Uden

Uden is a town in the province of Noord-Brabant, the Netherlands. The municipality also comprises the following towns, villages and townships: Volkel, Odiliapeel. Total population since 2002: 40.000. Tie of friendship with the German city of Lippstadt[?].

History The first time Uden is mentioned around 1190 as "Uthen". However first settlements are dating back from ancient times and are founded around nowadays Moleneind, Vorstenburg and Bitswijk areas. Near the hamlet Slabroek a Gallo-Germanic urnfield was discovered. Since 1324 Uden was ruled by the house Valkenburg and became a part of the Land van Ravenstein[?]. After 1397 Uden became part of the German county of Cleves. Uden didn't suffered heavy from the 80-years war[?], which came over the Netherlands. The village gained religious freedom in 1631. As a result the order of the Kruisheren[?] came to the municipality in 1638, after they had fled from 's-Hertogenbosch during opression of the protestant Dutch. In 1710 members of the covenant of the Brigitinesses[?] fled from the Brabant of the States[?] area too and founded a new abbey near the town of Uden. When the peace of Munster[?] in 1648 made an end to the religious wars in Europe, Uden didn't came part of the Dutch republic and became an heaven of religious tolerance. As a result the opressed catholics of nearby villages Veghel, Nistelrode and Erp founded little churches at the municipality-boundaries. During the period 1648-1795 Uden became prosperious due to her weekly markets. In 1746 the village was almost destroyed by a heavy fire.

In 1795 it was done with the special rights. Uden was taken by the French troops and it became a part of the Dutch republic. Since 1810 part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Since the mid 19th century Uden became more and more poorer as a result of the concurrence of the surrounding former Brabant of the States villages who gained their freedom back again. Since that time large emigrations to Wisconsin and other parts of the United States. In 1845 the order of the Ursulinen[?] founded a monastry in Uden. In 1855 the village of Volkel founded her own parish. After 1860 the famous cherry-period started in Uden, when the village specialised in the grow of cherries. In 1886 the old Petrus-church was demolished by fire and replaced by a new large church.

During the First world war (in whom the Netherlands stayed neutral) Noord-Brabant was flooded by Belgian refugees. A refugeecamp was erected at Vluchtoord in Uden, where several thouseds of Flemish refugees found home til 1918.

In de 1920's people started to cultivate the massive heathlands in the eastern part of the municipality, called "De Peel". In 1922 a new village was built, called Terraveen and later renamed Odiliapeel. Uden was visited by Wilhelmina, queen of the Netherlands[?] after it had been plagued by the cycloondisaster of 1925.

In 1940 Uden was occupied by the German troops. The Germans started with the building of a new airport: Flugplatz Volkel.

Since the 1950's Uden became a developmentcentre, as it heavily needed new grow. Some industries were placed and the Flugplatz became an international armyairport. Uden became a regional centre.

Due to her enormous grow, very little is left of the old villagecharacter.

Showplaces

• church of Sint-Petrus stoel
• chapel of the Kruisheren
• monastery of the Ursulines
• monastery of the Kruisheren
• Brigitinesse abey of Maria Refugie
• World war II wargrave cemetery
• Mill of Jettens

External link

• Official Website (http://www.uden.nl)