Editing Woensdrecht

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Woensdrecht
| settlement_type         = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Sint Gertrudiskerk Ossendrecht.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Sint Gertrudiskerk, Ossendrecht
| image_flag              = Flag of Woensdrecht.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Woensdrecht wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0873 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Woensdrecht in a municipal map of North Brabant
| map_caption             = Location in North Brabant
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|25|N|4|20|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_name1       = [[North Brabant]]
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.woensdrecht.nl/internet/college-bw_252/
 |title = College B&W
 |trans-title=Board of mayor and aldermen
 |language = nl
 |publisher = Gemeente Woensdrecht
 |access-date = 9 June 2014}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Steven Adriaansen]]
<!-- 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|Woensdrecht}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Woensdrecht}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Woensdrecht}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 4631GC
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 9 June 2014}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 24
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Woensdrecht}}
| population_as_of        = {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Woensdrecht}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_demonym      = Woensdrechter
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 4630–4645
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0164
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.woensdrecht.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}
[[File:Gem-Woensdrecht-OpenTopo.jpg|270px|thumb|''Dutch Topographic map of Woensdrecht, June 2015'']]

'''Woensdrecht''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈʋunzdrɛxt|-|236 Woensdrecht.ogg}}) is a [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] (named after the [[Woensdrecht (village)|village]]) in the southern [[Netherlands]].

Woensdrecht is the home of the [[Woensdrecht Air Base]], which is located to the north-east of the village of Woensdrecht and to the north-west of [[Huijbergen]].

== History ==

===Second World War===
On 2 October 1944, at the beginning of the [[Battle of the Scheldt]] (2 October-8 November 1944), the Canadian 2nd Division began its advance north from Antwerp. Stiff fighting at Woensdrecht ensued on 6 October, the objective of the first phase. The Germans, reinforced by Battle Group Chill, saw the priority in holding there, controlling direct access to [[South Beveland]] and [[Walcheren|Walcheren Island]]. There were heavy casualties as the Canadians attacked over open, flooded land. Driving rain, booby traps and land mines made the advance very difficult. On 13 October, what would come to be known as "Black Friday", the [[Canadian 5th Infantry Brigade]]'s [[The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada|Black Watch]] was virtually wiped out in an unsuccessful attack. The [[Calgary Highlanders]] were to follow up with a more successful action, and their Carrier Platoon succeeded in taking the rail station at [[Korteven]]. Heavy fighting at Hoogerheide also ensued, but by 16 October, Woensdrecht was secured, cutting the land link to South Beveland and Walcheren. The Canadians were successful in completing their objective.

After that the Buffaloes, ground forces dedicating to causing as much impact to the enemy troops during the barrage, secured the Breskens pocket on the north side of the [[Scheldt]] river.

===Cold War era===
In 1983, it was decided that the United States would station 48 [[nuclear weapon|nuclear armed]] [[cruise missile]]s at the air base in the district, unless the USSR reduced their number of [[SS-20]] missiles to 378. Since the number was still higher in 1985, stationing was to proceed. Among the Dutch population there was [[Hollanditis|protest]] against this. The plan was cancelled in 1987 due to the [[Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty]].

== Population centres ==
*[[Hoogerheide]] (population: 8,268)
*[[Ossendrecht]] (5,300)
*[[Putte, Netherlands|Putte]] (3,860)
*[[Huijbergen]] (2,180)
*[[Woensdrecht (village)]] (1,470)

==Climate==
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Woensdrecht has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=4360&cityname=Woensdrecht%2C+Netherlands&units= Climate Summary for Woensdrecht, Netherlands]</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[René Pijnen]] (born 1946) former racing cyclist, Olympic champion in the 100 km team time-trial in the [[1968 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Adri van der Poel]] (born 1959) retired Dutch cyclist
* [[Demi de Jong]] (born 1995) road cyclist

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:Woensdrecht-Hoogerheide, de Onze Lieve Vrouw Hemelvaartkerk IMG 8336 2023-09-10 12.04.jpg|Hoogerheide, de Onze Lieve Vrouw Hemelvaartkerk
File:Mattemburgh P1080731.jpg|Mattemburgh
File:Ossendrecht DSCF3362.JPG|Ossendrecht
File:Meeven.jpg|Meeven
</gallery>
{{wide image|Brabantse Wal - Woensdrecht (2).jpg|770px|Brabantse Wal - Woensdrecht}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.woensdrecht.nl Official website]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre    = Woensdrecht
 | North     = [[Bergen op Zoom]]
 | Northeast = [[Roosendaal]]
 | East      = [[Essen, Belgium|Essen]] ([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Antwerp (province)|VAN]])<br>[[Kalmthout]] ([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Antwerp (province)|VAN]])
 | Southeast = [[Kapellen, Belgium|Kapellen]] ([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Antwerp (province)|VAN]])
 | South     = [[Antwerp]] ([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Antwerp (province)|VAN]]), [[Stabroek]] ([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Antwerp (province)|VAN]])
 | West      = [[Reimerswaal (municipality)|Reimerswaal]] ([[Zeeland|ZE]])
}}
{{North Brabant Province}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Woensdrecht| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of North Brabant]]