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Geertruidenberg

Geertruidenberg
City and Municipality
Former city hall on market square
Former city hall on market square
Flag of Geertruidenberg
Flag
Coat of arms of Geertruidenberg
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Geertruidenberg in a municipal map of North Brabant
Location in North Brabant
Coordinates: 51°42′N 4°52′E / 51.700°N 4.867°E / 51.700; 4.867Coordinates: 51°42′N 4°52′E / 51.700°N 4.867°E / 51.700; 4.867
Country Netherlands
Province North Brabant
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Willemijn van Hees (VVD)
Area
 • Municipality 29.64 km2 (11.44 sq mi)
 • Land 26.64 km2 (10.29 sq mi)
 • Water 3.00 km2 (1.16 sq mi)
Elevation 3 m (10 ft)
Population (May 2014)
 • Municipality 21,596
 • Density 811/km2 (2,100/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 4930–4944
Area code 0162
Website www.geertruidenberg.nl

Geertruidenberg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣeːrtrœydə(m)ˌbɛrx]) 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 fortified city prospered until the 15th century.

Today, the municipality of Geertruidenberg also includes the population centres Raamsdonk and Raamsdonksveer. The municipality has a total area of 29.64 km2 (11.44 sq mi) and had a population of 21,596 in 2014. The city government consists of the mayor Willemijn van Hees and three aldermen.

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 fortified 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.

During the Eighty Years War the city was captured by an English, French Huguenot and Fleming force in 1573 - in a surprise attack. In 1589 however the city was betrayed to Parma by its English garrison. It was finally recaptured by an Anglo-Dutch force under the command of Maurice of Nassau in the summer of 1593.


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