The region will start the autumn with a networking meeting in the form of a city walk. We will have guidance from a city guide in Wijk bij Duurstede. Unfortunately, the walk is not suitable for participants with mobility problems

A bit of history
Various explanations are given for the name Wijk. Most likely, it derives from Roman vicus, or Germanic wik, both meaning "bend" or "inlet". The name part Duurstede comes from earlier Dorestad, the trading town that is at least partly of Celtic origin.

The municipality of Wijk bij Duurstede has a rural location above the major rivers in the centre of the Netherlands. It lies at the junction of the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal with the Lek and the fork of the Lower Rhine into the Lek towards Rotterdam and the Kromme Rijn towards Utrecht.

In Roman times, a Roman castellum, perhaps Levefanum, was located at the site of present-day Wijk bij Duurstede on the Rhine. The northern border (limes) of the Roman Empire also ran straight through Wijk bij Duurstede.

In the early Middle Ages, one of the most important trading centres in north-western Europe was located here: Dorestad. It was long assumed that Dorestad fell around 850 due to attacks by the Vikings. It is now thought that natural and (church) political factors together with the shifting balance of power probably played a more important role. The Rhine bed shifted, the harbour began to silt up and (even then) there was a rise in water levels. The decline of Dorestad marked a period of prosperity for Tiel, Deventer and later Utrecht. Many finds have been made in and around Wijk bij Duurstede from these periods of our national history, which can be seen in Museum Dorestad, among other places.

Wijk bij Duurstede received city rights from Gijsbrecht van Abcoude in 1300. The place was built on a residential tower built in 1270 that would grow into Kasteel Duurstede. An earthen walling was probably begun shortly afterwards to defend the town. The enclosure partly made use of the old riverbeds.

In the mid-14th century, the city was expanded eastwards and presumably in the same period a city wall with city gates (such as the Field Gate) and fortification towers was added. The city wall and moat were renewed around 1445.

Details
- Gathering between 13:15 and 13:30
- Duration approx. 1.5 hours
- Afterwards: a closing drink on location.
- No refunds will be given in case of cancellation