597 652 597 639 598 637 596 637 584 642 580 650 563 646 560 650 540 653 537 655 531 639 531 632 543 627 542 625 535 Zevenaarpoly 697 369 743 353 754 367 772 367 807 363 808 374 780 389 773 401 768 403 751 399 747 405 747 412 744 413 740 403 736 399 724 398 722 389 721 380 715 368 698 368 698 356 715 355 720 354 729 354 Zutphen
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In 2020, the 51 municipalities in Gelderland were divided into four COROPs:
These municipalities were merged with neighbouring ones:
These municipalities were merged and given a new name:
The gross domestic product (GDP) of the region was €78.3 billion in 2018, accounting for 10.1% of the Netherlands' economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was €33,000 or 110% of the EU27 average in the same year.[10]
In 2015, 23.2% of the population belonged to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, while 21.6% were Roman Catholic, 3.6% were Muslim, and 5.3% adhered to other churches or faiths. Close to half of the population (46.3%) identified as non-religious.
In the 2001 movie A Knight's Tale, the protagonist, William Thatcher (played by Heath Ledger) pretends to be a knight known as "Ulrich von Lichtenstein from Gelderland".