Veen, Netherlands Explained

Veen
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:1.5
Area Total Km2:3.48
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:2,980
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:4264
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Area Code:0416
Coordinates:51.7769°N 5.1097°W

Veen is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Altena, about 20 km northwest of 's-Hertogenbosch. It is infamous for its New Year's Eve tradition during which scrap cars are burnt,[3] and in 2020 even firemen were attacked with fireworks.

History

It was first mentioned between 1108 and 1121 as de Ueno and means raised bog.[4] Veen is a river bank settlement along the Afgedamde Maas which developed in the Middle Ages.[5]

Its Dutch Reformed church dates from around 1200. The tower was added in the late 13th century. The church was destroyed in 1504 during the Guelders Wars, and later rebuilt. The church was enlarged in 1648. During the restoration of 1961 to 1963, it was returned to its medieval shape.[5]

The grist mill De Hoop was built in 1838. In 1956, it was sold to the municipality who later transferred it to a foundation who restored the mill in 1970. In 1987, it was restored and elevated, because it was hit by trucks several times due to its proximity to the road. Since 2012, the mill is grinding professionally again.[6]

Veen was home to 871 people in 1840.[7] In 1880, the dike breached and most of the village was destroyed. It was later rebuilt.[5]

Veen was a separate municipality until 1973, when it became part of Aalburg.

References

  1. Web site: Postcodetool for 4264AE . 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: Jo Blason . Bridge diving and a Nepalese festival: the weekend’s best photos . . 2 January 2022 . 2 January 2022.
  4. Web site: Veen - (geografische naam) . Etymologiebank . 15 April 2022 . nl.
  5. Book: Veen . Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert. 1997 . Waanders . Zwolle . 90 400 9945 6 . 15 April 2022 . nl.
  6. Web site: De Hoop . Molen database . 15 April 2022 . nl.
  7. Web site: Veen . Plaatsengids . 15 April 2022 . nl.