Editing Tiel (section)

== The town of Tiel ==
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Tiel is the largest town in the [[Betuwe]] area, which is famous for being one of the centres of Dutch fruit production. Orchards in the area produce [[apple]]s, [[pear]]s, [[plum]]s and [[cherry|cherries]]. Tiel once housed the famous [[jam]] factory ''De Betuwe''. After production was moved to [[Breda]] in 1993, the entire complex was demolished, although a part was reconstructed later. Reminding of this industry is a jam manufacturing museum and a statue of [[Flipje]], the raspberry-based comic figure who starred in De Betuwe's, jam factory advertisements since the 1930s.

Originally located on the [[Linge]] river Tiel became an important centre of trade in the early Middle Ages, especially after the demise of [[Dorestad]] in the 9th century. Tiel had two big churches, one of which, the St. Walburg, was a [[collegiate church]] that belonged to the [[Teutonic Knights]] and vanished after the Reformation while the other church, the St. Maarten, became Protestant. Much of the historic centre was destroyed during the [[Second World War]].

Every year, on the third Saturday in September, a festival known as ''Fruitcorso'' is held to celebrate the fruit harvest from the Betuwe area. On this day, a parade of wagons, decorated with fruit, travels through the city. [[Appelpop]] is a free, two-day music event that is held yearly on the second Friday and Saturday of September.

Tiel has also been known for its [[pewter]] industry. The last pewter factory and museum, which mainly produced collectibles for tourists, went bankrupt in early 2004, but has since been revived.