Editing Nijmegen (section)

=== Early modern period ===
During the [[Dutch Revolt]], trade came to a halt and even though Nijmegen became a part of the Republic of United Provinces after its [[Siege of Nijmegen (1591)|capture from the Spanish in 1591]], it remained a [[border town]] and had to endure multiple sieges. [[File:View on the waal janvangoyen.jpg|thumb|right|260px|The Waal river near Nijmegen, 1641]]
[[File:Nijmegen - Stadhuis en Grote Markt 1900.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Nijmegen town hall (left) around 1900]]
In 1678 Nijmegen was host to the negotiations between the European powers that aimed to put an end to the constant warfare that had ravaged the continent for years. The result was the [[Treaty of Nijmegen]] that failed to provide for a lasting peace.

In 1702, at the start of the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], the French nearly took Nijmegen by surprise. Only because of the intervention of an Anglo-Dutch army under the [[Godert de Ginkel, 1st Earl of Athlone|Earl of Athlone]] and the bravery of the citizens of Nijmegen was the [[Assault on Nijmegen (1702)|Assault on Nijmegen]] repulsed.

In the second half of the 19th century, the fortifications around the city became a major problem. There were too many inhabitants inside the walls, but the fortifications could not be demolished because Nijmegen was deemed as being of vital importance to the defence of the Netherlands. When events in the [[Franco-Prussian war]] proved that old-fashioned fortifications were no longer of use, this policy was changed and the fortifications were dismantled in 1874. The old castle had already been demolished in 1797, so that its bricks could be sold.

Through the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, Nijmegen grew steadily. In 1923 the current [[Radboud University Nijmegen]] was founded and in 1927 a channel was dug between the [[Waal (river)|Waal]] and [[Meuse]] (''Maas'') rivers.

The Waal was bridged in 1878 by a [[Nijmegen railway bridge|rail bridge]] and in 1936 by a [[Waalbrug|road bridge]], which was claimed to be Europe's biggest bridge at the time. In November 2013 a second road bridge ({{langx|nl|[[De Oversteek]]}}), 2&nbsp;km downstream, was opened to ease congestion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2013 |title=Tweede verkeersbrug bij Nijmegen |url=https://www.absolutefacts.nl/gelderland/nijmegen/oversteek-nijmegen.htm | access-date=5 January 2024|website=Absolutefacts.nl |language=nl}}</ref>