Geertruidenberg

Infobox Settlement
name = Geertruidenberg
settlement_type = City

---

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = The old city hall on the market in Geertruidenberg


flag_size = 150px
image_shield = Geertruidenberg wapen.pngshield_size = 75px


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Geertruidenberg in the Netherlands
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = North Brabant
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Matthieu Meijer
leader_title1 = Aldermen
leader_name1 = Ad van Onzenoort Antoon van den Enden Lida Verschuren-van Strien Louise Laurijssen-Kerremans
leader_title2 = Secretary
leader_name2 = J.H. Willems
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 29.86
area_land_km2 = 27.02
area_water_km2 = 2.84
area_water_percent = 9.5
population_as_of = 2007
population_total = 20,731
population_density_km2 = 767
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd=51 |latm=42 |lats=0 |latNS=N
longd=4 |longm=52 |longs=0 |longEW=E
postal_code_type = Postcode
postal_code = 4931–4944
area_code = +31(0)162
website = [http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/ www.geertruidenberg.nl]

Geertruidenberg (pronunciation|191_Geerttruidenberg.ogg) is a city and municipality in the province North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands. The city, named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, received city rights in 1213 from the count of Holland. The fortrified city prospered until the 15th century.

Today, the municipality of Geertruidenberg also includes the population centres Raamsdonk and Raamsdonkveer. The municipality has a total area of 29.86 km² and as of 2007 it has a population of 20,731 inhabitants. The city government consists of the mayor Matthieu Meijer and four aldermen.

History

Geertruidenberg is named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles.

In 1213, Sint Geertruidenberg (English: "Saint Gertrude's Mountain") received city rights from Count William I of Holland. The fortrified city became a trade center, where counts and other nobility gathered for negotiations. The Hook and Cod wars in 1420 and the Saint Elizabeth's flood in 1421 ended the prosperity of the city.nl icon cite web
title = Vroeger en nu
work = [http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/ www.geertruidenberg.nl]
publisher = Municipality of Geertruidenberg
url = http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/index.php?simaction=content&mediumid=1&pagid=63&fontsize=10
accessdate = 2008-08-16 ]

Today, Geertruidenberg is part of the province of North Brabant, but it was once part of the county of Holland. Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of Holland as it was the first to receive city rights. It's a common misconception that Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of the Netherlands, because the names Holland and the Netherlands are used interchangeably by some.

Geography

As of 2006, the total area of the municipality is 29.86 km² (11.5 sq mi), of which 27.02 km² is land and 2.84 km² is water.

The municipality of Geertruidenberg comprises three population centres:
*Geertruidenberg
*Raamsdonk
*Raamsdonksveer

Geertruidenberg is located on the bank of the Donge, close to where this river flows into the Amer.

Demography

As of 2007, the total population of Geertruidenberg is 20,731 inhabitants. The population density of the city is 767/km² (1,99/sq mi).

Government

The mayor of Geertruidenberg is Matthieu Meijer and he was appointed mayor by the Dutch monarch, like all mayors in the Netherlands. The four aldermen of Geertruidenberg are Ad van Onzenoort (Keerpunt 74), Antoon van den Enden (PvdA), Lida Verschuren-van Strien (CDA), and Louise Laurijssen-Kerremans (VVD). Together, the mayor and the aldermen form the "College van Burgemeester en Wethouders", which is supported by the city's secretary J.H. Willems.nl icon cite web
title = College van B&W
work = [http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/ www.geertruidenberg.nl]
publisher = Municipality of Geertruidenberg
url = http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/index.php?simaction=content&mediumid=1&pagid=45&fontsize=10
accessdate = 2008-08-16 ]

The city council is elected every four years during municipal elections, at the same time as in most other municipalities of the Netherlands. The 19 members of the city council assemble ten times per year for public meetings in the city hall in Raamsdonksveer. The council members come from seven political parties, two local and five national:nl icon cite web
title = Gemeenteraad
work = [http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/ www.geertruidenberg.nl]
publisher = Municipality of Geertruidenberg
url = http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/index.php?simaction=content&mediumid=1&pagid=47&fontsize=10
accessdate = 2008-08-16 ]
*Keerpunt 74 (5 seats)
*CDA (3 seats)
*Partij Samenwerking (2 seats)
*VVD (2 seats)
*PvdA (4 seats)
*SP (2 seats)
*GroenLinks (1 seat)

References

External links

*nl icon [http://www.geertruidenberg.nl/ Gemeente Geertruidenberg] (official website)