Buren

Buren ( pronunciation ) is a municipality and a city in the Betuwe region in the Netherlands. It is also a historical county, with the Dutch Monarch still holding the title "Count of Buren".

Geography

The river Korne flows through Buren.

Population centres

Population centers include:

The city of Buren

The earliest known reference to the settlement dates from 772. The castle built by the Lords of Buren is first mentioned in 1298. The town was granted city rights in 1395 by Sir Alard IV of Buren, which led to the construction of a defensive wall and a moat. Significant parts of these still exist. In 1492 the region was promoted to a county (i.e. ruled by a count), but due to its isolated position it never became very important economically. By 1574 the previously Catholic parish church of Saint Lambert (Dutch: Sint Lambertus) had already become Calvinist Reformed Protestant.

Buren (name)

Buren is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include:

Given name:

Surname:

See also

Buren, Friesland

Buren is the easternmost village on the island of Ameland, one of the West Frisian Islands and part of the Netherlands.

Rixt van het Oerd

Buren is also home to the infamous legend of the witch Rixt van het Oerd (e.g. Rixt of Oerd). This old lady would tie a lantern on a cow who she would chase into the dunes. She would hope for a ship to mistake the cow for a lighthouse, thinking it was a safe haven. Instead the ship would run aground on the sand bars along the coastline, leaving its cargo for her to pick up from the beach. One day in a heavy storm, she practiced her reckless way of making extra money and encountered the dead body of a drowned sailor. As she came closer she realized that it was her own son, Sjoerd. After realizing what she has done, every time there is now a storm raging over Ameland, she howls out her son's name in the wind.

In remembrance of the legend of Rixt van het Oerd, there is a small statue in the center of Buren.

500 years ago the population consisted of pirates and bandits, today the residents live from the tourist industry (school classes from Germany visit Ameland and stay at Buren.)