Arnhem - Gheos Worldguide

Arnhem

Human activity around Arnhem started at least in 70,000 BC. Archaeological excavations have unearthed firestones dating from that Stone Age period. The first permanent settlement dates from 1500 BC. Arnhem was first mentioned in historic documents in 893. The city joined the Hanseatic League in 1443.

In 1530, the Rhine River changed its course and Arnhem has been located on the banks of that river ever since. In 1585, the city became part of the Republic of the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands.

The original city walls were dismantled in the beginning of the 19th century, to make room for the expansion of Arnhem. Nowadays, only the Sabelspoort (Sabres Gate) is the only part that remains of the fortifications.

Arnhem saw fierce fighting at the end of WWII, when allied forces tried to capture it from the Germans. The city was almost entirely destroyed and reconstruction was nog completed until 1969. The old city center features numerous historic buildings.

Points of interest

De Hoop (The Ambition) is a tower mill that was built as a corn mill in 1846. In 1900, a steam engine was added, which was replaced by a petrol engine in 1910. As a result, the mill itself fell into disrepair. It was restored in 1951 and in 1977. It is located at Molenweg 1.
De Kroon (The Crown) dates from 1870. The tower mill is also known as the Klarendalse Molen (Klarendal Mill). The mill was rstored in 1936, in 1975-1976 and in 1997. A year later, it was damaged by fire and it had to be repaired once again.The windmill is located at Klarendalseweg 82.
The Eusebiuskerk (St. Eusebius' Church) is also known as the Grote Kerk (Grand Church). Construction of the church took place over a period between 1452 and 1560. Its tower was destructed in WWII and it was rebuilt in 1964, albeit in a modern form. It includes an elevator that takes visitor to its top for excellent views pver the city. The tower is 93 m high.
John Frostbrug (John Frost Bridge) is Arnhem's main road bridge that spans the Rhine River. The bridge was built after WWII, to replace the earlier bridge that had been destroyed, when the Allies defeated the Germans at the end pf the war. It was named after Major-General John Dutton Frost, who commanded the British forces that reached and temporarily defended the pre-existing Rijnbrug (Rhine Bridge) at the same location during the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944.
The KEMA Toren was erected in 1969. The broadcasting tower is a 149 m (489 ft) tall.
The Koninklijke Burgers' Zoo (Royal Burgers' Zoo) covers an area of 45 ha (110 acres), making it one of the largest zoos in the Netherlands. It was established in 1913 and named after its founder Johan Burgers. The zoo is home to more than 10,000 animals from some 500 different species. It is divided into several habitats
- Bush is an indoor tropical rainforest.
- Desert is an indoor desert and mainly houses animals native to the Sonoran Desert.
- Mangrove is an indoor mangrove swamp.
- Ocean is a 8,000,000-liter (2,100,000 US gal) seawater aquarium. It is divided into several tanks and it houses a living coral reef, tropical fish, invertebrates and sharks, amongst others.
- Rimba is an indoor Southeast Asian rainforest. Animals that are housed there include Asian water monitors, banteng, binturongs, dusky leaf monkeys, Eld's deer, golden-cheeked gibbons, golden jackals, hog deer, Malayan sun bears, muntjac, pig-tailed macaques, reticulated pythons, siamangs, Sri Lankan leopards and Sumatran tigers.
- Safari comprises a large plain, where animals roam free.
The zoo has playgrounds for the kids. The zoo is located at the Antoon van Hooffplein.
The Musis Sacrum is a concert hall that was completed in 1847. It is located at the intersection of the Velperplein and Park Lauwersgracht.
The Stadhuis (City Hall) has been housed in the former home of Maarten van Rossum, who was a general serving Duke Charles van Gelre, since 1830. It features satyrs in its Renaissance ornamentation, which have earned the building its nickname of Duivelshuis (Devil's House).
Stadsvilla Sonsbeek.

Museums

Airborne Museum 'Hartenstein'.
The Gemeentemuseum (Municipal Museum).
The Museum Bronbeek.
The Nederlands Openluchtmuseum (Netherlands Open Air Museum) opened in 1918. It comprises a collection of historic buildings that were moved there from other parts of the Netherlands. These buildings include antique houses, farms, factories and windmills. An antique tram runs through the site and the museum personnel wear period clothing and demonstrate the old way of life in the Netherlands. Interesting demonstrations include beer brewing, linseed production and paper production. The museum is located at Schelmseweg 89, outside of the city.

Parks and recreation areas

The Nationaal Park de Hoge Veluwe (High Veluwe National Park) is the largest national park in The Netherlands. It is located immediately north of Arnhem.
Sonsbeek Park is an urban park.
The Veluwezoom National Park is located adjacent to the Hoge Veluwe National Park.
Zypendaal Park.

There are numerous hotels, bars, cafés and restaurants in Arnhem. A number of annual events is organized in the city.

Arnhem is located on the banks of the Rhine River in the east of The Netherlands, not far from the border with Germany and some 100 km southeast from Amsterdam. It is the capital of the Dutch province of Gelderland.

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