Drunen
Encyclopedia
Drunen is a town with a population of 17,783 (1 January 2008) in the municipality of Heusden
in the southern Netherlands
. Drunen is part of a region called the Langstraat ('long road') which is historically known for its leather and shoe industry. Since 1813, Drunen has been a separate municipality, consisting of the towns Drunen, Elshout, and Giersbergen.
The center of Drunen is a plaza surrounded by the Lambertuschurch and city hall. Furthermore, there are some pubs and stores in the middle of town. Drunen was heavily shelled by British Forces in late 1944 in the days prior to liberation and its main buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed outright. In consequence, there are few historic buildings. Recently the downtown area, including the plaza, has been modernized.
On 1 January 1997, it was incorporated along with the municipalities of Heusden and Vlijmen into the new, enlarged municipality of Heusden, containing the towns Drunen, Elshout, Giersbergen, Heesbeen, Doeveren, Hedikhuizen, Herpt, Oud-Heusden, Heusden, Vlijmen
, Nieuwkuijk and Haarsteeg. Some argued that this enlarged municipality should have been called the municipality of Drunen, being the biggest of the three towns. However due to the historical importance of Heusden, and possibly to avoid ill will in the almost equally large town of Vlijmen
, the municipal was named after Heusden.
1935: Elshout (previously part of the municipality Oud-Heusden) is added to Drunen.
1944: Liberation of Drunen in World War II at which the church tower and many of the historic buildings are destroyed.
1997: The municipality of Drunen is incorporated into the enlarged municipality of Heusden.
2007: The modernized centre of Drunen is officially opened.
, a National Park consisting of dunes and forests that attracts many tourists. To emphasize the link between Drunen and the Dunes, along with the opening of the modernized centre a piece of art was uncovered, that contains fragments of a poem about the dunes.
In the past a car museum (Autotron) was located in Drunen, but this was moved to another town called Rosmalen. The museum, designed by architect Anton Pieck (known from the Efteling) is currently used as a theatre.
A theme park called Land van Ooit was located in Drunen as well. However, on 22 November 2007 the park closed. Subsequently, the property (44 acres (178,061.8 m²)) was purchased by the local government for recreational and infrastructional purposes.
Heusden
Heusden is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands. It is located between the cities Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch.- Population centres :...
in the southern 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...
. Drunen is part of a region called the Langstraat ('long road') which is historically known for its leather and shoe industry. Since 1813, Drunen has been a separate municipality, consisting of the towns Drunen, Elshout, and Giersbergen.
The center of Drunen is a plaza surrounded by the Lambertuschurch and city hall. Furthermore, there are some pubs and stores in the middle of town. Drunen was heavily shelled by British Forces in late 1944 in the days prior to liberation and its main buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed outright. In consequence, there are few historic buildings. Recently the downtown area, including the plaza, has been modernized.
On 1 January 1997, it was incorporated along with the municipalities of Heusden and Vlijmen into the new, enlarged municipality of Heusden, containing the towns Drunen, Elshout, Giersbergen, Heesbeen, Doeveren, Hedikhuizen, Herpt, Oud-Heusden, Heusden, Vlijmen
Vlijmen
Vlijmen is a town in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Heusden, about 6 km west of 's-Hertogenbosch....
, Nieuwkuijk and Haarsteeg. Some argued that this enlarged municipality should have been called the municipality of Drunen, being the biggest of the three towns. However due to the historical importance of Heusden, and possibly to avoid ill will in the almost equally large town of Vlijmen
Vlijmen
Vlijmen is a town in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Heusden, about 6 km west of 's-Hertogenbosch....
, the municipal was named after Heusden.
History
1813: Drunen becomes a municipality in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.1935: Elshout (previously part of the municipality Oud-Heusden) is added to Drunen.
1944: Liberation of Drunen in World War II at which the church tower and many of the historic buildings are destroyed.
1997: The municipality of Drunen is incorporated into the enlarged municipality of Heusden.
2007: The modernized centre of Drunen is officially opened.
Recreation
Drunen is internationally known of the Loon and Drunen Dunes Loonse en Drunense DuinenLoonse en Drunense Duinen
The Loonse en Drunense Duinen is a national park situated in the south of the Netherlands, between the cities of Tilburg, Waalwijk & 's-Hertogenbosch. It has been designated as a national park since 2002. It is 35 km² in area.-External links:*...
, a National Park consisting of dunes and forests that attracts many tourists. To emphasize the link between Drunen and the Dunes, along with the opening of the modernized centre a piece of art was uncovered, that contains fragments of a poem about the dunes.
In the past a car museum (Autotron) was located in Drunen, but this was moved to another town called Rosmalen. The museum, designed by architect Anton Pieck (known from the Efteling) is currently used as a theatre.
A theme park called Land van Ooit was located in Drunen as well. However, on 22 November 2007 the park closed. Subsequently, the property (44 acres (178,061.8 m²)) was purchased by the local government for recreational and infrastructional purposes.
People
Famous inhabitants of Drunen include:- Paul van Loon, children horror novelist
- Jolijn van de WielJolijn van de WielJolijn van de Wiel is a Dutch actress. She made her first appearance in the film Hoe overleef ik mezelf? , where she played the role of the anxious and sensitive Rosa...
, child actress