Beesd

Beesd is a village in the Netherlands province of Gelderland. It is a part of the municipality of West Betuwe, and lies about 16 km west of Tiel. It is situated near the river Linge and has a railway station on the railway from Dordrecht to Geldermalsen.

Beesd
Village
View on Beesd
Flag Coat of arms
Beesd Location in the Netherlands Show map of Gelderland Beesd Beesd (Netherlands) Show map of Netherlands
Coordinates: 51°53′15″N 5°11′28″E
Country	Netherlands
Province	Gelderland
Municipality	West Betuwe
Area [1]
• Total	21.02 km2 (8.12 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	3.2 m (10.5 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Total	3,360
• Density	160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	4153[1]
Dialing code	0345

History

Beesd was first mentioned in 1224 as "in Beseth". The etymology is unclear.^[3] Beesd was founded in the Early Middle Ages on a stream ridge. It developed into a stretched out esdorp.^[4]

The Dutch Reformed church is an aisleless church with detached tower. The lower part of tower dates from around 1500. The current church is the result of an extensive modification and rebuilding in 1825.^[4]

Beesd was home to 1,282 people in 1840. Beesd was an independent municipality.^[5] In 1883, Beesd railway station opened on the Dordrecht to Elst railway line. The building was demolished in 1985, but it is still an active station.^[6]

In 1978, it was merged into Geldermalsen. In 2019, it became part of West Betuwe.^[5]

Notable people

• Abraham Kuyper, pastor, journalist, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Kuyper served as the pastor of the Reformed Church in Beesd from 1863 to 1867.^[7]

Gallery

• 
  Beesd, church: Kerk de Heilige Kruisverheffing
• 
  Mariënwaerdt
• 
  House along the dike
• 
  Railway station (building has been demolished)