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Tiel

Tiel
Municipality
Fortified dyke in Tiel
Fortified dyke in Tiel
Flag of Tiel
Flag
Coat of arms of Tiel
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Tiel in a municipal map of Gelderland
Location in Gelderland
Coordinates: 51°53′N 5°26′E / 51.883°N 5.433°E / 51.883; 5.433Coordinates: 51°53′N 5°26′E / 51.883°N 5.433°E / 51.883; 5.433
Country Netherlands
Province Gelderland
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Hans Beenakker (VVD)
Area
 • Total 34.81 km2 (13.44 sq mi)
 • Land 32.27 km2 (12.46 sq mi)
 • Water 2.54 km2 (0.98 sq mi)
Elevation 7 m (23 ft)
Population (May 2014)
 • Total 41,723
 • Density 1,293/km2 (3,350/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Tielenaar
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 4000–4007, 4013–4014, 4017, 4062
Area code 0344
Website www.tiel.nl

Tiel (Dutch pronunciation: [til]) is a municipality and a town in the middle of the Netherlands. The town is enclosed by the Waal river and the Linge river on the south and the north side, and the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal on the east side. The city was founded in the 5th century AD.

Tiel is the largest town in the Betuwe area, which is famous for being one of the centres of Dutch fruit production. Orchards in the area produce apples, pears, plums and cherries. Tiel once housed the famous jam factory De Betuwe. After production was moved to Breda in 1993, the entire complex was demolished, although a part was reconstructed later. Reminding of this industry is a jam manufacturing museum and a statue of Flipje, the raspberry-based comic figure who starred in De Betuwe's, jam factory advertisements since the 1930s.

Tiel is one of the oldest towns in the Netherlands. Originally located on the Linge river it became an important centre of trade in the early Middle Ages, especially after the demise of Dorestad in the 9th century. Later in the Middle Ages Tiel was associated with the Hanseatic League. At the height of its glory Tiel had two big churches, one of which, the St. Walburg, was a collegiate church that belonged to the Teutonic Knights and vanished after the Reformation while the other church, the St. Maarten, became Protestant. Much of the historic centre was destroyed during the Second World War.

Every year, on the third Saturday in September, a festival known as 'Fruitcorso' is held to celebrate the fruit harvest from the Betuwe area. On this day, a parade of wagons, decorated with fruit, travels through the city, competing for the top three ranking. This top three is split in a 'normal' and a 'youth' category, with the wagons in the youth category featuring smaller wagons. Along the canal fruit mosaics are made by various organisations, also competing for a place in the top three. In the past, this event was accompanied by 'Appelpop', a free, two-day music event on the Waalkade. Due to Appelpop's popularity, Fruitcorso and Appelpop were split up, with Appelpop taking the second Friday and Saturday of September.


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