Vianen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vianen
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City and former municipality
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Vianen town centre
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.svg)
Location of the former municipality in Utrecht
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | Utrecht | ||
| Municipality | Vijfheerenlanden | ||
| Merged | 2019 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 42.39 km2 (16.37 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 39.45 km2 (15.23 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(November, 2018)
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| • Total | 20,423 | ||
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postcode |
4130–4133
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| Area code | 0347 | ||
Vianen is a city in the central Netherlands. It is located in the province of Utrecht, south of the Lek river. Before 2002, Vianen was part of the South Holland province.
The city has a historic centre that dates back to the Middle Ages. This old part was once surrounded by a defensive wall and a moat. You can still see parts of the wall today. Vianen also has newer housing areas and a busy industrial zone. Two main motorways, the A2 and the A27, pass through Vianen. These roads lead to the city of Utrecht.
On January 1, 2019, Vianen joined with the municipalities of Leerdam and Zederik. The new, larger municipality is called Vijfheerenlanden. It is now part of the Utrecht province.
The City of Vianen
Vianen became a city in 1337, which means it was given special rights. The city grew and became important under the counts of Brederode. They gained control of Vianen through marriage in the early 1400s.
Vianen was like its own small, independent area until 1795. It included Vianen itself, plus the nearby places of Lexmond, Hei- en Boeicop, and Meerkerk. In the Middle Ages, Vianen was known as a "free city." This meant it was a safe place for people seeking freedom or a new start.
Over time, three castles were built in Vianen. Batestein Castle was said to be one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Today, only a brick gate from the 1600s and an old water-pump remain. You can still see parts of the old city wall around the historic downtown area.
Every year in October, Vianen celebrates its city rights with a traditional horse market. Besides the horses, there are other fun activities. These include a fair, a general market, and traditional Dutch games.
Notable People from Vianen
- Frans van Brederode (1465 - 1490), a military leader.
- Nicolaas Heinsius the Elder (1620 - 1681), a famous scholar and diplomat.
- Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles, Marquise de La Fayette (1759–1807), married to French General Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. She lived in Vianen in 1799.
- Marian van de Wal (born 1970), a singer.
- Jeannette Lewin (born 1972), a hockey player.
- Joaquín Martínez (1930 - 2012), a Mexican-born film and television actor. He lived in Everdingen, which was part of the Vianen area.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Vianen para niños
