Oudewater
Oudewater (population: 9,701) is a town in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. The municipality covers an area of 40.17 km² (of which 1.00 km² water).
The municipality of Oudewater also includes the following towns, villages and townships: Hekendorp, Papekop, Snelrewaard.
Because of its location on the border between Holland and Utrecht, Oudewater was of great strategic importance. The town was granted city rights in 1265 by Hendrik van Vianden, the bishop of Utrecht.
On July 19 1572, Oudewater was one of the twelve cities taking part in the first free convention of the Estates General in Dordrecht.
In the 16th and 17th century, Oudewater was an important producer of rope. In the surraounding area, hemp was cultivated. There still is a rope manufacturing plant and a rope museum in the town.
History
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