Winterswijk lies in the most easterly corner of
Gelderland's Achterhoek, nestling in a blanket of green, and
surrounded by urban conglomerations on both sides of the
Dutch-German border. The municipality offers attractive housing and
a pleasant
living climate, as weIl as considerable potential for the
establishment of business locations.
It also lies in a recreational area popular amongst tourists and holiday makers, thanks to the peace, space and natural splendour of the region. The wide-open countryside with its many country estates open to the public, is known throughout the Netherlands for its rural beauty and the flora and fauna specific to the area.
The past
As far as it can be determined, there was a village on the site of Winterswijk today, at least 1000 years ago. The oldest document which refers to the founding of Winterswijk as an independent parish is a list of the income of the Saint Mauritsstift in Münster, Germany. This document dates trom the start of the 11th Century.
However, well before the year 1000, the first outlines of the village had already been established. It is likely that the first building in the village was the church. The very
earliest reports available refer to a parish of Winterswijk, or mention at least the presence of a cleric at the site.
Over the centuries, Winterswijk has developed as a mainly agricultural community. This development continued until around the turn of the last century, when even Winterswijk was not left entirely unaffected by the lndustrial Revolution. For decades thereafter, a large proportion of the population was employed in the numerous textile works in the town; however in the late 1970s, following the rapid and irreversible decline of the textile industry, the last of the big textile works in Winterswijk closed their doors.
The present
In terms of surface area, Winterswijk, which encompasses
13,800 hectares, is one of the largest municipalities in the
Netherlands. According to the latest census, the current population
is approximately 29,000 of whom some 23000 live in the town itself.
The remainder are spread amongst the nine hamlets located in
the
green belt surrounding "Greater Winterswijk". Population growth is low, and according to the regional plan, even in the years to come, the municipality is unlikely to have to deal with anything more than its own natural expansion. Today, Winterswijk serves as the central municipality for the region. As such, it is home to a range of regional facilities including the Queen Beatrix Regional Hospital, the Regional Theatre, and a number of educational institutions.
Employment and business
Employment opportunities are above all determined by industrial and service companies. One-third of the working population, which totals some 12,000 men and
women, is employed in industrial and building work, whilst a further forty percent earn their living in the service-related sector. Over the last few decades, agriculture
in Winterswijk has been on the decline, but nonetheless, a considerable number of local people are still active in this sector.
It also lies in a recreational area popular amongst tourists and holiday makers, thanks to the peace, space and natural splendour of the region. The wide-open countryside with its many country estates open to the public, is known throughout the Netherlands for its rural beauty and the flora and fauna specific to the area.
The past
As far as it can be determined, there was a village on the site of Winterswijk today, at least 1000 years ago. The oldest document which refers to the founding of Winterswijk as an independent parish is a list of the income of the Saint Mauritsstift in Münster, Germany. This document dates trom the start of the 11th Century.
However, well before the year 1000, the first outlines of the village had already been established. It is likely that the first building in the village was the church. The very
earliest reports available refer to a parish of Winterswijk, or mention at least the presence of a cleric at the site.
Over the centuries, Winterswijk has developed as a mainly agricultural community. This development continued until around the turn of the last century, when even Winterswijk was not left entirely unaffected by the lndustrial Revolution. For decades thereafter, a large proportion of the population was employed in the numerous textile works in the town; however in the late 1970s, following the rapid and irreversible decline of the textile industry, the last of the big textile works in Winterswijk closed their doors.
The present
green belt surrounding "Greater Winterswijk". Population growth is low, and according to the regional plan, even in the years to come, the municipality is unlikely to have to deal with anything more than its own natural expansion. Today, Winterswijk serves as the central municipality for the region. As such, it is home to a range of regional facilities including the Queen Beatrix Regional Hospital, the Regional Theatre, and a number of educational institutions.
Employment and business
Employment opportunities are above all determined by industrial and service companies. One-third of the working population, which totals some 12,000 men and
women, is employed in industrial and building work, whilst a further forty percent earn their living in the service-related sector. Over the last few decades, agriculture
in Winterswijk has been on the decline, but nonetheless, a considerable number of local people are still active in this sector.
There are many interesting opportunities for business
establishment, including the industrial estate with attractive land
prices. Within a 75 km radius, which covers
both the Netherlands and Germany, there is access to a densely-populated consumer market. Other factors favouring the establishment of businesses in the municipality include the availability of a highly-trained, well-motivated work force, and the attractive housing and living climate.
Transport connections to and from Winterswijk
Winterswijk is well-connected, with good roads to Zutphen/ Apeldoorn, Arnhem, the cities of Twente and the German hinterland. There are train connections to Arnhem
and Apeldoorn and bus routes to all locations in the region. The airports of Twente and Düsseldorf are also situated relatively nearby.
Shopping and nightlife
When it comes to shopping and nightlife, Winterswijk can offer a huge diversity of shops, restaurants and cafés. Every Wednesday morning and Saturday, a large produce market is held in the market square in the centre of town. People trom all over the Eastern Achterhoek and neighbouring Germany come to Winterswijk to enjoy the shopping and use the town's recreational facilities.
Recreation
The peace and natural beauty of the broad Winterswijk landscape have long attracted many tourists from home and abroad. There are numerous campsites, hotels, guest
houses and farm campsites. What first draws people to the area is the peaceful, spacious, natural splendour of Winterswijk. The broad countryside, with its many
country estates open to the public, has achieved national renown for its rural beauty and the flora and fauna specific to the area. There is also plenty of opportunity for
recreation, including a lake for swimming, boating and surfboarding, golf courses, public swimming pools, and tennis facilities; the surrounding countryside provides a
network of bicycle and walking routes along rustic byways and paths, which wind through one of the most beautiful areas of the Netherlands.
There are many places of interest in Winterswijk including
more than 70 country estates open to the public, a stone and time
quarry of interest for its specific geology, nature reserves
(Korenburgerveen and Wooldseveen), water and flour mills, ancient
farms and other historic buildings, and a regional museum.
Winterswijk is also renowned as the place where the painter Piet Mondriaan spent much of his youth. Some of his paintings are still on show in Winterswijk, and his former home is a reminder of the period Mondriaan spent in Winterswijk.
Although Winterswijk is an extremely popular tourist attraction (totalling some 800,000 overnight stays per year), the calm of the countryside has not been disturbed. Even at the height of the season, when large numbers of tourists and holiday makers come to the area to enjoy the peace and tranquility, it still remains the ideal spot to "get away trom it all". There are a range of facilities for both small and large conferences, and for overnight accommodation. Conference participants often take advantage of their business-trip to the Eastern Achterhoek to see a little of Winterswijk's natural beauty.
Living climate
In Winterswijk, there is a very lively club life. There are few municipalities in the Netherlands which can offer so many clubs and associations, not only for sport and culture, but also for general social events. Other important factors for housing and the living climate are the excellent educational facilities, the regional hospital providing high-quality health care, a number of homes for the elderly and a nursing home, as well as a social services department which offers ample, comprehensive services.
When it comes to religious life, the population of Winterswijk breaks down into 40% Dutch Reformed, 22% Catholic, 8% Reformed, and 22% with no specific church affiliation.
Office of Public Information
Municipality of Winterswijk
P.O. Box 101
7100 AC Winterswijk
Tel.: 0031 543 543543
Fax: 0031 543 545437
E-mail: gemeente@winterswijk.nl
both the Netherlands and Germany, there is access to a densely-populated consumer market. Other factors favouring the establishment of businesses in the municipality include the availability of a highly-trained, well-motivated work force, and the attractive housing and living climate.
Transport connections to and from Winterswijk
Winterswijk is well-connected, with good roads to Zutphen/ Apeldoorn, Arnhem, the cities of Twente and the German hinterland. There are train connections to Arnhem
and Apeldoorn and bus routes to all locations in the region. The airports of Twente and Düsseldorf are also situated relatively nearby.
Shopping and nightlife
When it comes to shopping and nightlife, Winterswijk can offer a huge diversity of shops, restaurants and cafés. Every Wednesday morning and Saturday, a large produce market is held in the market square in the centre of town. People trom all over the Eastern Achterhoek and neighbouring Germany come to Winterswijk to enjoy the shopping and use the town's recreational facilities.
Recreation
The peace and natural beauty of the broad Winterswijk landscape have long attracted many tourists from home and abroad. There are numerous campsites, hotels, guest
houses and farm campsites. What first draws people to the area is the peaceful, spacious, natural splendour of Winterswijk. The broad countryside, with its many
country estates open to the public, has achieved national renown for its rural beauty and the flora and fauna specific to the area. There is also plenty of opportunity for
recreation, including a lake for swimming, boating and surfboarding, golf courses, public swimming pools, and tennis facilities; the surrounding countryside provides a
network of bicycle and walking routes along rustic byways and paths, which wind through one of the most beautiful areas of the Netherlands.
Winterswijk is also renowned as the place where the painter Piet Mondriaan spent much of his youth. Some of his paintings are still on show in Winterswijk, and his former home is a reminder of the period Mondriaan spent in Winterswijk.
Although Winterswijk is an extremely popular tourist attraction (totalling some 800,000 overnight stays per year), the calm of the countryside has not been disturbed. Even at the height of the season, when large numbers of tourists and holiday makers come to the area to enjoy the peace and tranquility, it still remains the ideal spot to "get away trom it all". There are a range of facilities for both small and large conferences, and for overnight accommodation. Conference participants often take advantage of their business-trip to the Eastern Achterhoek to see a little of Winterswijk's natural beauty.
Living climate
In Winterswijk, there is a very lively club life. There are few municipalities in the Netherlands which can offer so many clubs and associations, not only for sport and culture, but also for general social events. Other important factors for housing and the living climate are the excellent educational facilities, the regional hospital providing high-quality health care, a number of homes for the elderly and a nursing home, as well as a social services department which offers ample, comprehensive services.
When it comes to religious life, the population of Winterswijk breaks down into 40% Dutch Reformed, 22% Catholic, 8% Reformed, and 22% with no specific church affiliation.
Office of Public Information
Municipality of Winterswijk
P.O. Box 101
7100 AC Winterswijk
Tel.: 0031 543 543543
Fax: 0031 543 545437
E-mail: gemeente@winterswijk.nl