Giessen, Netherlands

Giessen
Village
Entrance of Giessen
Entrance of Giessen
Flag of Giessen
Flag
Coat of arms of Giessen
Coat of arms
Giessen is located in North Brabant
Giessen
Giessen
Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands
Giessen is located in Netherlands
Giessen
Giessen
Giessen (Netherlands)
Coordinates: 51°47′19″N 5°1′58″E / 51.78861°N 5.03278°E / 51.78861; 5.03278
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
MunicipalityAltena
Area
[1]
 • Total
5.46 km2 (2.11 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
1.7 m (5.6 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
1,645
 • 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 was dates was built on a terp (artificial living hill) in the 14th century. In 1755, the tower collapsed due to frequent 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

  • 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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