Drunen is a town in the municipality of Heusden in the southern Netherlands. The town is part of a region called the Langstraat ('long road') which is historically known for its leather and shoe industry. Since 1813, Drunen had been a separate municipality, consisting of the towns Drunen, Elshout, and Giersbergen. As of 2017[update] Drunen's population reached 18,216.[1]
The center of Drunen is a plaza surrounded by the Sint-Lambertuskerk ('St Lambert's church') and city hall. There are a number of pubs and stores also located in the middle of town.
Drunen was heavily shelled by British Forces in late 1944 in the days prior to liberation and its main buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed outright. In consequence, there are few historic buildings. In 2007 the downtown area, including the plaza, was modernized.
Municipal mergeredit
On 1 January 1997, Drunen was incorporated, along with the municipalities of Heusden and Vlijmen, into the new, enlarged municipality of Heusden, containing the towns Drunen, Elshout, Giersbergen, Heesbeen, Doeveren, Hedikhuizen, Herpt, Oud-Heusden, Heusden, Vlijmen, Nieuwkuijk and Haarsteeg. Some argued that this enlarged municipality should have been called the municipality of Drunen, being the biggest of the three towns. However, due to the historical importance of Heusden, and possibly to avoid ill-will in the almost equally large town of Vlijmen, the municipality was named after Heusden.
Historyedit
1813: Drunen becomes a municipality in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
1935: Elshout (previously part of the municipality Oud-Heusden) is added to Drunen
1944: Liberation of Drunen in World War II at which the church tower and many of the historic buildings are destroyed
1997: The municipality of Drunen is incorporated into the enlarged municipality of Heusden
2007: The modernized centre of Drunen is officially opened
Economyedit
Drunen has an extensive industrial park which includes heavy industry for large ship's propellers, as well as copper and aluminium extrusion. Most recent industries focus on logistics. The biggest employers in Drunen are the propeller factory Wärtsilä (previously John Crane Group-LIPS) and the aluminium factory of the Sapa Group (previously Alcoa).
Recreationedit
Drunen is internationally known for the Dutch: Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park, ('Loon and Drunen Dunes'), consisting of dunes and forests that attracts many tourists. To emphasize the link between Drunen and the Dunes, at the opening of the modernized town center, a piece of art was unveiled which contains excerpts of a poem about the dunes.
An historic car and vehicle museum ("Autotron") was located in Drunen until 1987. The building was designed by architect Anton Pieck (known from the Efteling). It is currently used as a theatre and arts facility, highlighting different music, dance and art groups. In 1987, the Autotron collection moved to Rosmalen until 2003, since when it has become part of the Louwman Museum's collection in The Hague.
A theme park called Land van Ooit was located in Drunen as well. However, on 22 November 2007 the park closed. Subsequently, the property of 44 acres (180,000 m2) was purchased by the local government for recreational purposes and to support infrastructure.
Notable peopleedit
Jay Hardway (Jobke Heiblom), DJ/Producer and drummer.
drunen, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, june, 2018, learn, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Drunen news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message Drunen is a town in the municipality of Heusden in the southern Netherlands The town is part of a region called the Langstraat long road which is historically known for its leather and shoe industry Since 1813 Drunen had been a separate municipality consisting of the towns Drunen Elshout and Giersbergen As of 2017 update Drunen s population reached 18 216 1 DrunenSint Lambertuskerk Drunen nl FlagCoat of armsCoordinates 51 41 9 N 5 7 59 E 51 68583 N 5 13306 E 51 68583 5 13306CountryNetherlandsProvinceNorth BrabantMunicipalityHeusdenPopulation 1 January 2017 18 216Area code0416Major roadsA59 N267 Windmill Hertogin van Brabant Contents 1 Built environment 2 Municipal merger 3 History 4 Economy 5 Recreation 6 Notable people 7 See also 8 ReferencesBuilt environment editThe center of Drunen is a plaza surrounded by the Sint Lambertuskerk St Lambert s church and city hall There are a number of pubs and stores also located in the middle of town Drunen was heavily shelled by British Forces in late 1944 in the days prior to liberation and its main buildings were heavily damaged or destroyed outright In consequence there are few historic buildings In 2007 the downtown area including the plaza was modernized Municipal merger editOn 1 January 1997 Drunen was incorporated along with the municipalities of Heusden and Vlijmen into the new enlarged municipality of Heusden containing the towns Drunen Elshout Giersbergen Heesbeen Doeveren Hedikhuizen Herpt Oud Heusden Heusden Vlijmen Nieuwkuijk and Haarsteeg Some argued that this enlarged municipality should have been called the municipality of Drunen being the biggest of the three towns However due to the historical importance of Heusden and possibly to avoid ill will in the almost equally large town of Vlijmen the municipality was named after Heusden History edit1813 Drunen becomes a municipality in the Kingdom of the Netherlands 1935 Elshout previously part of the municipality Oud Heusden is added to Drunen 1944 Liberation of Drunen in World War II at which the church tower and many of the historic buildings are destroyed 1997 The municipality of Drunen is incorporated into the enlarged municipality of Heusden 2007 The modernized centre of Drunen is officially openedEconomy editDrunen has an extensive industrial park which includes heavy industry for large ship s propellers as well as copper and aluminium extrusion Most recent industries focus on logistics The biggest employers in Drunen are the propeller factory Wartsila previously John Crane Group LIPS and the aluminium factory of the Sapa Group previously Alcoa Recreation editDrunen is internationally known for the Dutch Loonse en Drunense Duinen National Park Loon and Drunen Dunes consisting of dunes and forests that attracts many tourists To emphasize the link between Drunen and the Dunes at the opening of the modernized town center a piece of art was unveiled which contains excerpts of a poem about the dunes An historic car and vehicle museum Autotron was located in Drunen until 1987 The building was designed by architect Anton Pieck known from the Efteling It is currently used as a theatre and arts facility highlighting different music dance and art groups In 1987 the Autotron collection moved to Rosmalen until 2003 since when it has become part of the Louwman Museum s collection in The Hague A theme park called Land van Ooit was located in Drunen as well However on 22 November 2007 the park closed Subsequently the property of 44 acres 180 000 m2 was purchased by the local government for recreational purposes and to support infrastructure Notable people editJay Hardway Jobke Heiblom DJ Producer and drummer Jolijn van de Wiel child actress Michiel van der Heijden mountainbiker and cyclo cross rider Paul van Loon author Mike Williams DJ future house future bounce producer and dj Zanger Kafke Folk SingerSee also editDraaiorgel de Vijf Beelden Dutch street organ of the Five Figures previously exhibited at Autotron nl in Drunen until its closing References edit https www heusden nl dsresource objectid e553807c 0249 4d77 b81d cc8df6b344ea amp type pdf amp amp dead link 51 41 N 5 10 E 51 683 N 5 167 E 51 683 5 167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Drunen amp oldid 1093623469, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
