Rekken Explained

Rekken
Settlement Type:Village
Native Name Lang:nl
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Netherlands
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Gelderland
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Berkelland
Pushpin Map:Netherlands Gelderland#Netherlands
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the province of Gelderland
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:25
Area Total Km2:20.73
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:1,330
Population As Of:2021
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:7157
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Area Code:0545
Coordinates:52.0961°N 6.7247°W

Rekken is a village in the Dutch municipality of Berkelland. It lies in the most northeast corner of the province of Gelderland, about half a mile from the German border. The river Berkel enters The Netherlands east of Rekken. Rekken is also known in international aviation, by the VHF omnidirectional range called 'Rekken' (RKN).

In the 12th century Rekken is known in documents as part of the Parish Eibergen. Later it was allowed by the Bishopric of Münster to form an independent parish. The Rekkenaren built a Catholic Church on the northern bank of the Berkel.

Around 1616 the heerlijkheid Borculo, (until then an autonomous area, where Rekken was a part of) became a property of the duke of Guelders, and with that to the former Dutch Republic. The church in Rekken had to reform to the Dutch Reformed Church, based on the theory of John Calvin. Many Catholics went to church in Oldenkotte, just across the German border.

Freedom of religion came when Rekken became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Catholics then built a church on the southern bank of the Berkel. The river and the two churches divided the village in two parts. This is still visible nowadays.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Postcodetool for 7157AA . nl . Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland . Het Waterschapshuis . 20 March 2022 .
  2. Web site: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 . Central Bureau of Statistics . 20 March 2022.