Houthem, Netherlands

Houthem is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is a part of the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul, and lies about 8 km east of Maastricht.

Houthem
Village
St Gerlachus Church
St Gerlachus Church
Houthem is located in Netherlands
Houthem
Houthem
Location in the Netherlands
Houthem is located in Limburg, Netherlands
Houthem
Houthem
Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 50°52′N 5°48′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
MunicipalityValkenburg aan de Geul
Area
[1]
 • Total6.90 km2 (2.66 sq mi)
Elevation
[2]
88 m (289 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total1,515
 • Density220/km2 (570/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
6301[1]
Dialing code043
Major roadsA79

History

The village was first mentioned in 1096 as "apud Houlten", and means "settlement in a deciduous forest".[3] Houthem is a village which developed in the Middle Ages in the valley of the Geul. Since 1232, it belonged to the Land van Valkenburg. In 1201, a Premonstratensian monastery was founded near the grave of Saint Gerlach. Between 1661 until 1785, the walled monastery was an Austrian enclave in the Dutch Republic.[4]

The Catholic St Gerlachus Church used to be the main building of the nunnery. The church was destroyed in 1574, but 13th century elements remain. Between 1720 and 1727, the building was renovated and enlarged. In 1786, the nuns left and the building was auctioned in 1797. In 1808, part of the vault collapsed and the building was restored as a church. The church contains the tomb of Saint Gerlach.[4]

Houthem was home to 659 people in 1840.[5] In 1888, Houthem-Sint Gerlach railway station opened on the Aachen to Maastricht railway line.[6]

Houthem was a separate municipality until 1940, when it was merged with Valkenburg.[7] In 1982, it became part of the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul.[5]

Notable people
  • Church and castle in Houthem
    Church and castle in Houthem
  • Street view
    Street view
  • Water well
    Water well
  • Railway station
    Railway station

References
  1. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 26 April 2022. combined with Sint Gerlach
  2. "Postcodetool for 6129AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  3. "Houthem - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  4. Sabine Broekhoven, & Ronald Stenvert (2003). Houthem (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9623 6. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  5. "Houthem". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  6. "station Houthem- St. Gerlach". Stationsweb (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  7. Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.
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