- Hof van Twente
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Hof van Twente
mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 =Overijssel
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 215.44
area_land_km2 = 213.18
area_water_km2 = 2.26
population_as_of =1 January ,2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 35140
population_density_km2 = 165
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2. The municipality came into being on January 1, 2001 as the result of the merger of the municipalities of Diepenheim, Goor, Markelo, Ambt Delden, and Stad Delden.
Population centres
The more important places are printed in bold types.
*Achterhoek near Markelo
*Azelo
*Bentelo (pop. about 1,500)
*Delden (pop. about 7,100)
*Deldenerbroek
*Deldeneresch
*Diepenheim (pop. about 2,700)
*Dijkerhoek
*Elsen and Elsenerbroek, near Markelo
*Goor , where the town hall is (pop. about 12,250)
*Hengevelde (pop. about 2,100)
*Herike near Markelo
*Markelo (pop. about 7,600)
*Markelosebroek
*Markvelde
*Pothoek, and Stokkum, near Markelo
*Stokkumerbroek near Markelo
*Wiene
*Zeldam.ituation; economy
Hof van Twente is situated in the heart of the province Overijssel: south-west of
Almelo , north-east of theAchterhoek region (Prov.Gelderland ) and south-east ofRijssen-Holten .The small cities of Goor and Delden have some industry (asbestos-cement , metallics, plastics). Goor has a small harbour along the Twente Canal (Zutphen -Enschede ).The motorway A35 has a junction between Delden andHengelo (distance to both towns 2 km).Agriculture and tourism (see below) are of economic importance as well.History
Goor (Dutch for: low, swampy land) achieved city rights in
1263 . An important city, however, it never became. The "Drost" ( a kind of mayor) of theTwente region, who ruled this area in behalf of the bishop of Utrecht, had in the lateMiddle Ages his residence in Goor. In its surroundings some castles were built, among them the house of the important Heeckeren family in1412 . Goor had a small harbour along the river Regge ( which flows to the Vecht nearOmmen ) , but when the Twente canal was opened in1936 , a new industrial port was built there. The factoryEternit , that produces building materials containingasbestos , brought Goor unwillingly into trouble. For decades, everyone in Goor was permitted to use production refuse containing asbestos in order to pave their own paths and roads. Not earlier than about 1990, it was known in Goor that especially small particles of this material can causecancer . In major parts of the city the soil has to be removed and either cleaned or replaced by non-polluted material.Delden achieved its city rights in
1333 . Its circle-shaped centre was surrounded by earthen walls. It came into existence thanks to the Twickel castle, situated less than one mile north of delden. This castle, that in its present form dates from the 17th century, is still inhabited by a German noble family ( Zu Castell - Rüdenhausen).In 1886, near this castle salt was discovered under the ground. This led to the exploration of this material, still going on in the nearby city ofHengelo .In Markelo, prehistoric
mound s "tumuli", containing graves have been excavated.ights
* All through the Hof van Twente ("Garden of Twente") it is possible to wander around on foot or bicycle. The municipality has many small woods, old water mills, beautiful country houses and small castles with their parks and small lanes winding themselves through the countryside. Therefore, many tourists visit this rural area. They stay in small hotels, holiday resorts, on camping sites and even at farms.
* The Twickel castle near Delden can only be observed from the outside, but the major part of its parks and woods ( 60 square km) are freely accessible.
* Castle Warmelo near Diepenheim, that was built in1315 , and was afterwards devastated and rebuilt several times, is in private use as well. Princess Armgard, the mother of PrinceBernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld , who wasQueen Juliana 's husband, lived there until her death in1971 . Its famous gardens are open to the public every summer.
* Castle Weldam, between Markelo and Goor, is inhabited by the German noble family of Zu Solms- Sonnenwalde. Of this castle the beautiful gardens can be visited as well ( "see the website for the conditions. It is necessary to learn some Dutch expressions: "bezoekersinfo"= information for visitors; "openingstijden" = opening hours; "toegangsprijs" or "entreegeld"= entrance fee; "honden niet toegestaan"= no dogs allowed; "wandelroute"= footpath, walking track; "fietspad"= cycling path; "verboden toegang"= no entry, no access; "gesloten"= closed; "geopend"= open; "niet op zon- en feestdagen" = not on Sundays and holidays; "op werkdagen" = on working days ( not on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday) "kasteel", "slot" = castle; "landgoed" = estate; "privé" = private ; "dagelijks"= daily; "tuin" = garden; "bloemen" = flowers; "de auto parkeren" = to park the car; "bushalte"= bus stop; "openbaar vervoer"= public traffic; "bereikbaar"= reachable)". Castle Weldam's forest is free accessible.
* In Delden you can visit the Gothic Saint Blasius Church (built in the 15th century).
* Delden has the Dutch Salt Museum (Zoutmuseum), about salt, its history, use and mining.External links
* [http://www.hofvantwente.nl Official Website] (with English summary)
* [http://www.twickel.nl Castle Twickel]
* [http://www.weldam.nl Castle Weldam]
* [http://www.kasteelwarmelo.nl Castle Warmelo, with beautiful pictures of its gardens]
* [http://www.zoutmuseum.nl Netherlands Salt Museum]All informations on these websites are (as good as) only in Dutch.
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