Editing Rheden (section)

== History ==
The oldest mentions of villages in the municipality of Rheden date from the 9th century, namely Velp and Dieren. Many estates arose at the foot of the Veluwezoom, forming an almost unbroken row from Arnhem to Dieren. Examples are [[Middachten Castle]] (14th century), [[Biljoen Castle]] (16th century) and [[Huis Rhederoord]] (18th century). The estates and their residents provided work for the local population. The castles also provided a safe haven in times of unrest.

The municipality of Rheden was formed in 1573 when the [[schoutambt]]en Velp and Rheden were merged to form the schoutambt Rheden.The choice of the name Rheden was made because the Rheden sheriff's office had more inhabitants. The municipality was divided into two new municipalities on 1 January 1812: Dieren and Velp. Already on 1 January 1818 the old situation was restored.

Between 1650 and about 1900 there were seven country estates in the village of Rheden: Scherpenhof, Den Brink, Heuven, De Kruishorst, Snippendaal (until 1916 part of De Kruishorst), Rhederhof and Valkenberg.<ref>[http://www.mijngelderland.nl/#/rheden/buitenplaatsen-veluwezoom Buitenplaatsen]</ref>

During the 19th century, many retirees and pensioners settled in the municipality of Rheden, particularly in De Steeg and Velp. The nearby presence of a city (Arnhem) and beautiful nature were factors that stimulated the growth of the municipality of Rheden. The population quadrupled in a century from 5,000 to 23,000. Velp is now the largest village in the municipality.