Veenendaal

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Veenendaal

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mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Utrecht
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 19.81
area_land_km2 = 19.61
area_water_km2 = 0.20
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 61700
population_density_km2 = 3146
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2
latd = 52
latm = 2
latNS = N
longd = 5
longm = 33
longEW = E

Veenendaal is a municipality and a town in central Netherlands, it is part of the province of Utrecht. Veenendaal is the only population centre within its administrative borders. The municipality has 61,681 inhabitants and an area of 19,81 square kilometres, most of which is covered with built-up area.

The original village was founded in the 16th century as a peat colony from which it got its name. 'Veenen' is the old Dutch word for peat and 'daal' for valley, so literally the name means 'peatvalley'. Until just after World War II, Veenendaal remained a small community with only a few thousand residents. In the last fifty years the town grew rapidly to the 60,000+ inhabitants of today.

Until the second half of the 20th century, Veenendaal was divided into two parts, a 'Gelders' and an 'Utrechts' part ('Gelders' comes from Gelderland and 'Utrechts' from Utrecht, both Dutch provinces). This is because in the first few centuries of the town's existence it was too small to be its own municipality. The southern half eventually became independent from Rhenen and Renswoude in 1795. The northern half separated from Ede in 1960.

In 1997 it was elected the greenest city of Europe and in 2004 of the Netherlands. In 2000 the town was elected best bicycle city of the Netherlands.

Famous people from Veenendaal

*Rob Barel (1957) - athlete, triathlon
*Stef Bos (1961) - Dutch singer
*DJ Jean (1968) - disc jockey
*Yuri Landman (1973) - Dutch comic book artist, musician and experimental luthier

External links

* [http://www.veenendaal.nl Official Website]
* [http://www.gemeentearchief.veenendaal.nl Historical information and photographs]