Geertruidenberg ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣeːrtrœydə(m)ˌbɛr(ə)x] ) 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.
15-503: Today, the municipality of Geertruidenberg includes the population centres Raamsdonk and Raamsdonksveer . The municipality has a total area of 29.64 km (11.44 sq mi) and had a population of 21,770 in 2021. The city government consists of the mayor 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
30-644: A church in a barn. In the hamlet Waspikse the Benedenkerk. In 1787, another church in a barn was installed in Raamsdonk. This church was dedicated to Saint-Bavo and was in Bergenstraat. In 1798, however, Catholics demanded to return to the St. Lambert church. They did not succeed but received a sum of money in compensation. The barn church served the community until 1888. Then a new monumental St. Bavo Church,
45-469: A dissolute lifestyle for that of a missionary under the guidance of Saint Amand. Bavo was born near Liège , to a Frankish noble family that gave him the name Allowin . A wild young aristocrat of the Brabant area, he contracted a beneficial marriage, and had a daughter. As a soldier he led an undisciplined and disorderly life. Shortly after the death of his wife, Bavo decided to reform after hearing
60-442: A sermon preached by Saint Amand ( c. 584 – 679) on the emptiness of material things. On returning to his house he distributed his wealth to the poor, and then received the tonsure from Amand. For some time thereafter, Bavo joined Amand in the latter's missionary travels throughout France and Flanders . On one occasion, Bavo met a man whom he had sold into slavery years before. Wishing to atone for his earlier deed, Bavo had
75-558: A trade center, where counts and other nobility gathered for negotiations. In 1323–1325, Geertruidenberg Castle was constructed very close to the city center. During the Hook and Cod wars , the city chose the Cod side in 1351, while the castle remained on the Hook side. This led to the 1350–1351 Siege of Geertruidenberg . In 1420 a similar siege during a later Hook and Cod war caused huge damage to
90-455: Is for this reason he is often shown holding a purse or money bag . According to Rodulfus Glaber , the city of Bamberg is named after him, with Bamberg meaning "Mount of Bavo". Several churches are dedicated to him, including: Additionally, the football club VVSB is named after him. His picture is also part of the coat of arms of the Antwerp suburb Wilrijk . Rembrandt painted
105-500: Is mentioned for the first time in 1253 as Ramesdunc and 1330 as Raemsdonc . A "dunc" or "dark" is a sand hill in a marshy area. The " Raams " prefix may indicate the presence of a certain type of plant, the wild garlic . However, it may also be the name of a person. In 1609, the St. Lambert church became part of the Reformed Church. In 1611, the first pastor came. The Catholic people were allowed, in 1690, to establish
120-702: The Netherlands . His feast in the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church is October 1 . He is most often shown in Christian art as a knight with a sword and falcon . The most popular scene is the moment of his conversion, which has many stories attached to it. Because he is so often shown with a falcon, he came to be considered the patron saint of falconry . In medieval Ghent, taxes were paid on Bavo's feast day, and it
135-477: 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, four local and three national (2022): Raamsdonk Raamsdonk is a village in the province of North Brabant , Netherlands . It is located in the municipality of Geertruidenberg , about 15 km northeast of Breda . Raamsdonk (as "Dunc")
150-468: The city. The Saint Elizabeth's flood of 1421 then ended the prosperity of Geertruidenberg. In 1573, during the Eighty Years War , the city was captured in a surprise attack by an English, French Huguenot and Fleming force. 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
165-522: The man lead him by a chain to the town jail. Bavo built an abbey on his grounds and became a monk . He distributed his belongings to the poor and lived as a recluse, first in a hollow tree and later in a cell in the forest by the abbey. His relics were housed at the abbey in Ghent (in present-day Belgium ). Bavo is the patron saint of Ghent , Zellik , and Lauwe in Belgium , and Haarlem in
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#1732772778634180-500: The municipality is 29.64 km (11.44 sq mi), of which 26.63 km (10.28 sq mi) is land and 3.01 km (1.16 sq mi) is water. The municipality of Geertruidenberg comprises three population centres: Geertruidenberg is located on the bank of the Donge , close to where this river flows into the Amer . As of 2021, the total population of Geertruidenberg
195-423: The summer of 1593. Today, Geertruidenberg is part of the province of North Brabant , but it was once part of the county of Holland . Geertruidenberg is the second oldest city of Holland as it was the first to receive city rights. It is a common misconception that Geertruidenberg is the oldest city of the Netherlands, because the names Holland and the Netherlands are used interchangeably by some. The total area of
210-529: Was 21,770. The population density was 817/km (2,120/sq mi). The mayor of Geertruidenberg is Marian Witte who, like all mayors in the Netherlands, was appointed by the Dutch monarch. She is supported by four aldermen who, with the mayor, form the College van Burgemeester en Wethouders . The city council is elected every four years, at the same time as most other Dutch municipalities. The 19 members of
225-446: Was built according to the plans of the architect Carl Weber . It is located in the present village. At Raamsdonk until about 1850 existed a small French community. Raamsdonk was a separate municipality until 1997, when it became part of Geertruidenberg . Bavo of Ghent Saint Bavo of Ghent (also known as Bavon , Allowin , Bavonius , Baaf ; AD 622–659) is a Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox saint . He exchanged
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