Amersfoort

[[File:Koppelpoort Amersfoort 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Koppelpoort]]]]

[[File:Koppelpoort Amersfoort 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Koppelpoort]]]]

[[File:Amersfoort, de Monnikendam RM8053 positie1 2012-12-08 11.14.jpg|thumb|Monnikendam]]

[[File:Amersfoort, de Monnikendam RM8053 positie1 2012-12-08 11.14.jpg|thumb|Monnikendam]]

Remains of settlements dating to 1000 BC have been found in the Amersfoort area. The name Amersfoort, after a [[ford (river)|ford]] in the Amer River, today called the [[Eem]], first appeared in the 11th century. The city grew around what is now the ''Hof'', where the [[Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht|Bishops of Utrecht]] established a court in order to control the "{{Interlanguage link multi|Gelderse Vallei|nl}}" area. It was granted city rights in 1259 by the bishop of Utrecht, [[Henry I van Vianden]]. A first defensive wall, made of brick, was completed around 1300 but expansion led to the construction of a new wall in 1380, which was completed around 1450. The [[Koppelpoort]], a combined land and water gate, is part of this second wall. The first wall was demolished and houses were built in its place. Today's ''Muurhuizen'' (wallhouses) Street is located where the first wall stood.

Remains of settlements dating to 1000 BC have been found in the Amersfoort area. The name Amersfoort, after a [[ford (river)|ford]] in the Amer River, today called the [[Eem]], first appeared in the 11th century. The city grew around what is now the ''Hof'', where the [[Prince-Bishopric of Utrecht|Bishops of Utrecht]] established a court in order to control the "{{Interlanguage link multi|Gelderse Vallei|nl}}" area. It was granted city rights in 1259 by the bishop of Utrecht, [[Henry I van Vianden]]. A first defensive wall, made of brick, was completed around 1300 but expansion led to the construction of a new wall in 1380, which was completed around 1450. The [[Koppelpoort]], a combined land and water gate, is part of this second wall. The first wall was demolished and houses were built in its place. Today's ''Muurhuizen'' (wallhouses) Street is located where the first wall stood.

The ''[[Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren|Onze-Lieve-Vrouwentoren]]'' (Tower of [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Our Lady]]){{cite web |url= http://www.skyscrapercity.info/100.php?id=4&bid=1185 |title= Onze Lieve Vrouwentoren |access-date= 26 March 2008 |publisher= SkyscraperCity |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003736/http://www.skyscrapercity.info/100.php?id=4&bid=1185 |archive-date= 28 September 2007 |df= dmy-all}} is one of the tallest medieval church towers in the Netherlands at {{convert|98|m|ft|0}}. When it was built, it was the middle point of The Netherlands,{{cite web |title=Wat te doen in Amersfoort? |date=30 June 2021 |url=https://www.wearetravellers.nl/europa/wat-te-doen-in-amersfoort-10-tips/ |publisher=Roëlle}} it was exactly built in the center and a reference for the Dutch grid system. The nickname of the tower is Lange Jan ('Long John').{{cite web |title=Amersfoort - Middle point of the Netherlands |url=http://www.onzelievevrouwetoren.nl/english/ |publisher=OnzeLieveVrouwenToren |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026045944/https://www.onzelievevrouwetoren.nl/english/ |url-status=dead }}

The ''[[Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren|Onze-Lieve-Vrouwentoren]]'' (Tower of [[Blessed Virgin Mary|Our Lady]]){{cite web |url= http://www.skyscrapercity.info/100.php?id=4&bid=1185 |title= Onze Lieve Vrouwentoren |access-date= 26 March 2008 |publisher= SkyscraperCity |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928003736/http://www.skyscrapercity.info/100.php?id=4&bid=1185 |archive-date= 28 September 2007 |df= dmy-all}} is one of the tallest medieval church towers in the Netherlands at {{convert|98|m|ft|0}}. When it was built, it was the middle point of The Netherlands,{{cite web |title=Wat te doen in Amersfoort? |date=30 June 2021 |url=https://www.wearetravellers.nl/europa/wat-te-doen-in-amersfoort-10-tips/ |publisher=Roëlle}} it was exactly built in the center and a reference for the Dutch grid system. The nickname of the tower is Lange Jan ('Long John').{{cite web |title=Amersfoort - Middle point of the Netherlands |url=http://www.onzelievevrouwetoren.nl/english/ |publisher=OnzeLieveVrouwenToren |access-date=16 April 2019 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026045944/https://www.onzelievevrouwetoren.nl/english/ |url-status=dead }}

== Local government ==

== Local government ==

The [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|municipal council]] of Amersfoort consists of 39 seats. The municipal council elections are held every 4 years. As of 2022, the seats are divided as follows:{{cite web|url=https://www.amersfoort.nl/leden-van-de-gemeenteraad |title=Leden van de gemeenteraad|access-date=29 May 2023|language=nl |publisher=Gemeente Amersfoort}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amersfoort.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/to-3/leden-gemeenteraad.htm|title=Leden Gemeenteraad|access-date=8 November 2018|language=nl|publisher=Gemeente Amersfoort|archive-date=8 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184822/https://www.amersfoort.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/to-3/leden-gemeenteraad.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|municipal council]] of Amersfoort consists of 39 seats. The municipal elections are held every 4 years. As of 2026, the seats are divided as follows:{{cite web |date=18 March 2026 |title=Amersfoort municipal election 2026 |url= https://www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl/verkiezingen/detail/GR20260318/746125

|access-date=20 April 2026|website=verkiezingsuitslagen.nl |language=nl }}

* [[D'66|D66]] – 6 seats (5 seats in 2018)

* [[GroenLinks]]/[[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] – 7 seats (6+2 seats in 2022)

* [[GroenLinks]] – 6 seats (6 seats in 2018)

* KeiHart voor Amersfoort – 6 seats (not represented in 2022)

* [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] – 5 seats (6 seats in 2018)

* [[D'66|D66]] – 5 seats (6 seats in 2022)

* [[ChristenUnie]] – 4 seats (4 seats in 2018)

* [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] – 4 seats (5 seats in 2022)

* [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] – 4 seats (6 seats in 2018)

* [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] – 4 seats (4 seats in 2022)

* Amersfoort2014 – 4 seats (3 in 2018)

* Amersfoort voor Vrijheid – 3 seats (1 seat in 2022)

* [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] – 2 seats (2 seats in 2018)

* [[ChristenUnie]] – 2 seats (4 seats in 2022)

* [[Party for the Animals|Partij voor de Dieren]] – 2 seats (not represented in 2018)

* Amersfoort2014 – 2 seats (4 in 2022)

* [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]] – 2 seats (3 seats in 2018)

* [[Party for the Animals|Partij voor de Dieren]] – 1 seat (2 seats in 2022)

* Beter Amersfoort - 1 seat (not represented in 2018)

* [[Socialist Party (Netherlands)|SP]] – 1 seat (2 seats in 2022)

* Burger Partij Amersfoort – 1 seat (2 seats in 2018)

* Beter Amersfoort – 1 seat (1 seat in 2022)

* Amersfoort voor Vrijheid - 1 seat (not represented in 2018)

* Burger Partij Amersfoort – 1 seat (1 seat in 2022)

* Denk – 1 seat (1 seat in 2018)

* [[Denk (political party)|Denk]] – 1 seat (1 seat in 2022)

* [[Forum voor Democratie]] – 1 Seat (not represented in 2022)

The city has a [[Trial court|court of first instance]] (''kantongerecht'').

The city has a [[Trial court|court of first instance]] (''kantongerecht'').

* [[Dirk Fok van Slooten]] (1891–1953) – botanist{{cite web |url=https://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/FMCollectors/S/SlootenDFvan.htm |title=Slooten, Dirk Fok van |publisher=[[National Herbarium of the Netherlands]] |access-date=1 October 2022}}

* [[Dirk Fok van Slooten]] (1891–1953) – botanist{{cite web |url=https://www.nationaalherbarium.nl/FMCollectors/S/SlootenDFvan.htm |title=Slooten, Dirk Fok van |publisher=[[National Herbarium of the Netherlands]] |access-date=1 October 2022}}

* [[Willem Sandberg]] (1897–1984) – graphic designer, [[Stedelijk Museum]] director

* [[Willem Sandberg]] (1897–1984) – graphic designer, [[Stedelijk Museum]] director

* [[Jan van Hulst]] (1903-1975) – recognised as [[Righteous Among the Nations]]

* [[Jan van Hulst]] (1903–1975) – recognised as [[Righteous Among the Nations]]

* [[Johannes Heesters]] (1903–2011) – actor and singer [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0373535/ IMDb Database] retrieved 11 November 2019

* [[Johannes Heesters]] (1903–2011) – actor and singer [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0373535/ IMDb Database] retrieved 11 November 2019

* [[Ben Pon (senior)]] (1904–1968) – car importer and developer of the [[Volkswagen Type 2]]

* [[Ben Pon (senior)]] (1904–1968) – car importer and developer of the [[Volkswagen Type 2]]

* Father [[Roderick Vonhögen]] (born 1968) – television host and podcaster

* Father [[Roderick Vonhögen]] (born 1968) – television host and podcaster

* [[Blaudzun]] (born 1974) – singer and filmmaker, stage name of Johannes Sigmond{{cite web|url= http://www.muziekencyclopedie.nl/action/entry/Blaudzun |title= Blaudzun|publisher= Muziek Encyclopedie|language= nl|access-date= 23 June 2014}}

* [[Blaudzun]] (born 1974) – singer and filmmaker, stage name of Johannes Sigmond{{cite web|url= http://www.muziekencyclopedie.nl/action/entry/Blaudzun |title= Blaudzun|publisher= Muziek Encyclopedie|language= nl|access-date= 23 June 2014}}

* [[Jason Walters]] (born 1985) - sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges related to [[Islamic terrorism]]

* [[Jason Walters]] (born 1985) – sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges related to [[Islamic terrorism]]

* [[Sarah Wiedenheft]] (born 1993) – anime dubbing actress [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6441957/ IMDb Database] retrieved 11 November 2019

* [[Sarah Wiedenheft]] (born 1993) – anime dubbing actress [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6441957/ IMDb Database] retrieved 11 November 2019

;Sport

;Sport

* [[Ben Pon]] (1936-2019) – sports car racing driver

* [[Ben Pon]] (1936–2019) – sports car racing driver

* [[Loet Geutjes]] (born 1943) – water polo player

* [[Loet Geutjes]] (born 1943) – water polo player

* [[Feike de Vries]] (born 1943) – water polo player

* [[Feike de Vries]] (born 1943) – water polo player