Discover the history of Venlo
It has had city rights for more than 675 years, but people lived in this place long before that. A carefully chosen strategic location. The water was a vital lifeline. Not only for drinking, but also for sailing. And not quite deep enough to drown in it. It thus became a crossroads of waterway and land road. And where there is a lot of traffic, many people also settle there.
An important trading city
In the Middle Ages, Venlo was an important trading city and therefore also a popular prey for varying occupiers. For example, Venlo was Spanish, Staats and French. After the French left, Venlo, in the newly formed province of Limburg, became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. In the mid-19th century, the city walls were demolished and the city expanded considerably along the access roads and into the outlying areas.
Venlo in the Second World War
At the end of the Second World War, Venlo suffered greatly from Allied bombing. The strategic bridge was the target, but the city was also badly hit. More than a thousand Venlo residents died.
The spatial quality of the city
After the war, the city was quickly rebuilt. What we now call heritage was treated rather carelessly. There was no time or attention for that at the time. Cleaning up and making it new quickly was the motto.
With mixed results: some post-war buildings have now been cleared away. On the other hand, the city has an illustrative example of a successful reconstruction project in the history of Venlo with the so-called Bridge Plan, which includes one of the most beautiful stations in the Netherlands.
Construction of the historic city center
In the period before the Floriade, the municipality invested a lot in overdue maintenance of the city center. After all, the city had to be “finished” to receive guests from all over the world. The city was one construction site, sometimes to the dismay of residents, entrepreneurs and visitors. The result is certainly impressive. The city center can rightly call itself a historic city center, the Maasboulevard has become a real boulevard and access to the city has greatly improved. The city center still has the historic street structure with several centrally located squares where many catering establishments can be found. From there it is easy to find your way through the shopping streets.
Historical route
The city center of Venlo has a rich history that is clearly visible in many places but is sometimes hidden behind modern facades. To make the history of the centuries-old center more accessible and visible, the historic route through the city center has been created. There are signs on 25 buildings in the city center of Venlo with a brief description of the history of the building in question. Together they form a heritage route that leads through the historic city center. Go exploring and experience the history of the centuries-old center!
The Town Hall and the Market
The city council had purchased Gerard Bocholt's house on Lomstraat in 1374 to turn it into a "council and meat house.'' In 1597 this building was replaced by the current one, but with the entrance to the south. Old buildings around were demolished and new street names such as Kleine and Groote Markt were added. The new town hall had large round gates through which carts could enter to have their freight weighed on the Stadsmeelwaagh. The building has had various functions over time. Police station, prison, egg auction, the fire brigade were housed there and in 1899 the Central Telephone Bureau was housed there.
With so many different functions, there have been countless renovations. Can you imagine if this town hall was plastered with a white layer of lime? In the municipal budget of 1876, a thousand guilders were reserved to restore it to its former glory. But from then until now, many stones have been dragged in and out. Fortunately, the building has retained its character and is one of the city's most photographed landmarks.
