's-Gravenzande
Encyclopedia
's-Gravenzande is a town in the Dutch
province of South Holland
. It is a part of the municipality of Westland, and lies about 12 km southwest of The Hague
. Until 2004 it was a separate municipality and covered an area of 20.77 km² (of which 3.38 km² water).
In 2001, the town of 's-Gravenzande had 15241 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 2.7 km², and contained 5879 residences.
The statistical area "'s-Gravenzande", which also can include the peripheral parts of the village, as well as the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 19750.
As of January 1. 2009 's-Gravenzande is the largest town in Westland with 19.428 inhabitants.
The former municipality of 's-Gravenzande also included the township of Heenweg
.
in 1246 by Count
William II of Holland who, just like his father Count Floris IV
, regularly resided at his estate near the town. It is therefore the only "city" in Westland.
Machteld van Brabant, daughter of Duke Henry I
and wife of Floris IV, was responsible for building the town's church, and gave it a madonna statue to which miracluous powers were attributed. 's-Gravenzande subsequently became a pilgrimage site.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
province of South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
. It is a part of the municipality of Westland, and lies about 12 km southwest of The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Until 2004 it was a separate municipality and covered an area of 20.77 km² (of which 3.38 km² water).
In 2001, the town of 's-Gravenzande had 15241 inhabitants. The built-up area of the town was 2.7 km², and contained 5879 residences.
The statistical area "'s-Gravenzande", which also can include the peripheral parts of the village, as well as the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 19750.
As of January 1. 2009 's-Gravenzande is the largest town in Westland with 19.428 inhabitants.
The former municipality of 's-Gravenzande also included the township of Heenweg
Heenweg
Heenweg is a town in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Westland, and lies about 7 km northwest of Maassluis.In 2001, the town of Heenweg had 601 inhabitants...
.
History
's-Gravenzande was granted city rightsCity rights in the Netherlands
City rights are a medieval phenomenon in the history of the Low Countries. A liegelord, usually a count, duke or similar member of high nobility, granted a settlement he owned certain town privileges that settlements without city rights did not have....
in 1246 by Count
Count of Holland
The Counts of Holland ruled over the County of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century.-House of Holland:The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was the son or foster-son of Gerolf, Count in Frisia...
William II of Holland who, just like his father Count Floris IV
Floris IV, Count of Holland
Floris IV , Count of Holland from 1222 to 1234. He was a son of William I of Holland and Adelaide of Geldern....
, regularly resided at his estate near the town. It is therefore the only "city" in Westland.
Machteld van Brabant, daughter of Duke Henry I
Henry I, Duke of Brabant
Henry I of Brabant , named "The Courageous" Duke of Brabant and Duke of Lower Lotharingia until his death.-Biography:...
and wife of Floris IV, was responsible for building the town's church, and gave it a madonna statue to which miracluous powers were attributed. 's-Gravenzande subsequently became a pilgrimage site.
Notable people born in 's-Gravenzande
- Stefan AartsenStefan AartsenStefan Remco Aartsen is a former butterfly swimmer from the Netherlands, who twice competed for his native country at the Summer Olympics: in 1996 and 2000....
(b. 1975), butterfly swimmer - Thiemo de BakkerThiemo de BakkerThiemo de Bakker is a Dutch tennis player, who is currently ranked 99th in the world, and is the second ranked Dutch tennis player...
(b. 1988), tennis player