The history of Venlo

In the Middle Ages, Venlo was an important trading city and therefore also a coveted target for alternating occupiers. Thus, Venlo was Spanish, Dutch, and French. After the French left, Venlo became part of the newly formed province of Limburg in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. In the mid-19th century, the city walls were demolished, and the city expanded significantly along the access roads and into the surrounding areas.

At the end of World War II, Venlo suffered heavily from Allied bombings. The strategic bridge was the target, but the city was also severely hit. More than a thousand inhabitants of Venlo lost their lives as a result.

After the war, the city was rapidly rebuilt. In doing so, what we now call heritage was handled rather carelessly. There was no time or awareness for that back then. Clean up and quickly create new, was the motto.

With mixed results: some post-war buildings have since been cleared again. On the other hand, the city, with the so-called Bridge Plan, which includes one of the most beautiful stations in the Netherlands, has an illustrative example of a successful reconstruction project in the history of Venlo.

In the period leading up to the Floriade, the municipality invested heavily in overdue maintenance of the city center. After all, the city had to be "ready" to welcome guests from all over the world. The city was one big construction site, sometimes to the dismay of residents, entrepreneurs, and visitors. The result is certainly impressive. The city center can rightfully be called a historical city center, the Maasboulevard has truly become a boulevard, and access to the city has greatly improved. The city center still retains the historical street structure with several centrally located squares where many restaurants and cafes can be found. From there, it's easy to find your way through the shopping streets.

The city center of Venlo has a rich history that is clearly visible in many places, but sometimes also hidden behind modern facades. To make the history of the centuries-old center more tangible and visible, a historical route through the city center has been established. On 25 buildings in the Venlo city center, plaques with a brief description of the history of the respective building are displayed. Together they form a heritage route that leads through the historic city center. Go on a discovery and experience the history of the centuries-old center!

The city council purchased Gerard Bocholt's house on Lomstraat in 1374 to turn it into a "council and meat house." In 1597, this building was replaced by the current one, but with the entrance facing south. Old buildings were demolished around it, and new street names like Kleine and Groote Markt emerged. The new town hall had large round gates through which carts could enter to have their loads weighed on the Stadsmeelwaagh. Over time, the building has served various functions. It has housed a police station, prison, egg auction, the fire brigade, and in 1899, the Central Telephone Bureau was established there.

With so many different functions, there have been countless renovations. Can you imagine that this town hall was plastered with a white lime layer? In the municipal budget of 1876, one thousand guilders were reserved to restore it to its former glory. However, from then until now, many stones have been moved in and out. Fortunately, the building has retained its character and is one of the most photographed monuments in the city.