Amersfoort

Amersfoort is a city and municipality in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands. As of January 31, 2023, the city had a population of 160,902 people, making it the second-largest city in the province and the fifteenth-largest in the country. Amersfoort is an important place for trains, with three stations: Amersfoort Centraal, Schothorst, and Vathorst. This is because the city lies on two major railway lines that go east to west and north to south across the Netherlands.

During the 1928 Summer Olympics, Amersfoort was used as a location for the modern pentathlon events. The city celebrated a big milestone in 2009 when it marked its 750th anniversary as a city. Today, Amersfoort remains a lively and historic place, full of charm and history.

History

Hunter gatherers set up camps in the Amersfoort region during the Mesolithic period. Archaeologists have found traces of these early settlements, including remains of hearths and small flint objects, north of the city.

The name Amersfoort comes from a ford in the Amer River, now called the Eem. The city received its official rights in 1259. Over the centuries, Amersfoort grew and built important defenses, including two sets of city walls and gates like the Koppelpoort. The Onze-Lieve-Vrouwentoren, one of the tallest medieval church towers in the Netherlands at 98 metres, was built during this time and still stands today.

Amersfoort earned the nickname "Keistad" or "Boulder-city" after a famous bet in 1661, when 400 people dragged a huge boulder into the city. Though the townspeople later buried it, the boulder was rediscovered and is now a monument.

During the First World War, Amersfoort sheltered many refugees from Belgium. In the Second World War, the city was evacuated during the German invasion but later returned to normal life. Unfortunately, many of its Jewish residents were deported during this time. A concentration camp was set up nearby, and after the war, its leader was tried and sentenced to life in prison.

Culture

Amersfoort has a beautiful historic center with many important buildings and landmarks. You can visit places like the Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren Tower of Our Lady and the Koppelpoort, a medieval gate. There are also special places for culture such as the Municipal Library in Culture House Eemhuis [/w/2] and De WAR, a space for artists.

The city has several interesting museums. The Mondriaan House [/w/5] is where famous painter Piet Mondriaan [/w/6] was born, and you can see a copy of his Paris workshop. The Flehite museum [/w/7] offers historic and art exhibitions. There is also the Dutch Cavalry Museum [/w/9], showing old Dutch cavalry and tanks, and Kunsthal KAdE for modern art exhibits. Amersfoort is also home to DierenPark Amersfoort zoo [/w/17], which opened in 1948.

Demographics

As of 2020, Amersfoort had a total population of 157,276 people. This makes it one of the larger cities in the Netherlands, specifically in the province of Utrecht. The city is an important place for travel, with several train stations helping people move across the country.

Transport

Amersfoort has many ways to get around, including buses and trains. Bus services are provided by two companies: U-OV and Syntus. Syntus runs buses within the town and across the whole province of Utrecht, except for the bus that goes to the city of Utrecht, which is run by U-OV.

The city has three railway stations: Amersfoort Centraal, Amersfoort Schothorst, and Amersfoort Vathorst. All three stations have direct trains to Utrecht Centraal and Zwolle. Amersfoort Centraal and Amersfoort Schothorst also offer direct service to Den Haag Centraal, Amsterdam Centraal, and Amsterdam Zuid. Amersfoort Centraal also connects to places like Enschede, Rotterdam Centraal, Schiphol Airport, Leeuwarden, Groningen, Ede–Wageningen, and Berlin Hauptbahnhof.

Two major motorways, the A1 motorway and the A28 motorway, pass near Amersfoort. The river Eem starts in Amersfoort and connects to the nearby Eemmeer (Lake Eem). The town also has a port for boats.

Local government

The city of Amersfoort has a municipal council with 39 seats. Elections for the council happen every four years. As of 2022, the seats are shared among different groups, including D66, GroenLinks, CDA, ChristenUnie, VVD, Amersfoort2014, PvdA, Partij voor de Dieren, SP, and several smaller groups. The city also has a court of first instance called a kantongerecht.

Economy

Amersfoort is an important place for many big companies and groups. Some of these include Royal VolkerWessels Stevin N.V., a big construction company, and FrieslandCampina, a dairy company. There are also engineering firms like Royal HaskoningDHV and the international hotel chain Golden Tulip Hospitality Group.

The city is also home to several non-governmental organizations and foundations. These include the Christian Union, a political party, and Oikocredit, which helps support economic development in poorer areas. Other groups are the Socialist Party, another political party, and the KNLTB, the Dutch national lawn-tennis association.

Notable residents

See also: People from Amersfoort

Amersfoort has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known residents include Piet Mondriaan (1872–1944), a painter who helped create modern abstract art, and Johannes Heesters (1903–2011), a famous actor and singer.

Other notable individuals from Amersfoort include Gino Vannelli, a Canadian singer and musician, and many accomplished athletes such as Marco van Ginkel, a Dutch football player, and Femke Bol, a talented hurdler and sprinter.

Twin towns

Amersfoort used to have twin towns. It was formerly twinned with Liberec in the Czech Republic and Amersham in England.