Putten
Encyclopedia
Putten is a municipality
and a town in Gelderland
province in the middle of the Netherlands
. In 2007 it had a population of 23,024http://statline.cbs.nl/.
Putten is surrounded by a great variety of landscapes. To the east of Putten lies the Veluwe
, the biggest national park of the Netherlands. To the north, east and west, Putten is surrounded by farmlands, and further to the west the ring-lake around Flevoland
can be found.
and Voorthuizen
became part of the Putten area, until in 1530 Nijkerk, and later also Voorthuizen, became independent communities.
Until 1356, when a dyke was built, the coastline changed frequently, overflowing agricultural land in the west of Putten. The water was still a threat however, and the dyke broke through several times. The last major flood was in 1916, when large parts of Putten were flooded. After the Afsluitdijk
was built in the north of the Netherlands, the Zuiderzee became a lake (1927-1933) and no longer posed a threat.
Agriculture has always been a major source of income in Putten. Also the manufacturing of paper was important in the 17th-19th century. From the end of the 19th century tourism emerged, helped by the connection by rail since 1863. This made it easier for people from other towns to retreat in the boarding houses that Putten had built. Among those people from elsewhere were also the ones who suffered from tuberculosis
and similar diseases. They benefited from the sunlight and clean air and retreated in the several sanatoria.
Over the centuries, Putten has suffered a lot from war violence. During the 15th, 16th and 17th century Putten has been burned down several times (at least five).
took place in Putten. On 1 October and 2 October 1944, 661 men and boys, the majority of the male population, were deported from the town and 602 of them were sent to work in concentration camps such as Neuengamme and Birkenau
. Only 49 returned after the war. Following the war, two of the responsible officers were tried and convicted for the crime. The raids were a retaliatory measure for an attack by the local resistance, that killed one Wehrmacht
officer near Nijkerk
. The first and second of October are still commemorated every year.
on the line between Utrecht and Zwolle. There are also bus connections.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
and a town in Gelderland
Gelderland
Gelderland is the largest province of the Netherlands, located in the central eastern part of the country. The capital city is Arnhem. The two other major cities, Nijmegen and Apeldoorn have more inhabitants. Other major regional centers in Gelderland are Ede, Doetinchem, Zutphen, Tiel, Wijchen,...
province in the middle 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...
. In 2007 it had a population of 23,024http://statline.cbs.nl/.
Putten is surrounded by a great variety of landscapes. To the east of Putten lies the Veluwe
Veluwe
The Veluwe is a forest-rich ridge of hills in the province of Gelderland in the Netherlands. The Veluwe features many different landscapes including woodland, heath, some small lakes and Europe's largest sand drifts....
, the biggest national park of the Netherlands. To the north, east and west, Putten is surrounded by farmlands, and further to the west the ring-lake around Flevoland
Flevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
can be found.
Population centres
Bijsteren, Diermen, Gerven, Halvinkhuizen, Hell, Hoef, Huinen, Koudhoorn, Krachtighuizen, Putten, Steenenkamer and Veenhuizerveld.Until World War II
Putten is an old village, in the coastal area of the old Zuiderzee (Southern Sea). The oldest official paper in which Putten is mentioned dates back to 855. Small settlements, however, were already built during the Roman era. After the founding of the present main church in the 10th century, the community becomes the centre of several smaller settlements. Also parts of NijkerkNijkerk
Nijkerk is a municipality and a city in the middle of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :...
and Voorthuizen
Voorthuizen
Voorthuizen is a village in the municipality of Barneveld, in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It currently is home to the Seaforth Highlanders of Holland pipe and drum band, a unit founded in 1999 to commemorate the liberation of the village in 1945 by the Seaforth Highlanders of British...
became part of the Putten area, until in 1530 Nijkerk, and later also Voorthuizen, became independent communities.
Until 1356, when a dyke was built, the coastline changed frequently, overflowing agricultural land in the west of Putten. The water was still a threat however, and the dyke broke through several times. The last major flood was in 1916, when large parts of Putten were flooded. After the Afsluitdijk
Afsluitdijk
The Afsluitdijk is a major causeway in the Netherlands, constructed between 1927 and 1933 and running from Den Oever on Wieringen in North Holland province, to the village of Zurich in Friesland province, over a length of and a width of 90 m, at an initial height of 7.25 m above sea-level.It is...
was built in the north of the Netherlands, the Zuiderzee became a lake (1927-1933) and no longer posed a threat.
Agriculture has always been a major source of income in Putten. Also the manufacturing of paper was important in the 17th-19th century. From the end of the 19th century tourism emerged, helped by the connection by rail since 1863. This made it easier for people from other towns to retreat in the boarding houses that Putten had built. Among those people from elsewhere were also the ones who suffered from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and similar diseases. They benefited from the sunlight and clean air and retreated in the several sanatoria.
Over the centuries, Putten has suffered a lot from war violence. During the 15th, 16th and 17th century Putten has been burned down several times (at least five).
World War II Nazi warcrime
One of the biggest Nazi raids to be held in the Netherlands during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
took place in Putten. On 1 October and 2 October 1944, 661 men and boys, the majority of the male population, were deported from the town and 602 of them were sent to work in concentration camps such as Neuengamme and Birkenau
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
. Only 49 returned after the war. Following the war, two of the responsible officers were tried and convicted for the crime. The raids were a retaliatory measure for an attack by the local resistance, that killed one Wehrmacht
Wehrmacht
The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...
officer near Nijkerk
Nijkerk
Nijkerk is a municipality and a city in the middle of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :...
. The first and second of October are still commemorated every year.
| Total number of men deported | 661 |
| Released in Amersfoort | 59 |
| Deported to Neuengamme | 602 |
| Jumped out of the train on the way to Neuengamme | 13 |
| Arrived in Neuengamme | 589 |
| Returned to Putten after liberation | 49 |
| Died in German concentration camps | 540 |
| Killed during the raid | 7 |
| Died shortly after the return | 5 |
| Total number of deaths | 552 |
Economy
Today agriculture is still important in Putten, but the main sector now is services. There are considerable amounts of shops, and tourism is important. Tourist are attracted by the varied landscape and the beach at the Ringlake. Every Wednesday there is a produce and food market that is the biggest in the North-West Veluwe area.Transport
Putten lies next to the A28 highway that connects Utrecht with the north. The town has a train stationPutten railway station
Putten is a railway station located in Putten, The Netherlands. The station was opened on 20 August 1863 and is located on the Amersfoort–Zwolle section of the Utrecht–Kampen railway...
on the line between Utrecht and Zwolle. There are also bus connections.