Editing Winterswijk (section)

==History==
[[File:Winterswijk, de Sint Jacobskerk RM39053 foto4 2015-05-14 08.44.jpg|thumb|Winterswijk, church: de Jacobskerk]]
[[File:Winterswijk, voormalige gemeentehuis (nu VVVkantoor) GM0294-66 IMG 2585 2022-07-18 17.34.jpg|thumb|Winterswijk, former townhall]]

Founded around 1000 AD it remained an isolated farming community until 1830 when the road from [[Borken, North Rhine-Westphalia|Borken]] to [[Zutphen]] via Winterswijk and [[Groenlo]] was built. Around 1840 many emigrated to [[America]] — [[Michigan]] in particular. After 1870 the town became a centre for textiles, such as spinning and weaving and indeed the Tricot factory  employed a large proportion of the local population in its heyday. In 1878 the railway line to [[Zutphen]] was built primarily for the textile industry, which was set up by Jan Willink. Some of the families such as the Willinks have lived there since 1284.

===World War II and liberation===
Winterswijk was liberated on 31 March 1945. The day prior, on 30 March there was a tank battle in one of the townships called [[Woold]], with sixty [[Sherman tank]]s. The [[53rd Welsh Division]] and the 3rd British Infantry Division, were moving from [[Bocholt, Germany|Bocholt]] via [[Aalten]] to Winterswijk. The tank battle resulted in sixteen German and nine British soldiers losing their lives. On 31 March, around nine AM allied forces had a struggle just over five kilometers south of Winterswijk following reinforcements from the [[National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands|NSB]]. On 31 March the first allied troops finally reached the Slingestream near Winterswijk. 31 March is marked as the official day to remember the liberation of Winterswijk, despite the fact that in the late afternoon of 31 March parts of Miste and Woold were already liberated. After the liberation of Winterswijk they founded a Rest-Centre for British soldiers in the Sociëteit de Eendracht, where the British soldiers, could find some rest.<ref>''Liberation of Winterswijk, during World War II'' [http://www.wenters.nu/index.php?itemid=340 wenters.nu]</ref>

Although the Jewish community of Winterswijk was greatly decimated during the war, a synagogue still exists. Yet no regular services are being held. The synagogue is open for visitors and guided tours.