Didam
Didam is a district in the municipality Montferland in the Dutch province of Gelderland. The place was until December 31, 2004 an independent municipality. In Didam live 13,150 inhabitants.
History
The area around Didam was populated by West Germanic Chamavern. There was probably at that time a settlement in today's Didam. In addition, several Roman coins have been found in the village during archaeological excavations.
In the 13th century, built the castle Didam at today Dijksestraat height Ruigenhoek. Probably 1125-1150 the tower was built. The castle had several owners. 1314 belonged to the Duke of funds and later the Count of Meurs and Count of Bergh. The castle burned down in 1502 and was not rebuilt. The demolition of the tower took place only in 1606.
The name Didam was first mentioned in 1373. The place in the former region Liemers called among other times Diedehun ( 1025), Didem ( 1276), Western The President ( 1347 ), Dyedem ( 1348 ), Dydam ( 1382 ), Diedem ( 1449 ) and Diem (1568). The reason for the final choice of today's Didam name is not known.
In 1556 there was the plague in Didam and the environment. In the village lived in 1758 a total of 1600 Catholics and 180 Calvinists. The population increased in the next hundred years continuously. 1866 saw the community Didam 3,350 inhabitants and an area of 3,504 hectares. Jews settled in the 18th century in Didam. In 1770 they moved to a small synagogue in the Weemstraat (now Hoofdstraat ). The Jewish community had about 30 members in 1800. The synagogue was demolished in 1900. A monument commemorates since 1999 on the site of the former synagogue.
The railway line Zevenaar - Didam - Wehl - Doetinchem - Winterswijk was completed in 1885. The station Didam opened on 15 July 1885. In 1891 they founded in Didam the first cooperative butter factory. Officially, it was the first butter factory in Gelderland. 1915, the carbide lamps were replaced in the locality. The community got its own power in the same year. In 1920 we founded the Roman Catholic Agricultural and horticultural school in town. Fifty years after its founding, it was 1971 on the closure of the school. On August 10, 1925, the town was devastated by a tornado. Towards the end of World War II moved Hanns Albin Rauter, the police commander and the highest-ranking SS leader in the Netherlands, his headquarters to Didam. The Great Market Hall in the village was completed in 1950.
By merging the municipalities Didam and Bergh was created as part of a municipal reform on 1 January 2005, the new church Montferland. The ADC ArcheoProject from Amersfoort began in late 2012, according to the analysis of maps and aerial photographs, with excavations on the site of the former castle Didam.
Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the former municipality Didam is a combination of the coats of arms of the Counts of Bergh and Count of Moers. By royal decree, it was approved on December 3, 1912.
Infrastructure
The headquarters of the municipality Montferland is Didam. In the district, there is an indoor market and a railway station on the transport line Arnhem - Doetinchem - Winterswijk.
Attractions
Other attractions in the Grade II listed Gothic church ( Mariakerk ) from the year 1590 and the landmarked St. Martinus windmill heard from 1855
Personalities
Sons and daughters of the town
- Ernie Brandts ( born 1956 ), former Dutch football player and current football coach
- Geert Hammink (born 1969 ), Dutch basketball player
- Jos Som ( b. 1953 ), Dutch politician
- Thom van Dulmen ( born 1985 ), Dutch cyclist
Freeman
The doctor January Dunselman (1896-1970) appointed to in 1964 an honorary citizen of Didam. 1978, a street was named after him in place.