Harderwijk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harderwijk
Harderwiek (Veluws)
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Harderwijk, view to the town from het Zeepad
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.svg)
Location in Gelderland
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 Harderwijk
Location in Netherlands
Harderwijk
Location in Europe
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | Gelderland | ||
| Government | |||
| • Body | Municipal council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 48.27 km2 (18.64 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 38.59 km2 (14.90 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 9.68 km2 (3.74 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) | ||
| Population
(May 2014)
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| • Total | 45,668 | ||
| • Density | 1,183/km2 (3,060/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Harderwijker | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
3840–3849
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| Area code | 0341 | ||
Harderwijk is a city and a municipality in the Netherlands. It is located in the province of Gelderland. The city's name in Dutch Low Saxon is Harderwiek.
Harderwijk has its own Harderwijk railway station. The main towns in the municipality are Harderwijk itself and Hierden. The city is found on the western edge of the Veluwe, which is a large forest and heathland area. The southeastern part of the municipality has many forests.
Contents
Harderwijk's Past
Harderwijk became a city in 1231. This means it was given special rights by Count Otto II of Guelders. By the end of the 1200s, a strong wall was built around the city to protect it. The oldest part of Harderwijk is where the streets Hoogstraat and Grote Poortstraat are today.
Around 1315, the city grew bigger towards the south. This is when the large church, now called the Grote Kerk, was built. Later, around 1425, the city expanded northwards too.
Much of the old city wall still stands, especially on the west side. However, it has been changed over time. The only city gate that remains is the Vischpoort, also known as the Fish Gate.
The University of Harderwijk
From 1648 to 1811, Harderwijk had its own university. A very famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus, who studied plants and animals, graduated from this university. However, in 1811, the university was closed down by Napoleon.
Harderwijk and the Hanseatic League
Harderwijk was once part of the Hanseatic League. This was a powerful group of trading cities in Northern Europe. Harderwijk was located on the shore of what was then the Zuiderzee, a large inland sea. Because of this, the city's economy relied heavily on fishing and sailing.
Things changed a lot after 1932. The Afsluitdijk, a big dam, was built to separate the Zuiderzee from the North Sea. This turned the Zuiderzee into a freshwater lake called the IJsselmeer. After this, there were very few fishing boats left in Harderwijk's harbor. Today, the harbor is mostly used by yachts.
Even though fishing is not as important now, Harderwijk still celebrates its past. There is an annual event called Aaltjesdag, which means Eel day. You can still buy fresh fish at stalls and restaurants along the boulevard for most of the year.
What Harderwijk is Known For Today
Today, Harderwijk is probably most famous for the Dolfinarium Harderwijk. This is a special park where you can watch amazing dolphin shows. They also have many other sea animals and fish. It's a popular place for tourists to visit.
Famous People from Harderwijk
Many interesting people have come from Harderwijk:
- Henriëtte van der Meij (1850-1945) was an early Dutch journalist and a supporter of women's rights.
- Theo de Meester (1851–1919) was a politician who became the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
- Herman Bouma (born 1934) is a researcher who studies how people see and how technology can help older people.
- Henk Schiffmacher (1952) is a well-known Dutch tattoo artist.
- Joost Eerdmans (1971) is a TV host and politician.
Sports Stars
Harderwijk has also been home to many talented athletes:
- Marianne Timmer (1974) is a speed skater who won two gold medals at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
- Jan Bos (1975) is also a speed skater who won silver medals at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics.
- Theo Bos (1983) is a cyclist who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
- Lisa Kruger (born 2000) is a paralympic swimmer.
Images for kids
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Map of Harderwijk from 1652. North is at the bottom of this map.
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The Grote Kerk (Great Church) in Harderwijk.
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The Vischpoort (Fish Gate) in Harderwijk.
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A view of the Vischmarkt (Fish Market) street.
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The Harbour of Harderwijk, seen from De Hoop windmill.
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Parts of the old defensive wall, a cannon, and a church tower.
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De Hoop windmill in Harderwijk.
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The Linnaeus tower in Harderwijk.
See also
In Spanish: Harderwijk para niños
