Asperen
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Asperen
| settlement_type = Small city
| official_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = nl
| image_skyline = Asperen.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Tower of the Protestant church in Asperen
| image_flag = Asperen vlag.svg
| image_shield = Asperen wapen.svg
| nickname =
| motto =
| map_caption1 = The village centre (dark green) and the statistical district (light green) of Asperen in the former municipality of Lingewaal
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Gelderland#Netherlands
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Gelderland in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Gelderland
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = West Betuwe
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_party =
| elevation_footnotes = {{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 4147AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 14 April 2022 }}
| elevation_m = 3.7
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_total_km2 = 3.32
| established_title =
| established_date =
| population_footnotes = {{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=14 April 2022}}
| population_total = 3,205
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| area_code_type = Dialing code
| area_code = 0345
| coordinates = {{coord|51|52|53|N|5|6|24|E|region:NL_type:city(3020)|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
}}
Asperen is a small city in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of West Betuwe, and lies about 10 km (6 miles) east of Gorinchem on the river Linge. It received city rights in 1313.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/asperen |title=Asperen |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}}
History
In Roman times Asperen was the location of the Roman settlement Caspingium.{{cite book |title=Compendium of ancient geography, Volume 2 |year= 1814 |publisher= R. M'Dermut and D. D. Arden |page= 713 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Jw49AAAAYAAJ&q=Caspingium&pg=PA713 |access-date= 24 July 2010}} The name Asperen was first used in 893. The etymology is unknown.{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/asperen |title=Asperen - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}} Asperen was an esdorp which developed in the Early Middle Ages along the Linge River.{{cite web|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu05_01/sten009monu05_01_0021.php |title=Asperen |author=Ronald Stenvert & Sabine Broekhoven |year=2000 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9406 3 |language=nl |access-date=14 April 2022}} It received city rights in 1313,{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/asperen |title=Asperen |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}} and city walls and a circular canal around the city were constructed, however the city never developed. Part of the city wall and the Waterpoort, a city gate, have remained. Asperen Castle was destroyed by the French in 1672.
The Dutch Reformed church was built in the 15th century. It was damaged by a city fire in 1896, and restored between 1896 and 1901. There are quite a number of farms within the city centre. Fort Asperen is located outside of the city. It was built in 1845 as part of the Dutch Water Line, and is nowadays is use for exhibitions and cultural activities.{{cite web|url=https://www.mooistedorpjes.nl/nederland/gelderland/asperen/ |title=Asperen |website=Mooiste Dorpjes |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}}
Asperen was home to 1,147 people in 1840.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/asperen |title=Asperen |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=14 April 2022 |language=nl}} Until 1986, Asperen was a separate municipality; until that year, it was located in the province of South Holland. It is nowadays part of the province of Gelderland.{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}
Notable people
Dirk Willems was a notable resident, as a sixteenth-century martyred Anabaptist – most famous for his act, after escaping from prison, of turning around to rescue his pursuer, who had fallen through thin ice while chasing Willems. This resulted in Willems being recaptured, then tortured and killed for his faith.
A number of family surnames and variations originate from this place name, such as Van Asperen, Asperenn, Asperenns, Asperens, Asperene, Asperenes, Asper, Asperren, Aspperen and Aspperens.{{cite web |url= http://www.surnameweb.org/Asper/surname-origin.htm |title= Origin of Asper |work= Surname web |access-date=July 24, 2010}}
Gallery
File:Toren van de Protestantse kerk in Asperen.jpg|Tower of the Protestant church in Asperen in the winter of 2010
File:4147 Asperen, Netherlands - panoramio (4).jpg|Farm in Asperen
File:LuchtfotoAsperen1.jpg|Aerial view
File:Asperen Dorpspomp.jpg|Village pump
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|position=left}}
{{Dutch municipality West Betuwe}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Populated places in Gelderland