Editing Soest, Netherlands (section)

== The town of Soest ==
The oldest documents mentioning Soest (then written as ''Zoys'') date from 1029. Its oldest church (the ''Oude Kerk'', meaning ''Old Church''), which is still in use today, dates from the fifteenth century. Traces of earlier habitation are found though. The area of "Hees", now at the outskirts of Soest may date in to the Early [[Middle Ages]], and [[prehistory|prehistoric]] [[burial mound]]s in the Soesterduinen point to early habitation in this area.

[[File:Gem-Soest-OpenTopo.jpg|upright=1.2|left|thumb|Topographic map of Soest]]
Agricultural activity is still visible as there is much [[Farmland (farming)|farmland]] within Soest. The biggest area is in the center of the town, on a hill, and are called 'de Engh'. A small street is ''het Kerkpad'' (literally, the Church Path). The Soesterduinen (sand dunes), is a popular area for recreation.

Numerous churches depict the Calvinist/Catholic tradition of Soest and the region. Wilhelmina Kerk Soest, Gereformeerde Kerk Vrijgemaakt, Emmakerk and the Evangelie Gemeente Soest (meets in church building Julianakerk) are the main churches.

Soestduinen, meaning Soest Dunes, a small town between Soest and Soesterberg contains acres upon acres of sand dunes named the [[Lange Duinen]] (meaning the long dunes). 

Currently some 50,000 inhabitants live in Soest, consisting mainly of commuters.