The history of Soesterberg
The history of Soesterberg
The history of Soesterberg
Soesterberg has been well known around the world ever since the Royal Netherlands Air Force was installed on 1 July 1913. Centuries ago, the entire area was nothing but heath. In the 17th century, many Soesters left Soest, climbed over the mountain and settled on the heath. They were forced to move due to poverty and a desire for independence. Most of the settlers were small farmers known as 'heiboer' or heath farmers.
Their huts made of turf were tucked away in the heath, far from the road. They did so because they were afraid of the highwaymen who terrorized the area. The settlers discovered large populations of game living on the heath. Consequently, the new community included many poachers. A lot of farmers turned to beekeeping, while broom making became a popular cottage industry; after all, the heath supplied plenty of raw materials.
Up until a hundred or so years ago Soesterberg was still lacking a church. The villagers had to cross the mountain to worship in Soest. This changed when Soesterberg became a parish; before that, it had always been a 'streek' or area.
The name Soesterberg comes from the mountain on the heath (Heiberg) in the municipality of Soest. Of course, the term 'mountain' is used loosely.
Soesterberg does not have a long history. Still, in the 17th century there was already a road, which Napoleon ordered paved in 1800. At the time, it became a 'heirbaan', a word referring to the ancient Roman long-distance roads. Here, it was the road from Amsterdam to Arnhem. In Huis ter Heide, just outside of Soesterberg, visitors today can still find the Huis ter Halve. This is where the stage-coach stopped. The previously mentioned highwaymen could see it coming from far off and would plan their ambushes accordingly.
Back in the day, 't Zwaantje had the same significance for Soesterberg as the Herberg de Drie Ringen had for Soest. This was also the locale for a scene in the book by Jacob van Lennep (Ferd. Huyck).Slowly but surely, the turf huts gave way to modest farmsteads. Much of the land in Soesterberg was owned by the Bosch van Drakenstein family. The family was good to the people of Soesterberg. In fact, Carolus Borromaeus Bosch van Drakenstein even donated the land for the construction of the Roman Catholic Church. A family vault is located in the church cemetery.
In early 1900, as road infrastructure developed, Soesterberg was discovered as one of the loveliest gems in the Stichtse Lustwarande or 'Garden of Delight', the area between the Bilt and Rhenen. Now famous for its manors and country estates, back then it became an easily accessible manor village. In 1900 there were only 300 residents. After the arrival of the first airplanes, including the Aviatik, the population doubled by 1913.
Business and industry developed. In 1940 Soesterberg had a population of 2,300, which grew to 6,100 in 1965; 5,500 in 1975, and over 6,000 in 1998.
