Rijswijk, North Brabant Explained

Rijswijk
Settlement Type:Village
Native Name Lang:nl
Pushpin Map:Netherlands North Brabant#Netherlands
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Netherlands
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:North Brabant
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Altena
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:1.3
Area Total Km2:3.86
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:1,855
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:4284
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Area Code:0183
Coordinates:51.7975°N 5.0236°W

Rijswijk is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Altena, about 5 km southeast of Gorinchem.

History

The village was first mentioned in the 12th century as Riswic, the name being a combination of neighbourhood and twigs.[3]

Slotje Rijswijk is a castle which probably dated from the 14th century. It used to have a tower, however it has been demolished. In 1760, an estate was built on the location, using the foundations of the former castle.[4]

The Dutch Reformed church was originally built before 1369. Remains have been discovered of a church dating from around 1100. In 1809, it was destroyed by a flood, replaced by a new church, and restored in 1999 and 2000.

Rijswijk was home to 306 people in 1840. Rijswijk was a separate municipality until 1973, when it became part of Woudrichem. Rijswijk and neighbouring Giessen have grown into a single urban area.[4] In 2019 Rijswijk became part of Altena[5] by the merger of the municipalities Aalburg, Werkendam and Woudrichem.

References

  1. Web site: Postcodetool for 4284EA . nl . Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland . Het Waterschapshuis . 15 April 2022 .
  2. Web site: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 . Central Bureau of Statistics . 15 April 2022.
  3. Web site: Rijswijk (geografische naam) . Etymologiebank . 15 April 2022 . nl . Authenticity of the 1076-1081 reference is in doubt.
  4. Book: Giessen-Rijswijk . Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert. 1997 . Waanders . Zwolle . 90 400 9945 6 . 15 April 2022 . nl.
  5. Web site: Rijswijk (Brabant) . Plaatsengids . 15 April 2022 . nl.