Alphen aan den Rijn

Alphen aan den Rijn (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑlfə(n) aːn dɛ(n) ˈrɛi̯n] (listen), English: Alphen upon Rhine or Alphen on the Rhine) is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, between Leiden and Utrecht. The city is situated on the banks of the river Oude Rijn (Old Rhine), where the river Gouwe branches off. The municipality had a population of 110,986 in 2019, and covers an area of 132.50 km2 (51.16 sq mi) of which 6.27 km2 (2.42 sq mi) is water.

Alphen aan den Rijn
City and municipality
The former city hall
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 52°8′N 4°40′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorLiesbeth Spies (CDA)
Area
 • Total132.50 km2 (51.16 sq mi)
 • Land126.23 km2 (48.74 sq mi)
 • Water6.27 km2 (2.42 sq mi)
Elevation2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (January 2019)[4]
 • Total110,986
 • Density879/km2 (2,280/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Alphenaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
2390–2409, 2445, 2470–2471, 2730–2731, 2770–2771
Area code0172
Websitewww.alphenaandenrijn.nl
Topographic map of Alphen aan den Rijn (town), Sept. 2014

The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn also includes the communities of Aarlanderveen, Zwammerdam, and Boskoop. The city is located in what is called the 'Green Heart' of the Netherlands, which is a somewhat less densely populated centre area of the Randstad.

The name "Alphen" is probably derived from the name of the Roman fort Albaniana, meaning "settlement at the white water". Its remains still lie underneath the city centre.

History
Map showing Albanianis (in the centre, just above the 'T' of Patabus) in the Tabula Peutingeriana.

The area around Alphen aan den Rijn has been inhabited for 2000 years. In the Roman era, the Oude Rijn was the main branch of the Rhine River and formed the north border of the Roman Empire. Since the rule of Emperor Claudius (41–54 AD), divisions of the Roman army were stationed here. Consequently, several Roman fortifications were located along the Oude Rijn, including castellum Albanianae in the centre of Alphen. The Romans had also built the first bridge over the Oude Rijn. Alphen was therefore an important commercial site in the area until Germanic raids ended that in 240 AD.

After recurring problems with flooding, especially in Utrecht and Leiden, the Oude Rijn was dammed at Wijk bij Duurstede in 1122, thereby making the Lek River the main branch of the Rhine. The Oude Rijn has not flooded since. During the Middle Ages, Alphen was a fiefdom called Alphen en Rietveld.

The vertical lift bridge over the Gouwe River was built in the 1930s.

In the 17th century, Alphen became prominent again as a hub for commerce. The Oude Rijn was used for boat traffic; there are still portions along the river where the towpath is present.

The current municipality was formed in 1918 through the amalgamation of the smaller municipalities of Alphen, Aarlanderveen, and Oudshoorn. In 1964, the municipality of Zwammerdam was added as well. In 2014 the municipalities of Boskoop and Rijnwoude were amalgamated as well, doubling the land area and increasing the population to over 100,000.

During the Second World War, the majority of Jews from Alphen were deported and subsequently murdered; only a few survived. After the war, the Jewish congregation was disbanded and merged with the one in Leiden. A Jewish cemetery on the Aarkade was founded in 1802, but it was abandoned and razed in the 1960s, with the remains re-interred in Katwijk;[5] in 2012, after fifteen years of community activism by local historian Anke Bakker and CDA council member Alice Besseling, a monument was installed and the area turned into a city park.[6]

Since the 1950s, the city began to grow rapidly. A large new neighbourhood was built on the north side and Alphen became mostly a commuter city. Other urban developments however did create local employment. Since the 1990s, a similar new development was built at the city's south side.

Monumental clocktower in Alphen aan den Rijn
Theater Castellum
Railway and bicycle parking station

In recent years, a large part of the city centre has undergone a full urban renewal. Many buildings from the 1950s and earlier have been demolished to make place for modern architecture. This "masterplan" included the addition of a new public square next to the riverbank, the construction of a performing arts theatre/cinema, an upgrade of local shops and the creation of pedestrian streets. As of 2006, all of these projects on the left riverbank Hoge Zijde have been finished and a new similar masterplan for the right riverbank Lage Zijde has been developed and is being executed now.

On 9 April 2011, a gunman opened fire at a shopping centre in Alphen aan den Rijn, killing six people and subsequently taking his own life.[7]

On 3 August 2015, a newly built bridge flap of the under-renovation Juliana Bridge on the Oude Rijn collapsed. It was being hoisted by two cranes, different in size, floating on a pontoon that was not stabilized. It became unbalanced shortly after the lifting started, fell and collapsed onto buildings. There were no injuries and fatalities, many inhabitants having already cleared the area. In total 51 properties were damaged.[8][9]

Demographics

Tourism

Alphen aan den Rijn has the following attractions:

  • Avifauna Bird Park – the world's first dedicated bird park, opened in 1950.
  • Archeon – a theme park about Dutch History, with 43 replica buildings from prehistoric, Roman, and Medieval eras. It opened in 1994.
  • Zegersloot Recreation Park – park with an artificial lake, popular for hiking, cycling, windsurfing, wakeboarding and water skiing.

Events
  • 20 van Alphen – International 20 kilometres run. Held every year (since 1952) on the second Sunday of March. The 2006 event was marked by a world record when Haile Gebrselassie posted a time of 1 hour 11 minutes 37 seconds for 25 km. This was his 22nd world record breaking performance.
  • Year market – third Wednesday in September. Regional products.
  • Lakeside Festival – end of August. Music festival near Zegersloot.
  • Old timer day – second Saturday of September. Old cars, tractors, steam engines.
  • LAURA – four-day bicycle event Leiden, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Alphen aan den Rijn which is the start and finish place, is held the first week of July.
  • Tean International – Challenger level ATP Tour tennis tournament, played at the Alphense Tennis Club, from 30 August to 8 September 2008.
  • Midwinter Fair and Midzomer Fair[11] – Fantasy festivals at the Archeon.
  • Vakantiespel – One of the largest events for children between 6 and 12-year-old in the Netherlands. Held every year in August.

Public transport

The town is served by Alphen aan den Rijn railway station. It is just south east of the town centre. The bus station is located near the railway station.

Politics

In total, there are 11 parties in the city council that consists of 35 councillors. Liesbeth Spies of the CDA is the current acting mayor. The council of mayor and alderman run the city on a day-to-day basis and report to the city council.

Current (2016) aldermen in Alphen aan den Rijn are:

  • M.H. du Chatinier (ChristenUnie)
  • C.J. van Velzen (CDA)
  • G. van As (Nieuw Elan)
  • T. Hoekstra (VVD)
  • H. de Jager (CDA)
  • E. de Leest (D66 - since 21-04-2016 instead of W.J. Stegeman)

Economy

The information and publishing company Wolters Kluwer is based in Alphen aan den Rijn.

Notable natives
Liesbeth Spies, 2012

Sport
Tom Okker, 1964
Noël van Klaveren, 2015
  • Alphen aan den Rijn - De Eendracht
  • Oude Rijn quayside Alphen Centrum
  • Rietveld bij Hazerswoude-Dorp
  • Oudshoornse Kerk

References
  1. "J.W.E. (Liesbeth) Spies". College (in Dutch). Gemeente Alphen aan den Rijn. Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. "Postcodetool for 2405SH". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. "Over een paar maanden is de begraafplaats een stadspark". Dichtbij.nl (in Dutch). 1 December 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  6. "Joodse begraafplaats omgevormd tot stadspark". Dichtbij.nl (in Dutch). 16 September 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  7. "Gunman Kills Six in Busy Shopping Centre". Sky News. 9 April 2011. Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2011. A 24-year-old gunman has opened fire with a machine gun in a packed shopping centre in the Netherlands, killing six people and then himself.
  8. "Netherlands cranes collapse in Alphen aan den Rijn". BBC News. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  9. "Investigation underway into Alpen a/d Rijn crane crash". Dutch News. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  10. "Niet-westerse allochtonen per gemeente 2010–2040 [Non-western allochthones per municipality 2010–2040]". Nationale Atlas Volksgezondheid. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu. Archived from the original on 5 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  11. (in Dutch) Midsummer Fair, Aztek-TV, 19 June 2010 (archive)
  12. IMDb Database retrieved 15 February 2020
  13. IMDb Database retrieved 15 February 2020
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