Dinther
Encyclopedia
Dinther is a village in the Dutch
province of North Brabant
. It is located in the municipality of Bernheze
.
Dinther was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with Heeswijk
to form the new municipality of Heeswijk-Dinther
.
origin and is a composition of the words "Dint" and "haar". "Dint" (or "dent") means "dent" or "dented" usually it implies a landscape with rolling heights. "Haar" is a old Dutch word for a long strechted sand dune. Indeed there lies a long strechted sand dune between the city of Berlicum
and Veghel
to the north of Dinther. It seems correct to translate Dinther as: "dented long strechted sand dune" (source: "Grepen uit de geschiedenis van Dinther 1139-1989", J. van der Leest). The current landscape though is green and does not show any signs of dunes or sand.
". In the early middle ages Dinther was part of a free territory governed by the Lords of Dinther; as were the nearby towns of Heeswijk and Boxtel.
In 1196 half of this territory was granted in use by Knight Albert van Dinther to the Lord of Cuijk. The Lord of Cuijk granted the use to the Duke of Brabant. The Lords of Dinther probably resided in a stronghold on an artificial hill called "Ter Borch". This stronghold was most likely situated near the river Aa, to the south of Dinther.
In 1388 the other half of this territory was granted in use by "Willem van der Aa" to "Duchess Johanna van Brabant", which turned it into a part of the Duchy of Brabant
. Dinther was part of the Meierij
of s-Hertogenbosch one of the four administrative parts of the Duchy of Brabant. In 1352 Dinther became an acknowledged town when "Jan van Benthem", Lord of Dinther, granted the inhabitants of the parish the use of the land. In the 14th century the residence of the Lords of Dinther moved from "Ter Borch" to the estate of "Ten Bogaerde". This was situated near the castle Avestein. Avestein was torn down in 1807.
After the end of the Protestant Reformation
in 1648 Dinther became part of the States of Brabant
for the "Meierij van 's-Hertogenbosch" became part of the States of Brabant
. The protestants repressed the catholic faith in Dinther until 1795. Repressing is a strong term. In reality a manner of coexisting between Catholics and protestants was daily practice. The administrative and political power though remained in the hands of the protestants.
In 1795 the French invaded the Dutch Republic and "freedom of faith" is restored in Dinther. In 1814 Dinther becomes a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
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 North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
. It is located in the municipality of Bernheze
Bernheze
Bernheze is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. It was formed in 1994 from the former municipalities of Heesch, Heeswijk-Dinther and Nistelrode. -Name:...
.
Dinther was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with Heeswijk
Heeswijk
Heeswijk is a Dutch town. It is located in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands.Heeswijk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with the adjacent village of Dinther. Since 1 January 1994 it has been part of the larger municipality of Bernheze, which...
to form the new municipality of Heeswijk-Dinther
Heeswijk-Dinther
Heeswijk-Dinther is a former old town and municipality in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant being named after the former municipalities Heeswijk and Dinther. The municipality was created in 1969, and became a part of Bernheze in 1994. Likewise, the town itself consisted of...
.
Etymology
In 1139 Dinther was named first as Dinthre . The name has an Old FrankishOld Frankish
Old Frankish is an extinct West Germanic language, once spoken by the Franks. It is the parent language of the Franconian languages, of which Dutch and Afrikaans are the most known descendants...
origin and is a composition of the words "Dint" and "haar". "Dint" (or "dent") means "dent" or "dented" usually it implies a landscape with rolling heights. "Haar" is a old Dutch word for a long strechted sand dune. Indeed there lies a long strechted sand dune between the city of Berlicum
Berlicum
Berlicum is a village in the Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant, located in the Meierij of 's-Hertogenbosch near the river Aa. The village was most likely founded between 600 and 700 AD. Up until a large-scale administrative reorganisation in the Netherlands it was a separate...
and Veghel
Veghel
Veghel is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands.Since 1994 Veghel and the neighbouring village of Erp have formed a single municipality.Veghel is twinned with Goch in Germany.- Population centres :*Boerdonk*Eerde*Erp*Keldonk...
to the north of Dinther. It seems correct to translate Dinther as: "dented long strechted sand dune" (source: "Grepen uit de geschiedenis van Dinther 1139-1989", J. van der Leest). The current landscape though is green and does not show any signs of dunes or sand.
History
In the early middle ages the first acres were cultivated out of fertile woodlands along the river "AaAa River (Meuse)
The Aa is a small river in The Netherlands. It rises near Meijel in the southeastern province of Limburg, in the Peel region. It flows northwest through the province of North Brabant towards 's-Hertogenbosch, roughly along the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal. In 's-Hertogenbosch, at the confluence of the...
". In the early middle ages Dinther was part of a free territory governed by the Lords of Dinther; as were the nearby towns of Heeswijk and Boxtel.
In 1196 half of this territory was granted in use by Knight Albert van Dinther to the Lord of Cuijk. The Lord of Cuijk granted the use to the Duke of Brabant. The Lords of Dinther probably resided in a stronghold on an artificial hill called "Ter Borch". This stronghold was most likely situated near the river Aa, to the south of Dinther.
In 1388 the other half of this territory was granted in use by "Willem van der Aa" to "Duchess Johanna van Brabant", which turned it into a part of the Duchy of Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
. Dinther was part of the Meierij
Meierij
The Meierij van 's-Hertogenbosch was one of the four parts of the former duchy of Brabant, the others being the areas of Leuven, Brussels and Antwerp. It got its name from the Bailiff of 's-Hertogenbosch, who ruled the area in the name of the Dukes of Brabant...
of s-Hertogenbosch one of the four administrative parts of the Duchy of Brabant. In 1352 Dinther became an acknowledged town when "Jan van Benthem", Lord of Dinther, granted the inhabitants of the parish the use of the land. In the 14th century the residence of the Lords of Dinther moved from "Ter Borch" to the estate of "Ten Bogaerde". This was situated near the castle Avestein. Avestein was torn down in 1807.
After the end of the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
in 1648 Dinther became part of the States of Brabant
States of Brabant
The States of Brabant were the representation of the three estates: Nobility, Clergy and Commons to the court of the Duke of Brabant. These three estates were also called the States. Supported by the economic strength of the cities Antwerp, Brussels and Leuven, the States always were an important...
for the "Meierij van 's-Hertogenbosch" became part of the States of Brabant
States of Brabant
The States of Brabant were the representation of the three estates: Nobility, Clergy and Commons to the court of the Duke of Brabant. These three estates were also called the States. Supported by the economic strength of the cities Antwerp, Brussels and Leuven, the States always were an important...
. The protestants repressed the catholic faith in Dinther until 1795. Repressing is a strong term. In reality a manner of coexisting between Catholics and protestants was daily practice. The administrative and political power though remained in the hands of the protestants.
In 1795 the French invaded the Dutch Republic and "freedom of faith" is restored in Dinther. In 1814 Dinther becomes a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
The village
Dinther has never been a significant town but was still a fairly large village. Dinther is situated next to a ford in the river Aa like Heeswijk and Veghel. The centre of Dinther is situated around the church. During the ages several houses or housing blocks have been added to the village. In essence the village is still a rural farm town. There is some industrial activity in an area called "Retsel".Sights in Dinther
- The Killdonk Mill . A rare water and wind mill combination. Restored in 2009.
- Manor Zwanenburg; a fortified house from the middle ages ( 14th century).
- The Saint Servatius church; a monument from 1877 restored in 2006.
- The Protestant Church from 1843.