The Achterhoek (;
Dutch Low Saxon: ''Achterhook'') is a
cultural region in the Eastern
Netherlands
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, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
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, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
.
Its name (meaning "rear-corner") is geographically appropriate because the area lies in the easternmost part of the
province
A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...
of
Gelderland
Gelderland (), also known as Guelders () in English, is a province of the Netherlands, occupying the centre-east of the country. With a total area of of which is water, it is the largest province of the Netherlands by land area, and second by ...
and therefore in the east of the Netherlands, protruding into
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...
. The Achterhoek lies at the east of the
IJssel and
Oude IJssel
The Oude IJssel ( Dutch, , literally ''old IJssel'') or Issel (German, ) is a river in Germany and the Netherlands approximately long. It is a right tributary of the river IJssel. ''Oude IJssel'' is Dutch for "Old IJssel"; the Oude IJssel wa ...
rivers. On the other sides, it borders Germany to the southeast and the province of
Overijssel
Overijssel (, ; nds, Oaveriessel ; german: Oberyssel) is a province of the Netherlands located in the eastern part of the country. The province's name translates to "across the IJssel", from the perspective of the Episcopal principality of U ...
to the northeast.
In 2015, the Achterhoek had a population of 389,682. The region is also called de Graafschap (Dutch for earldom, shire or county; namesake of
VBV De Graafschap in
Doetinchem) because it coincides with the historical
County of Zutphen. The region is predominantly rural, with much open space, forests and farms. The area around the city of
Winterswijk is regarded as noteworthy. A well-known beer originates from this region:
Grolsch beer was first brewed in
Groenlo in 1615.
Language
The original language of the Achterhoek is
Achterhooks
Achterhooks (Dutch Low Saxon: ; nl, Achterhoeks ) is a Westphalian dialect spoken in Gelderland.
Geographic distribution
The Achterhooks language is spoken in the Netherlands in western Europe
Western Europe is the western region of Eur ...
, a variety of
Low Saxon
Low Saxon, also known as West Low German ( nds, Nedersassisch, Nedersaksies; nl, Nedersaksisch) are a group of Low German dialects spoken in parts of the Netherlands, northwestern Germany and southern Denmark (in North Schleswig by parts of ...
. The language can also differ per municipality or town, even in such a way that a person speaking the 'Grols' variant (meaning the dialect of
Groenlo) will pronounce words differently from a person from Winterswijk which is merely 10 km (6.2 mi) to the east, although they will probably understand each other.
The number of inhabitants whose sole language is Achterhooks has greatly declined over the last 60 years, inhabitants are raised with
Dutch at school and the dialect is only spoken (sometimes) at home. Partly due to immigration from outside the Achterhoek region and the effects of national government, the Dutch language is having a significant impact on the dialect. Many old words have been forgotten and replaced by their Dutch-derived equivalents.
Municipalities of the Achterhoek
The largest cities in the Achterhoek are Doetinchem, Winterswijk and Zutphen. Doesburg and Zutphen are old
Hanseatic cities. Both have centres with well-preserved historical buildings.
*
Aalten
Aalten () is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. The former municipalities of Bredevoort (1818) and Dinxperlo (2005) have been merged with Aalten.
Notable inhabitants of Aalten include Angus Young, guitarist of the Australia ...
*
Berkelland
Berkelland () is a municipality in the Netherlands province of Gelderland. It was created on 1 January 2005 from the merger of the former municipalities of Borculo, Eibergen, Neede, and Ruurlo. The new municipality was named after the Berkel, a sm ...
*
Bronckhorst
Bronckhorst () is a municipality in Gelderland, the Netherlands. The municipality is the result of a merger of the former municipalities Hengelo, Hummelo en Keppel, Steenderen, Vorden and Zelhem, on 1 January 2005. The municipality is named a ...
*
Doesburg
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Doetinchem
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Lochem
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Montferland
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Oost Gelre
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Oude IJsselstreek
Oude IJsselstreek () is a municipality in the eastern Netherlands. It was established on 1 January 2005 through a merger of the former municipalities Gendringen and Wisch.
Geography and population centres
The municipality belongs to the trans ...
*
Winterswijk
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Zutphen
Veerpoortstraat 34-24, Doesburg, Netherlands - panoramio (45).jpg, Doesburg
Zutphen, de Walburgiskerk RM41195 met stadsmuur vanaf de Martinetsingel IMG 3870 2020-03-31 13.44.jpg, Zutphen
Raadhuis, Winterswijk, Netherlands 2019.jpg, Winterswijk
External links
Website: Achterhoek TourismWebsite: Achterhoek PromotionWebsite: Achterhoek History
{{Coord, 52, 0, 15.58, N, 6, 23, 48.44, E, source:nlwiki_scale:400000_type:landmark, display=title
Regions of Gelderland
Regions of the Netherlands