Woensdrecht (village)

Village in North Brabant, Netherlands

Woensdrecht

Village

Mattemburgh

Woensdrecht

Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands

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Woensdrecht

Woensdrecht (Netherlands)

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Coordinates: 51°25′46″N 4°17′57″E﻿ / ﻿51.42944°N 4.29917°E﻿ / 51.42944; 4.29917
Country| Netherlands
Province| North Brabant
Municipality| Woensdrecht
Area

[1]

• Total| 14.94 km2 (5.77 sq mi)
Elevation

[2]

| 1.2 m (3.9 ft)
Population

(2021)[1]

• Total| 1,475
• Density| 99/km2 (260/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code|

4634[1]

Dialing code| 0164

Woensdrecht is a village in the municipality of Woensdrecht, North Brabant, Netherlands. Woensdrecht is known for Woensdrecht Air Base, a military air base.

## History[edit]

The village was first mentioned in 1249 as Wunsdrecht. The etymology is unclear.[3] Woensdrecht developed in the Middle Ages on the border of sand and clay ground.[4] In 1583 and 1584, the village was destroyed during the Eighty Years' War and was resettled after 1590.[5]

Woensdrecht was home to 792 people in 1840.[5] During the 20th century, Woensdrecht and Hoogerheide merged into a single urban area.[4] In 1935, a little airfield was built near the village. During World War II, Woensdrecht Air Base became a large military airport, and remained a military airport after the war. In 1944, it was severely damaged by war, and the ruinous church tower has remained.[5]

In 1983, it was announced that 48 nuclear cruise missiles were to be installed in Woensdrecht and the village became the site of frequent anti-nuclear protests. Despite strong opposition against nuclear weapons, the government decided to place the cruise missiles, but with a two-year delay.[6] On 8 December 1987, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was signed which resulted in a cancellation of the cruise missiles in the Netherlands.[7]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 19 April 2022. "three entries"
2. ^ "Postcodetool for 4634PA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
3. ^ "Woensdrecht - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
4. ^ a b Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert (1997). Woensdrecht-Hoogerheide (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9945 6. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
5. ^ a b c "Woensdrecht". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 April 2022.
6. ^ "Meer dan een half miljoen betogers op het Malieveld tegen kruisraketten". Dag van Toen (in Dutch). 29 October 1983. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
7. ^ "Treaty Between The United States Of America And The Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics On The Elimination Of Their Intermediate-Range And Shorter-Range Missiles (INF Treaty)". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 19 April 2022.

* "History of Woensdrecht". Gemeente Woensdrecht. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
* "ViaMichelin Maps and Routes". Michelin. Retrieved 1 October 2012.

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