Vianen

For other uses, see Vianen (disambiguation).
Vianen
Municipality

Vianen town centre

Flag
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Vianen in a municipal map of Utrecht
Location in Utrecht
Coordinates: 52°0′N 5°6′E / 52.000°N 5.100°E / 52.000; 5.100Coordinates: 52°0′N 5°6′E / 52.000°N 5.100°E / 52.000; 5.100
Country Netherlands
Province Utrecht
Government[1]
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Wim Groeneweg (CDA)
Area[2]
 • Total 42.39 km2 (16.37 sq mi)
 • Land 39.45 km2 (15.23 sq mi)
 • Water 2.94 km2 (1.14 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 4 m (13 ft)
Population (May 2014)[4]
 • Total 19,625
 • Density 497/km2 (1,290/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 4130–4133
Area code 0347
Website www.vianen.nl

Vianen (Dutch pronunciation: [viˈjaːnə(n)]) is a municipality and a city in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It is the only municipality in Utrecht located south of the Lek River. Before 2002 it was part of the province of South Holland. Vianen is bordered by two major motorways leading to Utrecht: the A2 (Amsterdam-Maastricht) on its west, and the A27 (Breda-Almere) just east of the town. Both roads can be notoriously congested near Vianen during peak commute hours.

Population centres

(Population as of February, 2006)

Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Vianen, June 2015

The city of Vianen

City gate (15th century)

Vianen received city rights in 1337. Vianen thrived under the counts of Brederode, who acquired its lordship through marriage early in the 15th century. It formed a self-proclaimed sovereign seignory till 1795, including Vianen, Lexmond, Hei- en Boeicop and Meerkerk. During the Middle Ages, as a "free city," Vianen could be a haven for felons and escaped serfs. Of the three castles built during the town's history, Castle Batestein was said to be one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands. Its only remnants are a 17th-century brick gate and water-pump. Remnants of the old city wall are visible girdling parts of the old downtown.

Vianen celebrates its city rights every year in October with a horse-market. Besides the horses there are also other activities on this day, such as a fair and market and traditional Dutch games.

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Burgemeester W.G. (Wim) Groeneweg" [Mayor W.G. (Wim) Groeneweg] (in Dutch). Gemeente Vianen. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 4132AS". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Barnes, Mike. "Joaquin Martinez, a Warrior in Film and TV Westerns, Dies at 81". The Hollywood Reporter. 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
 Lopik / Lek IJsselstein, Nieuwegein
Lek		 Lek / Houten
Culemborg (GE)
   Vianen  
Zederik (ZH) Leerdam (ZH)
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