Olst-Wijhe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olst-Wijhe
Municipality
Polders in Olst-Wijhe
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Overijssel
Country	Netherlands
Province	Overijssel
Government
• Body	Municipal council
Area
• Total	118.37 km2 (45.70 sq mi)
• Land	114.08 km2 (44.05 sq mi)
• Water	4.29 km2 (1.66 sq mi)
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Population  (May 2014)
• Total	17,792
• Density	156/km2 (400/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	8120–8139, 8195–8199
Area code	0570, 0578

Olst-Wijhe is a municipality (a local government area) in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is located in the province of Overijssel. This area borders other towns like Zwolle, Raalte, and Deventer.

History and What People Do

The two main towns in this municipality, Olst and Wijhe, are very old. Olst was likely started in the 600s. It was first written about in old records (called chronicles) in 947. Wijhe was mentioned a bit later, in 960.

In the past, most people in Olst-Wijhe worked in farming. They grew fruits and grains, raised cattle, processed meat, and made bricks. These bricks were made outdoors along the IJssel river.

Today, many people who live in Olst and Wijhe travel to nearby cities for work. They might work in Deventer or Zwolle. Both towns have a train station that opened in 1866. Farming is still important in the areas around the towns. There are also some small factories in Olst (making machines) and Wijhe (processing meat).

Joining Towns: How Olst and Wijhe Became One

The municipality of Olst-Wijhe was formed on January 1, 2001. This happened when the two separate towns of Olst and Wijhe decided to join together. The goal was to make local government simpler and more efficient.

At first, the new municipality was just called Olst. But people wanted a name that included both towns. So, on March 26, 2002, it was officially named Olst-Wijhe. A new town hall is now being built on the edge of Wijhe.

Rivers, Land, and Waterways

The IJssel River

The IJssel river is a very important part of Olst-Wijhe. It flows through some parts of the municipality. In other places, it forms the border between the provinces of Overijssel and Gelderland.

Even though the river is mostly the border, there are two small areas of Olst-Wijhe on the other side of the river. These are called exclaves. The villages of Welsum, Welsumerveld, and Marle are in these areas. You can cross the river using special cable ferries. These ferries connect Olst to Welsum and Wijhe to Vorchten.

Olst-Wijhe is part of a low-lying area called Salland. The land near the river is only about one meter above sea level. Further inland, the land is a bit higher, around 10–15 meters above sea level. This area has flat or gently rolling grasslands and forests.

Besides the IJssel river, many smaller streams flow through the municipality. These are called wetering, which means "drainage waterway." They started as natural streams but were made straighter and deeper over time. These waterways generally flow from south to north. They eventually join together to form the Zwarte Water river near Zwolle.

Towns and Villages

Here are the main towns and villages in Olst-Wijhe, with their populations from 2010:

• Boerhaar (765 people)
• Boskamp (1,265 people, includes Hengforden)
• Den Nul (890 people, includes Fortmond and Duur)
• Eikelhof (340 people)
• Elshof (765 people)
• Herxen (415 people)
• Marle (75 people)
• Middel (350 people)
• Olst (5,225 people)
• Welsum (605 people, includes Welsumerveld)
• Wesepe (1,155 people)
• Wijhe (5,690 people)

Getting Around

You can travel to Olst-Wijhe by train. The municipality has two railway stations:

• Olst
• Wijhe

Fun Places to Visit

Mansion de Haere

Church of Olst

Protestant Church of Wijhe

Old Houses and Windmills

Olst-Wijhe has many beautiful old mansions and country houses. Most of these were built in the 1700s. Some examples are Groot Hoenlo, Klein Hoenlo, Nijendal, De Haere, Wijnbergen, De Hei, and Nijenhuis. These houses are usually private homes or businesses, so you can't go inside. However, you can often walk around their lovely gardens and grounds.

The Nijenhuis mansion, near the border with Raalte, is now an art gallery. It displays works by famous artists like Permeke and Van Gogh. It also has a sculpture garden with art by people like Zadkine.

You can also find windmills in Welsum, Olst (two), Boskamp, Wesepe, Marle, and Wijhe (two). Some of these windmills are still working today!

Eikelhof: What to See

• The Murder Cross: This old stone cross was put up in the Middle Ages (the 1400s). It marks the spot where someone named Johan Luckens died in 1493. There are many old stories and legends about it. The cross says:

INT JAER UNSES HEREN MCCCC EN XCIII

STIERF HIER JOHAN LUCKENS
BID VOER DE SELE

(In the year of Our Lord 1493 | Johan Luckens died here | pray for the soul)

• Geology Museum: There is a small museum between Eikelhof and Boskamp. It teaches you about the rocks and land of the region.

Fortmond: Nature Reserve

• Fortmond Natural Reserve: This beautiful nature area is located along the IJssel river. It's a great place to explore nature.

Olst: Special Sights

• Protestant Church: Olst has a Romanesque style church. This means it was built in a very old European style, completed in 1264. Parts of it are made from sandstone from an even older church, and other parts are made of brick.
• Het Baken van Overijssel: This is a piece of modern art made of aluminum. It stands on the eastern bank of the IJssel river. It's like a special sign that marks the entrance to the Overijssel province.

Welsum: Its Church

• Protestant Church: The village of Welsum has a Protestant church with a unique saddle-shaped roof. The main part of the church was built in the 1800s, but its tall steeple is from the 1500s.

Famous People from Olst-Wijhe

• Harmen Jansen Knickerbocker (around 1648 – around 1720) was a Dutch colonist who moved to New Netherland (now part of the USA).
• Jean Jacques Rambonnet (1864 in Wijhe – 1943) was a Dutch naval officer, a politician, and the Chief Scout.
• Gerrit Berkhoff (1901 in Wijhe – 1996) was a Dutch chemist and a university professor.
• Conny Stuart (1913 in Wijhe – 2010) was a Dutch actress, singer, and cabaret performer.
• Danique Kerkdijk (born 1996 in Olst) is a Dutch football player who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion WFC.

See also

In Spanish: Olst-Wijhe para niños