Lobith by René Roos

About "Lobith"

by René Roos

About the artwork

Lobith is a Dutch border town known as the point where the Rhine enters the Netherlands. However, in the 18th century [2] [source?] the course of the river was changed. This caused Lobith to be situated on a river fork, known as the Old Rhine. Near Lobith this created a nature reserve that is managed by the Dutch Forestry Commission: the Geuzenwaard. From then on the river crossed the Dutch border at the place where the village of Spijk was later created, and then flowed past Tolkamer. At Lobith in the Middle Ages toll was levied for ships, when the castle Tolhuys still existed. Lobith is part of the municipality Zevenaar in the province of Gelderland. Lobith belonged to the municipality of Rijnwaarden until 1 January 2018.
Lobith was created in the 13th century by the construction of the mighty castle Tolhuys on a higher bank of the Rhine. The Tolhuys owed its name to the toll. Ships had to moor in Lobith, which was then called Tolhuys, to pay toll. The castle no longer exists, it was destroyed in 1672 during the entry of the French army led by Louis XIV of France. This battle is known in French history as the Battle of Tolhuis. However, its history is still visible in the form of the Schipperspoort, the place where barges went ashore to pay toll in Lobith. Later the toll was moved to Tolkamer, which borders Lobith.

Much later Lobith was part of the Prussian municipality of Elten. On 1 March 1817 the area was transferred to the Netherlands, after which a provisional muni