Weesp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Weesp
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City
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.jpg)    Images, from top down, left to right: 't Haantje windmill, Herengracht, city docks and Vechtstreek
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Location in North Holland
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| Country | Netherlands | ||||
| Province | North Holland | ||||
| Municipality | Amsterdam | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 21.83 km2 (8.43 sq mi) | ||||
| • Land | 20.51 km2 (7.92 sq mi) | ||||
| • Water | 1.32 km2 (0.51 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 1 m (3 ft) | ||||
| Population
(May 2014)
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| • Total | 18,255 | ||||
| • Density | 890/km2 (2,300/sq mi) | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Weesper | ||||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||||
| Postcode |
1380–1384
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| Area code | 0294 | ||||
Weesp (Dutch pronunciation: [ʋeːsp]) is a city in the Netherlands. It is part of the Amsterdam municipality in the North Holland province. Weesp is located on the Vecht River and next to the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal. It is in an area known as the Vechtstreek.
In 2014, Weesp had a population of 18,255. On March 24, 2022, the former municipality of Weesp joined with Amsterdam.
Contents
Weesp's Past: A Look at History
Long ago, the area around Weesp was a wet, uninhabited peat bog. Weesp was given special "city rights" in 1355. This means it could govern itself like a city. In 2005, Weesp celebrated its 650th birthday as a city!
From the Middle Ages, the Vecht River was an important defense line. It protected the County of Holland. Weesp was a very strong city, even though it was small. It had many defenses, like forts and barracks. These defenses were part of the Hollandic Water Line. This was a system where areas could be flooded to stop enemies.
Weesp was also part of the Stelling van Amsterdam, a huge defense line around Amsterdam. This line is so important that it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Luckily, these defenses were never attacked.
After World War II, Weesp grew. New homes were built, and an industrial area with a harbor was added. More neighborhoods were built in the south and north of the city.
The main church in Weesp used to be for Saint Laurens. Today, it is still used for Protestant services. It has a famous set of bells called a carillon, made in 1671. Later, a Catholic church was also built in Weesp.
The Dutch government decided Weesp was too small to be its own municipality. In 2018, people in Weesp voted to join Amsterdam. Most people (57.4%) agreed. So, on March 24, 2022, Weesp officially became part of Amsterdam.
Weesp's Communities
The area of Weesp includes three main towns: De Horn, Uitermeer, and Weesp itself. The northern part of Weesp city is known for Hogewey. This is a special village designed for people with dementia.
Weesp's Economy: What They Make and Do
Weesp is famous for a few things! The very first porcelain made in the Netherlands came from Weesp in 1759.
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Another famous product from Weesp is Van Houten chocolate. Before chocolate, Weesp made beer and a type of gin called jenever. It also made porcelain and was a trading hub because of its location on waterways. Today, Weesp has many different types of businesses.
There used to be a large medicine factory in Weesp called Solvay Pharmaceuticals. Later, Abbott Laboratories bought it. This factory still makes important ingredients for medicines and flu vaccines. A local treat from Weesp is the Weesper Mop cookie, which is made with mashed almonds.
Visiting Weesp: Fun Things to See
Weesp is a great place for tourists to visit. It has a protected historic center with canals and many old buildings from the 1600s and 1700s.
Weesp also has three large, old windmills. You can see parts of its old defenses, like a bastion and fortifications. These are part of the Defense Line of Amsterdam and the Dutch Water Line.
The beautiful Vecht River is popular for boating and cycling. The Naardermeer area, which is the first nature reserve in the Netherlands, is just a short bike ride away. It protects the natural Gooi landscape. You can also visit the Weesp local museum, which is in the old city hall.
Getting Around: Transport in Weesp
Weesp has one train station called Weesp. It's a busy station where trains from different lines meet and then go their separate ways. This means Weesp has many trains every hour. You can easily travel to places like Amsterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, Hilversum, and Utrecht Centraal.
Right outside the train station, there is a small bus station. Buses here can take you to nearby towns and villages like Muiden, Muiderberg, and Nigtevecht. You can also take a bus to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA station.
Famous People from Weesp
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Many interesting people have come from Weesp:
- Thomas Hees (1634-1693) – A Dutch diplomat who worked with the Barbary corsairs.
- Salomon van Til (1643-1713) – A religious scholar from the Dutch Reformed Church.
- Bernardus van Schijndel (1647–1709) – A Dutch painter known for small everyday scenes.
- Cornelis Ploos van Amstel (1726–1798) – A Dutch painter and art collector.
- Coenraad Johannes van Houten (1801 – 1887 in Weesp) – A Dutch chemist who invented a way to make cocoa powder.
- Willy Mullens (1880-1952) – A Dutch producer and director of movies.
- Phemia Molkenboer (1883–1940) – A Dutch artist who designed ceramics and furniture.
- Willem van Beusekom (1947–2006) – A Dutch TV presenter and radio DJ.
- Wendy van Dijk (born 1971) – A Dutch actress and TV presenter.
- Lieuwe Albertsma (born 1987) – Also known as Wulf, a Dutch musician.
Sports Stars
- Marco Ruitenbeek (born 1968) – A former Dutch football player.
- Antoni Hardonk (born 1976) – A Dutch mixed martial artist and kickboxer.
Images for kids
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The Amsterdam–Rhine Canal near Weesp.
See also
In Spanish: Weesp para niños
