Rhenen

Rhenen
City and Municipality
The Cunera Church in Rhenen
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Utrecht
Coordinates: 51°58′N 5°34′E / 51.967°N 5.567°E / 51.967; 5.567Coordinates: 51°58′N 5°34′E / 51.967°N 5.567°E / 51.967; 5.567
Country	Netherlands
Province	Utrecht
Government
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Hans van der Pas (PvdA)
Area
• Municipality	43.76 km2 (16.90 sq mi)
• Land	42.08 km2 (16.25 sq mi)
• Water	1.68 km2 (0.65 sq mi)
Elevation	43 m (141 ft)
Population (February 2017)
• Municipality	19,164
• Density	455/km2 (1,180/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Rhenenaar
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	3910–3922
Area code	0317, 0318
Website	www.rhenen.nl

Rhenen ( pronunciation ) is a municipality and a town in the central Netherlands. The municipality also includes the villages of Achterberg, Remmerden, Elst and Laareind. The town lies at a geographically interesting location, namely on the southernmost part of the chain of hills known as the Utrecht Hill Ridge (Utrechtse Heuvelrug), where this meets the river Rhine. Because of this Rhenen has a unique character with quite some elevation through town.

Directly to the east of the built-up area lies the Grebbeberg, a hill with a top elevation of about 50 metres (160 ft).

Rhenen received city rights probably between 1256 and 1258. In 1346, the bishop of Utrecht ordered the construction of a defensive wall around the city, which was important because it lay near the border with Guelders. Although for some time the town collected toll from ships on the Rhine, it has never had a harbour. The three city gates were demolished in 1840. Small fragments of the wall remain.

The town is also famous for the Cunera Church, parts of which date back to the 15th century. Containing the relics of Saint Cunera, it attracted many pilgrims. Legend has it that Cunera was buried on a nearby hill now called the Cuneraheuvel. The church's tower was built between 1492 and 1531.