View source for Woudrichem

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Woudrichem
| settlement_type         = [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|City]] and former [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Woudrichem Panorama 6.JPG
| image_alt               =
| image_caption           = Martin Church and houses in 2015
| image_flag              = Woudrichem vlag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                =
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Woudrichem.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              =
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
<!--
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0874 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Woudrichem in a municipal map of North Brabant
| map_caption             = Location in North Brabant
-->
| pushpin_map             = Netherlands North Brabant#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position  = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|49|N|5|0|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   =
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = Province
| subdivision_name1       = [[North Brabant]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Altena, North Brabant|Altena]]
| extinct_title           = Merged
| extinct_date            = 2019
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          =<ref name="stat"/>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = 7.55
| area_land_km2           = 
| area_water_km2          = 
| elevation_footnotes     =<ref name="AHN">{{cite web
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 4285CP
 |trans-title=|language = Dutch
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |date =
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |accessdate = 9 June 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 0
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    =<ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=14 April 2022}}</ref>
| population_total        = 4.680
| population_as_of        = 2021
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Woudrichem}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Woudrichemmer
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 4285<ref name="stat"/>
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0183
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.woudrichem.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}

'''Woudrichem''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋʌudriɣəm|-|237 Woudrichem.ogg}}; [[Brabantian dialect|Brabantian]]: ''Woerkum'') is a [[city#Netherlands|city]] and former [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in the province of [[North Brabant]] in the [[Netherlands]].

== History ==
[[File:WLANL - Sandra Voogt - De vismarkt van Woudrichem, ca. 1850.jpg|thumb|''The Fish Market of Woudrichem'' {{nowrap|({{circa}} 1850)}} by [[Jan Weissenbruch]]]]

Woudrichem originated in the ninth century. A marketplace emerged on a [[Bank (geography)|riverbank]] where Hoogstraat and Molenstraat are now located. Around the year 1000, several settlements, mostly north of the Alm, appeared and were centered around Woudrichem. Initially, the [[Meuse|Maas]] did not flow past Woudrichem. The main course of this river first flowed approximately through the bed of the current [[Bergse Maas|Bergsche Maas]]; later, the Alm was the main course, and later still, the current [[Afgedamde Maas]], until the Bergsche Maas was dug in 1904.

Woudrichem was strategically located at the confluence of the [[Meuse|Maas]] and [[Waal (river)|Waal]] rivers, within the spheres of influence of the [[Duchy of Brabant]], [[Duchy of Guelders|Gelre]], and the [[County of Holland]]. In 1322, the [[Altena, North Brabant|Land of Altena]] was incorporated into the [[County of Holland]], only to be assigned to the newly formed province of [[North Brabant]] in 1815.

In the fourteenth century, the town had grown so much that the Lord of Altena, Willem VII van Horne, granted city rights to Woudrichem in 1356. In the same year, the [[Count of Holland]] moved the comital river toll from Niemandsvriend, located in [[Sliedrecht]], to Woudrichem. As a result, and due to other privileges such as the fishing rights granted in 1362 by [[Dirk Loef of Horne]], the builder of [[Loevestein Castle]], the town flourished.

During this time, the Martin church was also built. In 1386, construction of the [[Defensive wall|city wall]] began. It was in this year that the Count of Holland annexed the Land of Altena. Negotiations between [[John IV, Duke of Brabant|John IV of Brabant]] and [[John III, Duke of Bavaria|John VI of Bavaria]] led to the Treaty of Woudrichem (1419). After this, the economy began to decline when the toll was moved to [[Gorinchem]] in 1420 and the [[St. Elizabeth's flood (1421)|Saint Elizabeth's flood]] caused devastation in 1421. The situation further deteriorated, partly due to military activities.

Due to its strategic location, Woudrichem was frequently [[Siege|besieged]]. The city was attacked by the Arkels in 1405 and by the Gelders in 1511. In 1572, Woudrichem sided with [[William the Silent|William of Orange]]. In 1573, the [[Geuzen]] deemed the city indefensible and set it on fire.

Between 1583 and 1588, a fortification belt was built around the city, although it enclosed a smaller area than the former city wall. The fortification was designed by Adriaen Antonisz. van Alkmaar. With the help of surrounding cities, the town was rebuilt. Nevertheless, the economic situation remained poor, and in 1700, Woudrichem was granted tax exemption.

In 2006, Woudrichem celebrated '650 years of city rights.' Residents dressed in historical costumes and performed various scenes from past centuries over a weekend in August.

== Naming ==
[[File:Detailed map Woudrichem 1545 (Van Deventer).jpg|thumb|Oldest known map of Woudrichem (1545)]]
There are several explanations for the origin of the name Woudrichem. The first and most likely explanation suggests that the place name comes from 'wald' and 'heim,' indicating a wooded area. A second explanation is that a Lord Waldrik built a house on the bank of the [[Waal (river)|Waal]]. Over time, Woudrichem has been pronounced and written in various ways. Several variants have been displayed on the facade of a building on Kerkstraat in Woudrichem. Some of these variants are as follows:

* ca. 866 UUalricheshem
* ca. 1000 Walderinghem
* 1178 Waldrichem
* 1230 Woudrichemerward
* 1241 Wodrinheim / Wodrincheym / Wodrinchem
* 1465 Woldrichem
* 1476 Woerchem
* 1500 Worrynckhem / Worrynhem
* 1536 Worcum / Worcom
* 1600 Worichem
* 1724 Wornichem

In the region, people now usually say Woerkum or Woerkem.

== Geography ==
[[File:2013-Woudrichem.jpg|thumb|2013 map of the municipality]]
The municipality is located at {{coord|51|49|N|5|0|E}} in the north of [[North Brabant]] just south of the center of the [[Netherlands]]. It is part of the region of [[Land van Heusden en Altena]].

The city of Woudrichem is the largest settlement in the municipality. It is situated on the south bank of where the rivers [[Waal (river)|Waal]] and [[Afgedamde Maas]] join to form the [[Boven Merwede]]. The other population centres in the municipality were:
{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Almkerk]]
* [[Andel, Netherlands|Andel]]
* [[Bronkhorst, North Brabant|Bronkhorst]]
* [[Duizend Morgen]]
* [[Eng, North Brabant|Eng]]
* [[Giessen, Netherlands|Giessen]]
* [[Oudendijk, North Brabant|Oudendijk]]
* [[Rijswijk, North Brabant|Rijswijk]]
* [[Stenenheul]]
* [[Uitwijk]]
* [[Uppel]]
* [[Waardhuizen]]
* [[Zandwijk]]
{{div col end}}

East of the city lies [[Loevestein Castle]], on the other side of the river in the province of [[Gelderland]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Woudrichem, historische haven tussen Rijkswal en Stadshaven foto4 2016-06-19 12.29.jpg|Historical port in Woudrichem
File:Woudrichem, historische haven met kanon bij de Stadshaven-Rijkswal foto7 2016-06-19 12.47.jpg|Historical port in Woudrichem
File:Woudrichem, straatzicht Vissersdijk met stadspoort, kanon en de Rooms Katholieke Kerk van Johannes Nepomuk RM39587 foto6 2016-06-19 12.56.jpg|Street view in Woudrichem
File:Giessen, de Hervormde kerk RM39609 foto6 2016-06-19 13.17.jpg|Reformed church in Giessen
File:Jannie Timmermans winnaar WK Visbakken 2018 - Altena TV.webm|Annual Fish Baking Championship on [[Ascension Day]]
</gallery>

== Government ==
The [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|municipal council]] of Woudrichem had 15 members. The [[Burgemeester|mayor]] was [[Arie Noordergraaf]] of the [[Reformed Political Party]]. On January 1sth 2019 it joined [[Werkendam]] and [[Aalburg]] in the new municipality of [[Altena, North Brabant|Altena]].

== Notable people ==
* [[Louwrens Hanedoes]] (1822 in Woudrichem – 1905 in Woudrichem) landscape painter; in the Romantic style, later turning to Realism.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.woudrichem.nl}}

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Woudrichem
 | North = [[Gorinchem]] ([[South Holland|SH]])<br>''[[Boven Merwede]]''
 | Southeast = [[Rijswijk, North Brabant|Rijswijk]]
 | West      = [[Oudendijk, North Brabant|Oudendijk]]
}}

{{Dutch municipality Altena}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Geography of Altena, North Brabant]]
[[Category:Land van Heusden en Altena]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of North Brabant]]
[[Category:Populated places in North Brabant]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2019]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]