Reeuwijk Explained

Official Name:Reeuwijk
Flag Size:120x100px
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Area Footnotes:(2006)
Area Total Km2:50.11
Area Land Km2:38.22
Area Water Km2:11.89
Population As Of:1 January 2007
Population Note:Source: CBS, Statline.
Settlement Type:Former municipality
Population Total:12645
Population Density Km2:331
Utc Offset:+1
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Coordinates:52.05°N 4.73°W
Website:www.reeuwijk.nl

Reeuwijk (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈreːuʋɛik/) is a former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The former municipality covers an area of 50.11 km2 (of which 11.89 km2 is water). Since January 1, 2011 Reeuwijk merged with Bodegraven to Bodegraven-Reeuwijk.

The former municipality of Reeuwijk includes the communities of Driebruggen, Hogebrug, Langeweide, Middelburg, Oud-Reeuwijk, Oukoop, Platteweg, Randenburg, Reeuwijk-Brug, Reeuwijk-Dorp, Sluipwijk, Tempel, Waarder and Westeinde.

History

Reeuwijk was established as a good location for peat harvesting. The earliest known reference to the town is from 1248.

The area prospered in the 18th century when layers of peat were dug up, dried, and used as fuel for industries in Gouda. Eventually these peat quarries struck a fresh-water spring, forming the Reeuwijk Ponds (Reeuwijkse Plassen). Reeuwijk added neighboring municipalities: in 1855, Middelburg was added, in 1857, Oukoop, in 1870, Sluipwijk and Stein.

On January 1, 1989, when the municipality Driebruggen (formed in 1964) was dissolved, its communities Waarder and Driebruggen were added to Reeuwijk.

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