History of Doorwerth
First Evidence of Inhabitation
The large number of burial mounds are evidence of early habitation in the municipality of Renkum. These mounds likely belonged to a horse-riding people who spread from southern Russia across Western Europe. They made bell-shaped cups, which also shaped the mounds. They lived off livestock farming and hunting.
Batavians and Romans
The Batavians inhabited the Betuwe region. The Romans occupied the Netherlands up to the Rhine. It is believed that the Rhine was fordable near Doorwerth. Evidence for this is the Roman harness fittings found near Doorwerth.
The church path from the Westerbouwing to the church, crossing the floodplains from the Drielse ferry, is the oldest remnant of habitation.
Church on the Hill
In 1517, the church of Doorwerth was mentioned as the church on the hill near Heelsum.
Rights of Doorwerth
The history of Doorwerth is closely related to the castle and the Lord of Doorwerth. The Lord of Doorwerth was the highest authority on these lands, as not only ruler but also judge.
The territory encompassed the grounds on the north side of the Rhine up to the old road of Oosterbeek. In the 17th century, it extended further, up to the old village Wolfheze.
Hunting and fishing rights
The Lord of Doorwerth was entitled to the hunting, fishing and toll rights. Strange to the 21st century person, he had the sole rights to keep pigeons and to grind, the latter being used to raise a tax on mills or build his own mill.
Catholic
The owners of the castle, Daan Schellaert and his son Albrecht, were Catholic at a time when Gelderland was predominantly Reformed Protestant. Despite numerous complaints in Protestant church meetings at the court of Gelderland about the situation in Doorwerth, the castle’s owners continued to invite Catholic priests to the church in Heelsum (which was part of the lordship). To still provide Reformed teachings, Protestant services were organized in a barn.
After the death of Willem II, Albrecht gave in to the Reformed Protestants and allowed the church to be opened for services. He even provided wood for the church’s restoration.
First School
Shortly before his death in 1680, Anton van Aldenburg had a new school built near the church.
Hunting and Fishing Rights
The lordship granted the lord various rights, including hunting and fishing rights. Additionally, he had the right to collect tolls, keep pigeons, and levy milling fees.
Population
Around the castle and within the lordship lived approximately 200 people. They were dependent on the lord for rent, wages, and security. The inhabitants of Doorwerth lived off agriculture and livestock farming, raising sheep, pigs, and cows. The lord had the right to collect a portion of these products.
The windmill, where grain was ground, also belonged to the lord, and its use was taxed. Other mills that used wind and water had to pay taxes to the lord.
In 1741, the lordship was expanded with additional land reclaimed from the floodplains. That year, Willem Bentinck built a watermill to keep these polders dry.
Paper Mills
In 1601, the paper mill in Doorwerth was mentioned for the first time. These mills were built alongside the streams. The papermakers came from elsewhere, and the transport to and from the mills facilitated contact with the “outside world.”
Despite the taxes on water and wind, there were six mills by the end of the 18th century. A reminder of this is the Kabeljauwallee, named after one of these mills.
Initially, this industry provided a new source of income for the region, mainly alongside existing agricultural activities. Estate divisions show that this industry grew to such an extent that it provided significant income.
In the 18th century, competition in the paper industry increased due to paper production in France and Europe. Only the larger paper mills, which could scale up their production and reduce costs, survived this.
Taxation on mills powered by water made it even more difficult for the remaining mills to continue operating.
Barber-Surgeon
In the village, there was a barber who performed basic medical treatments. Only in cases of severe health issues would people travel to Renkum or Arnhem.
Royal Roads
King-Stadtholder William III ordered paths to be constructed in the forests of Doorwerth for his hunting expeditions in the area. The Kasteelweg is a remnant of one of these roads, and one even runs directly from his castle in Loo to Doorwerth.
On the Border of War
In the 18th century, war broke out with France. The Rhine, where the village was located, served as a natural border. Although the village was not directly involved in the fighting, it supplied the Dutch troops. It was a difficult time for the Netherlands, but due to the high demand for paper at that time, the paper mills in Doorwerth prospered.
Merger with Renkum and Oosterbeek
In 1810, the Netherlands came under French rule, bringing new leaders, new rules, and new departments. Doorwerth, being too small, was merged with Renkum and Oosterbeek. This merger lasted for six years. After Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo, the Netherlands became a kingdom. By royal decrees of November 5, 1815, and February 11, 1817, Doorwerth regained its independence.
The First Municipal Council
Starting in 1825, a municipal council could be elected, with the first being chaired by a bailiff, a role later replaced by the mayor. The mayor had two assessors as part of the executive board, but meetings were not held publicly. The mayor’s role in Doorwerth was not a full-time job and was therefore poorly paid. The council’s minutes have been lost over time, so it is unclear what was discussed during those meetings. Likely decisions included appointments, such as that of the schoolmaster. After Baron van Brakell purchased Doorwerth, he quickly received the title of mayor.
Paper Industry in Doorwerth in the 19th Century
The paper industry flourished in Doorwerth. The Pannekoek family had long been the owners of one or more paper mills, employing around 20 to 30 people, who lived in houses built by the Pannekoek family. A fund was set aside to pay workers during illness. In 1881, steam engines were introduced to the industry. In 1895, Mr. Schut built a mechanical factory. Just before its opening, the last water-powered mill burned down.
Unfortunately, the Pannekoek family encountered difficulties with the new castle owner, Baron van Brakell. They lost several lawsuits, resulting in others gaining shares in the paper mills.
First Archaeologist in Doorwerth
During that time, Reverend Heldring wandered around Wolfheze. As a romantic, he was passionate about archaeology, but his explorations resulted in the destruction of several burial mounds.
Independence of Doorwerth
The 1851 municipal law required an elected council. Doubts arose as to whether Doorwerth, with its 300 residents, could remain an independent municipality. Baron van Brakell believed it could, and with his pamphlet “The Doorwerth Question” and his influence in The Hague, he managed to maintain the village’s independence. The municipal council was elected, and meetings were held publicly.
Model farm “House ter Aa”
Cocoa manufacturer J.W.F. Scheffer founded the farm in 1908 on the grounds of the current Heveadorp.
Before the pasteurization techniques were invented, he wanted to start a hygienic milk production. At that time, milk was a major cause of the spread of diseases.
The farm consisted of stables, factory buildings, haystacks, forage building, car shed, residential and office buildings, a bathhouse and a laundry.
Hunter’s House
Mr. Driessen Cocoa manufacturer inhabited the Jagershuis on the Italian Road, unfortunately destroyed in the war in 1944.
The strange roof on the house was necessary for the pipe organ of the owner.
Tourism
The 19th century saw growing cities, industrialization, and a rising middle class. Seeking the tranquility of nature became a fashionable trend. The areas around Doorwerth, Renkum, and Oosterbeek became popular among people who could travel within the country. However, Doorwerth benefited little from this, as there were no accommodations available.
Walking and artists
Many visitors praised the moraine, views, flowing streams, and forests of this area. The Oosterbeek school formed around capturing these landscapes, leading to the emergence of the small artistic movement known as the Oosterbeek Romantic School, with names like Bilders and Maria Vos.
This art movement experienced only a brief period of prosperity. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was revived by the association “Pictura Veluvensis.”
Access: Wolfheze station
The lord of Doorwerth, Van Brakell, had negotiated with the railway company to have a station built on the land he sold to them. This allowed him to offer his visitors a fitting welcome. This created enough appeal for a hotel and several country houses to be established in the area.
Starting in 1906, a mental health institution was constructed, and later, a facility for the blind was added.
Around 1860, the rugged environment of Wolfheze attracted new believers. Ministers and missionaries preached, and there was mass singing. These gatherings were called mission festivals.
The station still provides easy access to this area today.
The Village in the Early 20th Century
The children of the last lord of Doorwerth Castle sold land to the Dutch Export Society of the Association for Land Colonization. They planned to prepare the land for simple villas. The plots were already being prepared, but a forest fire disrupted these plans, and the project was abandoned.
In Doorwerth, a Christian school was established on Ottoweg in 1909. The population grew from 300 to 400 residents during the 19th century, and by 1909, there were nearly 1,000 inhabitants, including the residents of the institutions in Wolfheze. Heveadorp grew faster than Doorwerth during this time, and by 1920, the municipality counted its 2,000th resident.
The village now had grocery stores, a bakery, and a post office. In Heelsum, there was a hotel called “Klein Zwitserland” and a “Kurhaus Bad.”
Roads and Municipal Union
The municipality of Renkum had expansion plans. A new road was the first step to connect Renkum and Oosterbeek. The Van der Molenallee would cut right through the municipality of Doorwerth. Renkum lobbied The Hague for the union of the two municipalities. After much negotiation, it was decided in 1923 that Doorwerth would merge into the municipality of Renkum. The mayor of Doorwerth, Laman Trip, laid down his chain of office and gavel.
The Second World War
The second world war, and in particular the battle of Arnhem in September 1944, left the entire hamlet and castle in ruins. Those houses have never been built up again and it took the community 37 years to renovate the castle.
The Current Village
In 1955 the village was revived when the municipality of Renkum got a lack of building land. Different neighborhoods were build with the idea that the owners would have the feeling of living in the woods.
