Schoonhoven
| Schoonhoven | |||
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| City and former municipality | |||
Canal in Schoonhoven
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.svg) Location in South Holland |
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| Coordinates: 51°57′N 4°51′E / 51.950°N 4.850°ECoordinates: 51°57′N 4°51′E / 51.950°N 4.850°E | |||
| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | South Holland | ||
| Municipality | Krimpenerwaard | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 6.92 km2 (2.67 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 6.27 km2 (2.42 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 3 m (10 ft) | ||
| Population (May 2014) | |||
| • Total | 11,900 | ||
| • Density | 1,898/km2 (4,920/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Schoonhovenaar | ||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
| Postcode | 2870–2871 | ||
| Area code | 0182 | ||
| Website | www |
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Schoonhoven (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsxoːnˌɦoːvə(n)]) is a city and former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Since 2015 it has been a part of the municipality of Krimpenerwaard.
The former municipality had a population of 11,900 in 2014, and covered an area of 6.92 km2 (2.67 sq mi) of which 0.65 km2 (0.25 sq mi) water. From 2010 to 2014, it was the smallest municipality in the Netherlands in land area, following the merger of Rozenburg into Rotterdam.
A historic map of Schoonhoven of 1652 shows the north and west town walls, which were common during medieval times in the Netherlands. The only remaining medieval entrance gate of Schoonhoven is the Veerpoort (Ferry Gate) next to the Lek River (see external link 4). This Veerpoort has protected Schoonhoven from the floods of the river Rhine and from the sea during the North Sea flood of 1953 and is still fully functional as a water barrier today.
A ferry transporting both vehicles and pedestrians across the Lek River (see external link 5) connects Schoonhoven with Gelkenes in the municipality of Molenwaard.
In the grassy fields around the city of Schoonhoven you can see a magnificent bird life such as storks (external link 6).
The first winner of the Dutch version of Pop Idol, Jamai Loman, is from this town. Also Jan-Arie van der Heijden, player of football club Vitesse Arnhem, lives in Schoonhoven.
Circa 1220 a castle was built on the north side of little stream Zevender, near its mouth at the Lek River and Schoonhoven formed near the castle. The oldest reference to Schoonhoven is on a document from 1247 where the town is called Sconhoven. In 1280, it was granted city rights.
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Wikipedia