Editing Schoonhoven

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Schoonhoven
| settlement_type         = City and former municipality
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Photo303-Holland-Schoonhoven.JPG
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Canal in Schoonhoven
| image_flag              = Schoonhoven vlag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Coat of arms of Schoonhoven.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0608 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Schoonhoven in a municipal map of South Holland
| map_caption             = Location in South Holland
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|57|N|4|51|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[South Holland]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Krimpenerwaard]]
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Schoonhoven}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Schoonhoven}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Schoonhoven}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 2871CK
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 23 August 2013}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 3
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
|population         = 13,570
|population_as_of   = 2023
|population_note    = Source: [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]], [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline].
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Schoonhoven}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Schoonhovenaar
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 2870–2871
| area_code               = 0182
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.schoonhoven.info}}
| footnotes               =
| elevation_max_m         =
}}
'''Schoonhoven''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈsxoːnˌɦoːvə(n)|-|Nl-Schoonhoven.ogg}}) is a city and was a former municipality in the western [[Netherlands]], in the province of [[South Holland]]. Since 2015 it has been a part of the municipality of [[Krimpenerwaard]], before it had been an independent municipality.

The former municipality had a population of {{formatnum:{{Dutch municipality population|Schoonhoven}}}} in {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}}, and covered an area of {{convert|{{Dutch municipality total area|Schoonhoven}}|km2|abbr=on}} of which {{convert|{{Dutch municipality water area|Schoonhoven}}|km2|abbr=on}} water. From 2010 to 2014, it was the smallest [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in the Netherlands in land area, following the merger of [[Rozenburg]] into [[Rotterdam]].

The first winner of the Dutch version of Pop Idol, [[Jamai Loman]], is from this city. Also [[Jan-Arie van der Heijden]], football player for [[Feyenoord]], lives in Schoonhoven.

==History==
{{Circa|1220}} a castle was built on the north side of a small stream called "Zevender", near its mouth at the [[Lek River]]. The town Schoonhoven was then formed near the castle. The oldest reference to the town is in a document from 1247, where it is referred to as ''Sconhoven''. In 1280, it was granted [[town rights]].

Around 1350, walls and gates were constructed around the city. The city's economy depended on shipping, brewing, fishing and agriculture. Schoonhoven was also the marketplace for the region. In 1518, the castle burned down and its remains were removed in subsequent decades.[[File:Blaeu 1652 - Schoonhoven.jpg|thumb|Schoonhoven in 1652 by [[Joan Blaeu]]]]

Between 1582 and 1601 the city's defense walls were renewed and expanded to include the shipyards as well. At this point, the fortifications mainly faced eastward (as can be seen on the 1652 map of Schoonhoven by [[Joan Blaeu]]), because of the historically strategical location on the border between the [[County of Holland]] and the [[Episcopal principality of Utrecht|Bishopric of Utrecht]]. Following the [[Rampjaar|Disaster Year of 1672]], they were reinforced once again and expanded on the west and north sides. Yet in 1816, when [[bastion fortress|bastion fortifications]] were no longer relevant to the warfare of the time, they were mostly demolished and made way for a cemetery and a park. Nowadays, most of the town walls and gates too have disappeared. The only remaining medieval entrance gate of Schoonhoven is the ''Veerpoort'' (Ferry Gate) that faces the [[Lek River]]. This ''Veerpoort'' has protected Schoonhoven from the floods of the river [[Rhine]] and from the sea during the devastating [[North Sea flood of 1953]] and is still fully functional as a water barrier today.

By 1860, the city had 2900 inhabitants. Not until the middle of the 20th century did the city expand beyond the former fortress limits; firstly in a north-westerly direction, and then eastward since the 1990s.

==Tourism and attractions==
Schoonhoven is known for its silver and therefore carries the nickname: ''Zilverstad'' ("Silver City"). Since the 17th century, silver and gold smiths have been working here. Today, Schoonhoven is still known for its silver. It is the host of "Het Nederlands Zilvermuseum" (the Dutch Silver Museum) and the International Silver School.

Schoonhoven is also known for is its production of clocks. There still is a variety of clock makers in Schoonhoven, some of which can be visited. A beautiful example of a large clockwork is the ''Van den Gheyn Beiaard'' in the tower of the medieval town hall of Schoonhoven.

The city is a popular stop for inland cruise ships, especially during the summer period. Tourists are often offered a guided tour of the city and its museums, or a relaxing cycling day trip through Schoonhoven's rural surroundings. The city is also popular among Dutch [[day-tripper]]s and bicycle tourers. The grassy polders of the [[Krimpenerwaard]], [[Lopikerwaard]] and [[Alblasserwaard]] surrounding the city of Schoonhoven are home to a magnificent variety of birds such as storks.

Popular events that take place in Schoonhoven include the annual well-visited Silver day (''Zilverdag'') on [[Whit Monday]] and "Spookhoven", a celebration of [[Halloween]]. Also, [[Koningsdag]] and the arrival of [[Sinterklaas]] are celebrated each year.

Schoonhoven has two main shopping streets with a variety of shops and boutiques. There are several restaurants and bars, as well as a hotel and a discotheque.

== Transport ==
Schoonhoven lies in the middle of the Dutch Green Heart (''[[Groene Hart]]''), which is mostly a rural area with a relatively low population density. It therefore has no railway connection (although there was a tram connection with [[Gouda, South Holland|Gouda]] from 1914 until 1942, when it was broken up by the [[Germany|German]] [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] authorities) and lacks a direct connection to a motorway. The city can be reached within half an hour from the major cities of [[Rotterdam]] and [[Utrecht]] via the N210 road, and from [[Gouda, South Holland|Gouda]] via the N207. It also has a frequent bus connection (lines 295 and 497) with these cities. [[Amsterdam]] is about an hour away by car.

A ferry transporting both vehicles and pedestrians across the [[Lek River]] connects Schoonhoven with [[Gelkenes]] in the municipality of [[Molenwaard]]. From here, the cities of [[Gorinchem]], [[Dordrecht]] and the town of [[Kinderdijk]] can each be reached within half an hour.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Photo306-Holland-Schoonhoven.JPG|Bridge over the main canal
File:Schoonhoven 029.JPG|[[Bartholomew]] church
File:Schoonhoven 024.JPG|Old warehouse
File:Schoonhoven 039.JPG|Canal houses
File:Schoonhoven 076.JPG|[[Gracht]]
File:Schoonhoven 088.JPG|Remnants of the town walls
File:Schoonhoven 019.JPG|17th century house
File:RM452390 Schoonhoven - Watertoren (foto 1).jpg|[[Water tower]]
File:Edelambachtshuis Schoonhoven.jpg|[[Synagogue]]
File:Libera me.jpg|''Libera me'' by [[Dorothé Jehoel]]
File:RM33509 Schoonhoven - Kazerne (foto 4).jpg|The [[Nederlands Zilvermuseum]]
File:Veerpoort Schoonhoven.jpg|Ferry gate (Veerpoort)
File:Schoonhoven and Nieuwpoort Netherlands on De Lek.jpg|Aerial view of Schoonhoven and [[Nieuwpoort, South Holland|Nieuwpoort]], on the [[Lek (river)|Lek]]
</gallery>

== Notable people ==
* [[Martin van Bruinessen]]
* [[Rick Karsdorp]], Dutch professional footballer
* [[Olivier van Noort]], the first Dutchman to circumnavigate the world. His statue can be found outside the ferry gate, overlooking the river.

== Trivia ==
* Schoonhoven, being a fortified town, was part of the [[Hollandic Water Line|Old Hollandic Water Line]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links==
{{Commons category|Schoonhoven}}
{{wikivoyage-inline}}
*[http://www.schoonhoven.info Official website] (Dutch)
*[http://www.zilvermuseum.com/ Nederlands Zilvermuseum] (Dutch)

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Schoonhoven
|North     = [[Vlist]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Lopik]]&nbsp;([[Utrecht (province)|UT]])
|Southeast = 
|South     = ''[[Lek (river)|Lek]]''<br>[[Molenwaard]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Bergambacht]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2015]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Populated places in South Holland]]
[[Category:Krimpenerwaard]]