Rijnland

Rijnland

. [This article is based on a translation of the article on "Rijnland" on the Dutch version of Wikipedia, with some additions and alterations.]

Special Dutch sense

When used in the specific Dutch context, "Rijnland" generally refers to the area around the Oude Rijn, the lower reaches of a minor branch of the Rhine river in the Netherlands. This river is referred to as "Rijn" (Rhine) in the Netherlands for historical reasons. This small, heavily-canalised and remote branch of the Rhine was, in fact, the river that the Romans used to call the Rhine and the northern limit of the Roman Empire in this area. The term "Rijnland" is itself ancient.

Relationship between Rhine, Rijn and Rijnland

Today, when the Rhine river enters the Netherlands from Germany, most of it becomes the river Waal and is no longer called the Rhine. However, some of it flows north (through a canal) after which it splits into the Nederrijn (Lower Rhine) and the IJssel. The Nederrijn eventually becomes the Lek, but a branch of it flows through a canal to Utrecht where it is further canalised and directed west. The names for this minor waterway as it flows through the provinces of Utrecht and South Holland change, but all the names still include the name "Rijn" and it is not unusual for it to be referred to as the "Rijn". Its varying names are Kromme Rijn ("Crooked Rhine"), Leidse Rijn ("Leiden Rhine") and Oude Rijn ("Old Rhine"). The Oude Rijn ends as it flows into a sluice at Katwijk aan Zee, where its waters can be discharged into the North Sea. It is the area around the Oude Rijn that is referred to as "Rijnland".

Usage

The name "Rijnland" is the name of several administrative areas, both current and historical, and it can also be used in a more vaguely defined sense:

* the area along the Oude Rijn, extending roughly from around Utrecht to Katwijk aan Zee;

* the region around Leiden;

* the jurisdiction of the "Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland" (Rijnland District Water Control Board), a Dutch water board based in Leiden; [http://www.rijnland.net/algemene_onderdelen/talenversies/en Rijnland District Water Control Board website]

* the area covered by "Holland Rijnland", an administrative "regional collaboration" ("samenwerkingsverband") of various municipalities in the Duin- en Bollenstreek and the Leiden area; [http://www.hollandrijnland.net Holland Rijnland website (in Dutch only)]

* Rijnland, a gau ("gouw") that was absorbed around 900 A.D. into the County of Holland, and that was (along with Schieland and Maasland) at the heart of the medieval County of Holland. [Ronald de Graaf, "Oorlog om Holland 1000-1375", pp. 24, 38] [Antheun Janse, "Een in zichzelf verdeeld rijk", "Geschiedenis van Holland" (Deel 1: tot 1572), pp. 71-72]

The word "Rijnland" is also used in several historical Dutch units of measurement:

* units of length called the "Rijnlandse roede" (Rijnland rod) and "Rijnlandse voet" (Rijnland foot);

* units of surface area called the "Rijnlandse Roede" (Rijnland square rod) and the "Rijnlandse voet" (Rijnland square foot).

Notes


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dutch units of measurement — Relief on the gable of De Waag at the Markt in Gouda The Dutch units of measurement used today are those of the metric system. Before the 19th century, a wide variety of different weights and measures were used by the various Dutch towns and… …   Wikipedia

  • South Holland — Infobox Dutch Province ename = Province of South Holland dname = Provincie Zuid Holland common name = South Holland location Clicksensitive map of provinces of the Netherlands|province=South Holland capital = The Hague largest city = Rotterdam… …   Wikipedia

  • Dutch exonyms — Below is list of Dutch language exonyms for places in non Dutch speaking areas of Europe Contents 1 Links to more extensive lists 1.1 Belgium (België) …   Wikipedia

  • Nicolaas Kruik — Contour map by Cruquius, 1730 Nicolaas (Klaas) Kruik (2 December 1678, Vlieland 5 February 1754, Spaarndam), also known as Nicolaes Krukius or most commonly by the Latinized Nicolaus Samuelis Cruquius, was a Dutch land surveyor, cartographer,… …   Wikipedia

  • Zuid-Kennemerland National Park — Nationaal Park Zuid Kennemerland IUCN Category II (National Park) …   Wikipedia

  • Alit Bockel — (* etwa 1490 bei Darup; † etwa 1521 bei Darup) war die Mutter des späteren Täuferkönigs Jan van Leyden (1509–1536). Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Name 2 Leben 3 Nachwirken 4 Einzelnachweise …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Goudaer Glasfenster — Sint Janskerk mit Turm von Süden gesehen Die Sint Janskerk (dt. „Sankt Johanneskirche“) im niederländischen Gouda ist eine gotische, fünfschiffige Kreuzbasilika, die Johannes dem Täufer, dem Schutzpatron Goudas, gewidmet ist. Die Kirche ist mit… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Goudse Glazen — Sint Janskerk mit Turm von Süden gesehen Die Sint Janskerk (dt. „Sankt Johanneskirche“) im niederländischen Gouda ist eine gotische, fünfschiffige Kreuzbasilika, die Johannes dem Täufer, dem Schutzpatron Goudas, gewidmet ist. Die Kirche ist mit… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste aller niederländischen Gemeinden A–L — In diese Liste werden alle Gemeinden, die auf dem Gebiet der jetzigen Niederlande bestehen oder bestanden haben, aufgenommen. Die Liste beginnt im Jahr 1805/10. Vor 1830 können die Angaben unvollständig sein. Kleinere Grenzkorrekturen oder… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste niederländischer Bezeichnungen deutscher Orte — In dieser Liste werden für deutsche Toponyme (das heißt Namen von Städten, Landschaften, Flüssen, Gebirgen usw. des deutschsprachigen Raumes) die niederländischen Entsprechungen angegeben. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Deutschland 2 Ehemalig deutsche… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”