Klundert is a Dutch fortified city in the municipality of Moerdijk, in the province of North Brabant. Klundert is located between Zevenbergen, Moerdijk and Fijnaart.
According to a tradition, a farmer, Jan Boutoen, found a host in the early fourteenth century while digging peat, which flowed blood when touched. The parish priest of the village picked up the host and brought it to the church of Niervaert, where it was venerated as the Sacrament of Niervaert for almost one hundred and fifty years. Because many floods, including the Sint-Elisabeth flood of 1421, threatened Niervaert, Jan IV van Nassau asked (his brother-in-law) the bishop of Liège for permission to transfer the Host to the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in Breda. Jan IV received permission and the miraculous Host was transferred to Breda on March 13, 1449.
Klundert is a front street village built at right angles to the dike
(Stoofdijk). The central axis is formed by the Bottekreek, which was
once a small harbour. On either side of this is a front street
(Molenstraat and Voorstraat), and a back street parallel to it
(Oosterstraat and Westerstraat). These streets lead to two squares on
the north side. On one of them is the town hall, on the other is the
Reformed Church. After the destruction of the village in 1944, the
street pattern remained intact, the houses on Bottekreek were replaced
by green strips, and new buildings were built in the style of the
Delftse School.
The town hall was commissioned by Prince Maurits
in 1621. It is located at Stadhuisring 1 and was designed in Mannerist
style by Melchior van Herbach.
The fortifications of Klundert. The
fortifications of Klundert were built in 1584-1588 after a design by
Adriaen Anthonisz. The fortifications consisted of various bastions, an
earthen wall and a moat. The canal was fed with water from the Roode
Vaart. The fortifications on the north and south sides of Klundert are
well preserved. The crown work Suykerbergh was restored in 1948. In the
moat of the crown work lies a brick bear with monks. On the north side
at the intersection of the Bottekreek with the rampart at the
Verlaatstraat is a yellow brick bridge from 1769. The current situation
differs in many ways from the original design as can be seen in Joan
Blaeu's Atlas van Blaeu. Because Klundert was a fortified fortress in a
strategic location, it became part of the Defense Line of the Hollandsch
Diep and the Volkerak. Due to the presence of fortifications, the
advancing French troops could be offered some resistance in 1793. The
fortress was abolished in 1809. The remains of the fortifications were
restored from 1931 to 1979 and have the status of a national monument.
The Johannes de Doperkerk, at Molenstraat 31-33, was originally a
neo-Gothic cruciform church from 1890, designed by Piet van Genk. The
church replaced an 1806 predecessor, which was demolished in 1890. The
Johannes de Doperkerk was heavily damaged in 1944. The tower was not
rebuilt and the rebuilt church received a neo-Romanesque west facade.
She was recommissioned in 1947. After the parish moved services to
Fijnaart, the church became a cultural center. In 2017, the new owner
changed the name to 'De Stad Klundert' and the old presbytery is a
restaurant.
The Reformed Church, at Kerkring 1, was consecrated in
1952 and replaced the predecessor, which was destroyed in 1944. It is a
simple hall church designed by Anthonie Pieter Smits. The church has a
beautiful Flentrop organ. This church belongs to the PKN. There are two
services every Sunday: at 10:00 AM and at 6:30 PM.
The Reformed
Church, at Von Kropfplein 1, was built in 1899. The church has a Van Dam
organ from 1891. This church belongs to the PKN. There are two services
every Sunday: at 10:00 AM and at 4:30 PM.
The Kreekgebouw at
Molenberglaan 2 dates from 1953 and was built over the Bottekreek. It
has sgraffiti decoration by Joop Sjollema.
Many houses were destroyed
in 1944. At Stadhuisring 16 there is another house in Empire style from
1804, and Kerkring 21-22 is a neoclassical former doctor's house from
1870. In Krugerstraat there is a mansion from 1880, which was damaged by
a shell during the Second World War. is crooked.
The Verlaatsheul is
an arched lock from 1769. It is located on the north side of the basin,
where the Bottekreek bisects the ramparts.
Some farms, such as
Noordhoeksedijk 4, with a high seed loft from 1766. Furthermore,
Gorsdijk 1, with a house from 1801.
Klundert is located in an area of marine clay polders, most of which
were re-dyked after the Sint-Elisabeth flood of 1421.
The creek
remnants and watercourses near Klundert (such as the Aalskreek and
Keenehaven) are remnants of estuaries that penetrated deep inland after
this flood, including the Mooi Keene. The Aalskreek formed the
connection with the Hollandsch Diep.
Immediately to the east of
Klundert is a buffer zone with deciduous forest and sunbathing areas
that is owned by Staatsbosbeheer. Nearby nature reserves are the
Buitengorzen along the Hollandsch Diep, and Ruigenhil, consisting of a
number of creek relics a few kilometers west of Klundert.
In Klundert there is a weekly market on Thursdays. Shopping evening is on Friday. There are various shops on the Voorstraat and the fishmonger is on the square once a week.
The name Klundert is said to be traced back to kluun, clod, which means black peat.
Around 1250, situated on favorable waterways, the village of Die
Overdrachthe was created. It was located on a river with the same name,
between the Mark and the 'Buttervliet', which would later become the
Hollandsch Diep. When the river silted up, a new waterway was dug: De
Niewervaert. The village was then named Niervaart.
In 1357,
Niervaart, which belonged to the Region of Holland until 1813, received
city rights from Mr and Lady van Strijen. In 1362 it became its own
fiefdom, which fell to Jan I van Polanen. He was also lord of Breda and
through him the glory passed to the Nassaus, later princes of Orange.
Until 1881, much land remained within the municipality of one or more
members of this noble, royal house from 1815. In that year the lands
became state property.
Klundert was plagued by disasters early in
its history. In 1420 the city burned down. The following year, the
entire area was flooded during the Saint Elizabeth's Flood. But soon the
reclamation of land from water began. In 1558 a dike was built along the
Hollands Diep and the Groote Polder was created at the place where
Niervaart had once been. The village of De Clundert was founded on that
place. It was systematically arranged with a regular street pattern.
Although Klundert was later adopted as the place name, the town is still
locally called De Klundert.
The Klundert foundation was
originally a project to generate profit through rent and taxes. In 1568,
at the start of the Eighty Years' War, the strategic position on the
border of Holland and Brabant came to the fore. In 1572 the Reformation
made its appearance in Klundert and a pastor arrived.
In 1583 the
city received a wall, the Fortifications of Klundert, built by order of
William of Orange. From then on, Klundert, together with nearby
Willemstad, was part of the Defense Line of the Hollandsch Diep and the
Volkerak. However, Klundert was never besieged by the Spaniards: it was
well protected, including by a wartime ship that was moored in the Roode
Vaart. Prince Maurits also had a soft spot for the city: he donated it
to his town hall. All this had to do with the fact that the princes had
personal belongings here. The steward resided in the Prinsenhof.
On Queen's Day people used to sing songs like:
Come Dutch boys sing
along with this song
mentioning what once happened in Klundert,
the city where Prince William has done so much
and who owes Prince
Maurits so much (etc.)
In 1793, the then advancing French troops
encountered the first resistance here, which would eventually force them
to withdraw. The Netherlands then remained independent for about two
years.
Towards the end of the Second World War, Klundert was set
on fire in 1944 by retreating German troops. After the town had just
recovered somewhat, the flood of 1953 flooded 90% of its territory. In
the years that followed, recovery and major expansions took place.
The ramparts underwent a thorough restoration from 1931 to 1979. The
ramparts have become an attraction.
The location on good waters
promoted activity. Originally it was possible to sail from the north of
the Hollandsch Diep to Klundert. When the harbor in Klundert silted up,
a harbor was built in Noordschans. In the past it was also possible to
sail to the Dintel via Roode Vaart and Mooi Keene via Klundert. In 1840
there was economic activity in the place in the form of a saw mill, an
oil mill, a soap factory and a beer brewery.
From around 1970,
the Moerdijk Port and Industrial Area was largely built on Klundert's
territory. Since 1997, Klundert has been part of the municipality of
Moerdijk.
In Klundert, the football club VV Klundert was created from the
merger of VVN and Olto. There is also the Van Polanen tennis club, the
DSO korfball club and the Niervaert equestrian center. The Klundertse
fortress waters are leased by the local fishing club KHSV 't Wachtertje.
They maintain the fish stocks in these waters and organize various
competitions.
On Sunday, August 21, 2022, the route of the third
stage (from Breda to Breda) of the Tour of Spain 2022 passed through
Klundert.
In 1998, Klundert won second prize at Entente Florale, the European competition for landscaping in municipalities.
Library
CBS De Molenvliet
CBS The Bastion
R.K. De Rietvest
Elementary School
SBO The Palette
Sportplaza Moerdijk – Swimming
pool De Niervaert
Football Association Klundert
Korfball
association DSO
Traffic and transport
Klundert can be reached from
the A17 and the N285. Public transport in Klundert is provided by Arriva
with line 117 (Fijnaart - Klundert - Breda).
The Dutch king carries the noble title Heer van Klundert. See Titles
of the Dutch royal family.
Born in Klundert
Rachel
Fernhout-Pellekaan (1905 - 1989), painter
Nico van Gageldonk
(1913-1995), cyclist
Piet van der Horst Sr. (1903-1983), cyclist
Piet van der Horst Jr. (1939), cyclist
Jaap Lodders (1963),
politician
Helma Lodders (1968), politician
Kornelis Eland
(1838-1927), politician and soldier
Dietmar Pillhock (1944-2001),
chess player
Pieter Korteweg (1941), economist
Johan van Dommele
(1927), organist
Photo Impression
Below is a short photo
impression of Klundert.