Zevenaar Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Zevenaar

Church in Lathum

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Gelderland

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

58.00 km² (22.39 sq mi)

• Land

53.26 km² (20.56 sq mi)

• Water

4.74 km² (1.83 sq mi)

Elevation

12 m (39 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

32,282

• Density

606/km² (1,570/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Zevenaarder

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

6900–6909, 6986–6988

Area code

0313, 0316

Dutch topographic map of Zevenaar, September 2014

Zevenaar is a city and a municipality in the eastern Netherlands. It is located in the Gelderland province, very close to the border with Germany.

In January 2018, the nearby municipality of Rijnwaarden became part of Zevenaar. This made Zevenaar a larger municipality.

Towns and Villages in Zevenaar
History of Zevenaar
Famous People from Zevenaar
- Sports Stars
Images for kids
See also

Towns and Villages in Zevenaar

The municipality of Zevenaar includes several smaller towns and villages. These are:

Angerlo
Babberich
Giesbeek
Lathum
Ooy
Oud-Zevenaar
Zevenaar

History of Zevenaar

Early Beginnings

People have lived in the area of Zevenaar for a very long time. The oldest signs of human life are from a settlement built around 700 BC. In 1049, a powerful ruler named Emperor Hendrik III gave a lot of land to five important leaders. One of these leaders was Bartholomeus II of Sevenaer. They built a castle to protect the old Roman settlements from attacks.

Changes in Control

In 1355, Sevenaer (as it was then called) changed hands. It went from being part of the Guelders region to the Duchy of Cleves. The modern Dutch province of Gelderland is named after the old Guelders region.

In 1487, the Duke of Cleves gave Sevenaer special "city rights." This was a big deal! Zevenaar was an important place because it was on the border between different powerful regions. These regions would later become the countries we know today as the Netherlands and Germany. Some old castles and houses in Zevenaar, like Huize Sevenaer, still have parts built in the 14th century.

Life in the City

When Sevenaer got city rights, it also gained special powers. It was the only place in the area allowed to hold markets and sell bread and beer. The town government also started collecting taxes. These taxes helped pay for roads and public buildings. For the 500 people living there at the time, these taxes were quite high.

However, armies often plundered the town, meaning they stole supplies and money. This made it hard to build new things. Despite this, some wealthy families helped the town grow. Zevenaar then had a good period of growth and success.

Becoming Part of Larger Powers

In 1614, Zevenaar became part of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This area would later become part of Prussia, a very strong European country. By 1793, the city had grown to about 900 people.

In 1816, Zevenaar joined the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Two years later, its name changed from Sevenaer to the current spelling, Zevenaar. The municipality then had 2,564 people. The 1800s were a tough time, with poverty, bad harvests, and sickness. Many people worked in farming or relied on charity.

Modern Growth

Things started to improve in 1856 when Zevenaar got connected to the European railroad system. This made it easier for people to travel and for businesses to grow. It also led to more jobs.

In 1920, a cigarette factory called Turmac opened in Zevenaar, creating even more jobs. After World War II, which caused a lot of damage, people worked hard to rebuild the city. New neighborhoods were built around the old town center. In the 1950s, about 10,000 people lived in Zevenaar. By 2005, this number had more than doubled to 22,500 residents.

Famous People from Zevenaar

Many interesting people have come from Zevenaar and the surrounding areas.

Linda Wagenmakers, 2009

Andreas Masius (1514–1573) – A Catholic priest and a very smart scholar.
H. L. M. van Nispen van Sevenaer (1879–1958) – A politician and a resistance fighter during the war.
Karel de Nerée tot Babberich (1880–1909) – A talented symbolist artist.
Thijs van Leer (born 1948) – A Dutch musician, famous for being in the band Focus.
Linda Wagenmakers (born 1975) – A singer and voice actress.
Esmée Denters (born 1988) – A female singer.

Sports Stars

Phillip Cocu, 2014

Minie Brinkhoff (born 1952) – A retired Dutch cyclist.
Erik Parlevliet (1964–2007) – A field hockey player who won a bronze medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics.
Phillip Cocu (born 1970) – A professional football manager and a famous former player.
Servais Knaven (born 1971) – A Dutch professional road bicycle racer who competed in the Olympics.
Danny Heister (born 1971) – A professional table tennis player.
Wesley Koolhof (born 1989) – A professional tennis player.