Veenendaal Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Veenendaal

Church in Veenendaal

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Utrecht

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

19.72 km² (7.61 sq mi)

• Land

19.51 km² (7.53 sq mi)

• Water

0.21 km² (0.08 sq mi)

Elevation

6 m (20 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

63,322

• Density

3,246/km² (8,410/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Veenendaler

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

3900–3907

Area code

0318

Topographic map of Veenendaal (town), March 2014

Veenendaal (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈveːnə(n)ˌdaːl]) is a municipality and a town in the central Netherlands. It is located in the province of Utrecht. Veenendaal is the only main town within its official borders.

As of August 8, 2024, the municipality had about 70,000 people living there. The total area of Veenendaal is 19.72 km² (7.61 sq mi).

History of Veenendaal
Religion in Veenendaal
Famous People from Veenendaal
- Sport Stars from Veenendaal
Gallery
See also

History of Veenendaal

How Veenendaal Began

The original village of Veenendaal was started in the middle of the 16th century. It was founded as a place where people dug for peat. Peat is a type of soil made from decayed plants, often used as fuel.

The town's name comes from this activity. Veen is the Dutch word for "fen" or "peat bog." Daal means "dale" or "valley." So, Veenendaal means "peat valley."

Early Administration and Independence

For a long time, the village was split between two nearby towns. These towns were part of different provinces. The southern part of Veenendaal belonged to Rhenen in Utrecht. The northeastern part belonged to Ede in Guelders.

In 1795, French soldiers arrived in the Netherlands. Inspired by the ideas of the French Revolution, the people of Veenendaal declared their independence. After the time of Napoleon ended, and the Netherlands became a kingdom again, only the southern part of Veenendaal stayed independent.

Growth of Industry

During the 19th century, Veenendaal became known for its industries. Making wool and processing tobacco were the biggest ways people earned money. Large factories became important parts of this small, rural town.

The Great Flood of 1855

In 1855, Veenendaal experienced a big flood. This natural disaster caused many people to leave their homes and seek safety in the city of Utrecht. Today, there is a monument near the railway station to remember this event.

Modern Veenendaal: Mergers and Growth

In 1960, the northern part of Veenendaal, which was still controlled by Ede, finally joined with the self-governing part of the town. Later, more land from Rhenen and Renswoude was added. This allowed Veenendaal to build new homes for its growing population.

The town grew very quickly. In the 1920s, there were about 10,000 people. By 1960, the population was 23,000. Today, Veenendaal has over 68,000 residents.

Awards for Green Spaces and Cycling

Veenendaal has received special recognition for its environment and cycling culture. In 1997, it was named the greenest city in Europe. In 2004, it was chosen as the greenest city in the Netherlands.

Like many Dutch cities, Veenendaal is very friendly for cyclists. It has a large network of bike paths, making it easy to cycle around. Biking is a very popular way to get around town. In 2000 and 2020, Veenendaal was even named Fietsstad (Bicycle City) of the year. This means it was recognized as the best city for cycling in the Netherlands.

Religion in Veenendaal

Veenendaal is known as one of the larger towns within the Dutch Bible Belt. This area has a notable number of people who follow conservative Protestantism. While they are a significant group, they do not form the majority of the population. Other cities in this area include Ede and Kampen.

Famous People from Veenendaal

Linda Faber, 1976

Many interesting people have come from Veenendaal. Here are some of them:

Antonie Aris van de Loosdrecht (1885-1917) – A Dutch missionary.
Kees Stip (1913-2001) – A Dutch poet known for short, witty poems called epigrams.
Bram van Ojik (born 1954) – A Dutch politician, diplomat, and activist.
Roelof Bisschop (born 1956) – A Dutch historian and politician. He was a Veenendaal town council member from 1986 to 2007.
Stef Bos (born 1961) – A Dutch singer who now lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
Frits Wester (born 1962) – A Dutch journalist and political expert on Dutch TV.
Jan Engelaar (born 1968) – Also known as DJ Jean, a Dutch disc jockey.
Carla Dik-Faber (born 1971) – A Dutch art historian and politician. She was a Veenendaal town council member from 2003 to 2010.
Yuri Landman (born 1973) – An artist who builds unique musical instruments.
Bas Oskam (born 1980) – Known as Noisecontrollers, a Dutch DJ and producer of hardstyle music.
Sandra Beckerman (born 1983) – A Dutch Member of Parliament (MP).
Joram Metekohy (born 1983) – Known as Wildstylez, a Dutch hardstyle DJ and record producer.
Willem Rebergen (born 1985) – Known as Headhunterz, a Dutch DJ and record producer.
Nicky Romero (born 1989) – A Dutch musician, DJ, record producer, and remixer.

Sport Stars from Veenendaal

Linda Faber (born 1960) – A former freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
Marco van den Berg (born 1965) – A Dutch retired basketball player and current coach.
Harry van der Meer (born 1973) – A former water polo player who played in three Summer Olympics.
Barry Ditewig (born 1977) – A Dutch football goalkeeper with over 400 games for clubs.
Botic van de Zandschulp (born 1995) – A tennis player who is currently ranked as the top Dutch male player.
Dylan van Baarle (born 1992) – A Dutch cyclist who rides for the Jumbo-Visma team.
Anouar El Azzouzi (born 2001) – A Moroccan-Dutch football player who plays for PEC Zwolle.
Oussama El Azzouzi (born 2001) – A Moroccan-Dutch football player who plays for Bologna FC 1909.