Giessen, Netherlands

Village in North Brabant, Netherlands
Flag of Giessen
Flag
Coat of arms of Giessen
Coat of arms
51°47′19″N 5°1′58″E / 51.78861°N 5.03278°E / 51.78861; 5.03278CountryNetherlandsProvinceNorth BrabantMunicipalityAltenaArea • Total5.46 km2 (2.11 sq mi)Elevation1.7 m (5.6 ft)Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total1,645 • Density300/km2 (780/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Postal code
4283[1]
Dialing code0183

Giessen is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Altena, about 7 km southeast of Gorinchem.

History

The village was first mentioned in 1178 as Giscen. It is named after a river, however the etymology is unclear.[3] Giessen developed in the Middle Ages along the Afgedamde Maas.[4]

The Dutch Reformed church dates was built on a terp (artificial living hill). It was constructed in the 14th century. In 1755, the tower collapsed due to frequently flooding. The church was enlarged in 1856.[4][5]

Giessen was home to 360 people in 1840.[5] Giessen was a separate municipality until 1973, when it became a part of the former municipality of Woudrichem.[6] Giessen nowadays forms a single urban area with Rijswijk.[4]

Sights

Giessen is part of the New Dutch Water Line. Fort Giessen has been preserved, and was constructed between 1878 and 1881.[4]

In 2013 Giessen Castle was rediscovered in the village.[5] There are no visible traces of this castle, except for a small monument that marks its location.

Notable inhabitants

Gallery

  • Dutch Reformed church
    Dutch Reformed church
  • Farm in Giessen
    Farm in Giessen
  • Fort Giessen
    Fort Giessen
  • Painting of Giessen by Eugen Jettel (1886)
    Painting of Giessen by Eugen Jettel (1886)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 4283EB". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Giessen". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert (1997). Giessen-Rijswijk (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9945 6. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Giessen". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  6. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
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