Ermelo

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ermelo

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image_size = 250px
image_caption = Ermelo town hall


flag_size = 120x100px


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Gelderland
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 87.38
area_land_km2 = 85.67
area_water_km2 = 1.72
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 26297
population_density_km2 = 307
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2

:"For the South African town with the same name, see Ermelo, Mpumalanga"

area with a population of over 26.000.

History

The town has been known to exist since at least 855. For a long time it consisted of little more than a few farms and some other buildings like a windmill and a church and it didn't really grow much until the 19th century; in the year 1830 a road was made to make this part of the Veluwe more accessible and at the end of the 19th century the town got a train station. Because the trainstation was some distance away from the town centre a road was constructed, the Stationsstraat, which is now considered to be the centre of the town. After the second world war a shortage of houses resulted in a rapid growth of Ermelo. In 1973 Nunspeet became its own separate municipality after having been part of Ermelo before. In 2005 the town celebrated its 1150th birthday.

Recreation

There are many campsites in the forests surrounding Ermelo which are popular place to stay for mainly Dutch and German tourists. Cycling through the forests and heaths is a popular activity, especially during the summer. The nearby Veluwemeer allows for recreation on the water or beach. The town centre is home to various bars and restaurants and a tourist information centre.

Transportation

Ermelo has one railway station, with a train normally leaving every 30 minutes during the day both north towards Zwolle and south towards Amersfoort. By car, it can be easily reached from highway A28 which passes west of the town and provincial road N303 which passes through the town. There are also various bus routes passing through the town. A pedestrian and cyclist only ferry operates between strand Horst (Horst beach) and Zeewolde, crossing the Veluwemeer.

ports

Ermelo is home to various sports clubs. At the time of UEFA Euro 2000, the Portuguese national team stayed in Ermelo and played against one of the local clubs, "DVS '33". This club organizes an annual international tournament for young players [http://www.dvs33.nl/intjeugdtoernooi-en.asp] . Spanish La Liga football team Valencia CF has regularly used Ermelo as a base for their preseason training, and have played a number of matches at the local ground against other visiting clubs from Europe, such as Lokomotiv Sofia in 2007 and Fenerbahçe in 2006. [ [http://www.valenciacf.es/noticias/prelimin.asp?idnoticia=10603&idioma=2&IdBanner=Aleatorio "Valencia CF, once more in Ermelo, the ideal setting for the élite's training"] Valenciacf.es 12 July 2006 Link accessed 28.05.08]

Population centres

*De Beek
*Drie
*Horst
*Houtdorp
*Leuvenum
*Speuld
*Staverden
*Telgt
*Tonsel

People born in Ermelo

*Aart Vierhouten (born 1970), cyclist
*Martin van der Spoel (born 1971), swimmer

Living in Ermelo

*Evert ten Napel (born 1944), well known football commentator

External links

* [http://www.ermelo.nl Official Website] (Dutch)
* [http://www.ermelo.org Ermelo news] (Dutch)
* [http://www.schapedrift.nl Ermelo sheepbarn & visitors' centre] (Dutch & partly English)

References