Wittem
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Wittem
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = File:Wittemwkped06.JPG
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Monastery at Wittem
| image_flag =
| image_shield =
| image_map =
| image_map1 =
| pushpin_map = Netherlands#Netherlands Limburg
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands##Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Netherlands
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = Limburg
| subdivision_type2 = Municipality
| subdivision_name2 = Gulpen-Wittem
| elevation_m = 93
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_total_km2 = 0.94
| 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=24 April 2022|quote=combined with Partij-Witten}}
| population_total = 730
| 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 = 043
| coordinates = {{coord|50|49|N|5|55|E|region:NL_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki|display=inline, title}}
}}
Wittem ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋɪtəm|lang}}, {{IPA|li|ˈwɪtəm|lang|link=yes}}) is a small village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1125 as Witham, and means "silted land in a bend in a waterway".{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/wittem |title=Wittem - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=24 April 2022 |language=nl}} Wittem developed in the Early Middle Ages. In the 13th century, a castle was built near the confluence of the Selzerbeek with the Geul. It used to be a free heerlijkheid (=no fief), but was bought by Ferdinand Adolph von Plettenberg in 1722 and elevated to barony in 1732.{{cite book|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu08_01/sten009monu08_01_0186.php |title=Wittem |author=Sabine Broekhoven, & Ronald Stenvert| year=2003 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90-400-9623-6 |access-date=24 April 2022 |language=nl}}
Wittem Castle is surrounded by two moats. The tower and southern wing date from the 13th century. The west wing was added in the 15th century. In 1569, it was damaged by Spanish troops. The southern wing was extended around 1700. In 1968, the castle was restored and converted into a hotel-restaurant.
The Catholic St Alphonsus of Liguori and Johannes Nepomuk Church was built between 1729 and 1733. Between 1845 and 1847, a chapel was added to the south-west side.
Wittem was home to 130 people in 1840.{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/wittem |title=Wittem |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=24 April 2022 |language=nl}} It was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Gulpen.{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}
Gallery
File:Wittem-Kasteel Wittem (2).JPG|Wittem Castle
File:Capucijnenweg P1300860.jpg|Country road with tractor
File:Wittem, café-restaurant Oud Wittem foto2 2014-09-28 13.25.jpg|Café-restaurant Oud Wittem
File:Woning P1300856.jpg|Farm in Wittem
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Wittem}}
{{Dutch municipality Gulpen-Witten}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 1999
Category:Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands)