Sint-Oedenrode

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sint-Oedenrode


mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = North Brabant
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 64.95
area_land_km2 = 64.49
area_water_km2 = 0.46
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 17174
population_density_km2 = 266
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2

Sint-Oedenrode (pronunciation|223 Sint-Oedenrode.ogg) is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands.

Population centers

*Boskant
*Nijnsel
*Olland
*Sint-Oedenrode

History of the city of Sint-Oedenrode

First records of the settlement called Rhode date from the year 500. Sint-Oedenrode was a small settlement on an elevated place near the river Dommel. The settlements on both riverbanks (Rhode and Eerschot) merged into one larger settlement.

In the 11th century the Lords of Rhode build a castle on the elevated area (during excavations in 2005 remains of the castle were uncovered, proving the early records to be valid). The Eerschot part of the settlement constructed the first church (the church has been rebuild many times over the centuries, the early base can still be seen in the church which is nowadays named 'Knoptoren').

The settlement thrived and became an important place in the region. Sint-Oedenrode was granted city status in 1232 by the Duke of Brabant (at that time Hendrik I of Brabant). This promoted Sint-Oedenrode to the capital of the Peel (the name of the region in North Brabant).

In the 14th century a small castle was built named 'Strijpe', it was later expanded in the 19th century and renamed 'Henkeshage'.

During the Second World War Sint-Oedenrode suffered tremendously. In May 1940 the Germans invaded the Low Countries and France, and due to the retreat from the Peel-Raam Line by the Dutch Armed Forces skirmishes arouse in Sint-Oedenrode in an attempt to keep the enemy at bay. After the capitulation (15th May 1940, in Zeeland 2 days later) Sint-Oedenrode found itself under German occupation. There was a small Luftwaffe detachment providing a manned look-out (just like the Royal Observer Corps) for Allied planes which were undertaking operations against the Air Bases of Volkel and Eindhoven.

During the final months of occupation the mayor (appointed by the Queen) was sacked and replaced by a pro-German mayor. The reasons for the sacking where that the central Distribution Office was plundered from blanco distribution cards which were necessary to get coupons for males who where hiding for the "Arbeitseinsatz" (Compulsory labour in the German war industry) which were using fake names. Also the mayor tried to sabotage the "Arbeitseinsatz".

In September 1944 the liberation of Sint-Oedenrode came during Operation Market-Garden envisaged by Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery. The US 101st Airborne Division liberated the Town of Sint-Oedenrode (the 'Market' part). They were followed by the British XXX Army Corps (the 'Garden' part).

The British left 150 comrades behind, the Americans 125. Twenty-two British soldiers are buried at the General Cemetery in Sint-Oedenrode. Most of the British are reburied at the Uden War Cemetery and some did find there final resting place in Mierlo. The Americans who were originally buried in Wolfswinkel (Son en Breugel) are reburied in Margraten or the US.On September 16, 1994 101st Airborne veterans revealed a war monument 'Monument for the Dutch'. The monument is a gift from the veterans to the civilians who fought alongside of the US troops, much to surprise and relief of the US soldiers. The inscription on the monument is in English and reads "Dedicated to the people of the Corridor by the veterans of the 101st Airborne Division, in grateful appreciation of their courage, compassion and friendship".

The origin of the name 'Sint-Oedenrode'

"The following story is based on a popular belief (saga)"

Sint-Oedenrode is named after a blind Scottish princess called Oda.

Oda was miracilously cured from her blindness. She became Catholic and wanted to devote her life to God. In a desperate attempt of not becoming Queen of her realm she decided to flee to the Continent. She started to travel from one place to another, wherever she could find silence for worshipping. Time on time she was disrupted in her worshipping by magpies, so she fled from the birds.Eventually she arrived in the Netherlands in a little settlement called Rode (old Duch for a manmade open place in the woods). After she died in 726 A.D. the villagers where getting pilgrims from the whole region, and started to call the place Sint-Oda-Rode, which became Sint-Oedenrode in present day speaking.

Awards

Sint-Oedenrode was awarded the prestigious award Entente Florale of the greenest village of Europe in 2000.

External links

* [http://www.sint-oedenrode.nl Official Website]
* [http://www.tvmeierij.nl/ Website of the local television station TV-Meierij]
* [http://www.plattegronden.nl/gemeentesintoedenrode/ Map]