Rhenen by René Roos

About "Rhenen"

by René Roos

About the artwork

Skyline of the town of Rhenen.
Rhenen received city rights in 1258,[3][4][5] after the place was first mentioned in 855 as 'villa Hreni' (neighbourhood Rhenen). In the Middle Ages, Rhenen was the most advanced base of support for the Bishop of Utrecht in his ongoing struggle against the counts, later dukes, of Gelre. The bishop owned the Ter Horst castle here, which was eventually demolished in 1543. After the centralisation of the national administration by Emperor Charles V, Rhenen remained a quiet garrison town for centuries. As one of the five cities of the Sticht it played a modest role in the administration of the region.

In the 17th century the exiled King Frederick V of the Palatinate had a summer residence in Rhenen. He had the palace built in 1630-1631 to a design by the Hague architect Bartholomeus van Bassen. The King's Palace, as it was called, was demolished in 1812. Today the only reminders of the monarch's residence in Rhenen are a commemorative plaque and the street name Frederik van de Paltshof.

In May 1940 there was heavy fighting between Germans and Dutch at Rhenen during the Battle of the Grebbeberg. The population was evacuated to the west and did not return until 18 May. The town proved to be heavily battered. In Rhenen 162 houses were completely destroyed, while approximately one thousand were heavily damaged. The Cunera church and tower were still standing and could be restored. Shortly after the return the clearing of debris began. There