Venlo
—  Municipality  —
Venlo city centre
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 51°22′N 6°10′E / 51.367°N 6.167°E / 51.367; 6.167Coordinates: 51°22′N 6°10′E / 51.367°N 6.167°E / 51.367; 6.167
Country	Netherlands
Province	Limburg
Area(2006)
• Total	86.41 km2 (33.36 sq mi)
• Land	84.66 km2 (32.69 sq mi)
• Water	1.74 km2 (0.67 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)
• Total	100,271
• Density	1,186/km2 (3,070/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Venlo ([ˈvɛn.lo] ( listen)) is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands, next to the German border. It is situated in the province of Limburg.

In 2001, the (now former) municipalities of Belfeld and Tegelen were merged into the municipality of Venlo. Tegelen was originally part of the Duchy of Jülich centuries ago, whereas Venlo has a past in the Duchy of Guelders. On 1 January 2010, the (now former) municipality of Arcen en Velden, was merged into the municipality of Venlo.

The city of Venlo[link]

History of the city[link]

Map circa 1850

Roman and Celtic coins and remains of a Roman bridge across the river Meuse have been found in Venlo; it may have been the settlement known as Sablones on the Roman road connecting Maastricht with Xanten. Blerick, on the west bank, was known as Blariacum.

Documents from the 9th century mention Venlo as a trade post; it developed into one of the more important ones in the Meuse-Rhine area, receiving city rights in 1343, and becoming a member of the Hanseatic League in 1375.

Because of its strategic importance, the city of Venlo was besieged several times. The most significant siege was that of 1702, carried on by Menno van Coehoorn. Consequently, Venlo was incorporated into the Generaliteitslanden of the United Provinces and later became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Venlo in the Second World War[link]

On November 9, 1939, two British Intelligence Service agents were kidnapped by the Sicherheitsdienst in what became known as the Venlo Incident. The incident was used by the Nazis to link Great Britain to Georg Elser's failed assassination of Hitler at the Burgerbraukeller two days before and to justify their later invasion of the Netherlands, a neutral country, on 10 May 1940.

Because Venlo had both a road and a rail bridge over the river Meuse ("Maas" in Dutch) the city was severely damaged during several bomb raids (13 October – 19 November 1944) on those bridges at the end of the war. The Allied forces made 13 attempts to destroy the bridges to cut the German supply lines and block a retreat of the German army across the river. These failed, and it was the retreating German troops who in the end blew up the bridges in an attempt to stop the allied advance. Allied forces liberated Venlo from the east, from inside Germany itself.

About 300 people were killed due to those raids. The raids also cost Venlo a major part of its historical buildings. However, some old buildings, such as the city hall (the 'Stadhuis') and the 'Römer' house, survived the war relatively unscathed.

Before the War, Venlo had an active Jewish community. After the war several members came back. but the community never returned to its pre-war size.

Culture[link]

Venlo City Hall

• Theatre "De Maaspoort"
• historical and cultural Museum "Limburgs Museum" and art Museum "Museum van Bommel van Dam"
• Popvenue Perron55
• Major annual cultural events
  • Carnaval called "Vastelaovend" in February/March (6 weeks before Easter).
  • Summer park festivities called "Zomerparkfeest" in August held in and around the main park of Venlo, a 4 days podium for a broad audience, including live music, film, dance, art etc.

In 2003 Venlo was awarded the title "Greenest city of Europe". In 2012 it will host the Floriade.

Railway[link]

The Venlo railway station is a junction station. It provides regular connections to the Dutch cities of Eindhoven, Roermond, and Nijmegen. Furthermore, it provides regular international connections to Germany, via Kaldenkirchen (the first stop in Germany) and Viersen to Mönchengladbach.

Sports[link]

VVV-Venlo is a century-old football club that plays in De Koel Stadium. In the season 2008–2009, VVV-Venlo won the Eerste Divisie (Eerste Divisie) and was promoted to the highest Dutch professional football league: the Eredivisie.

Business[link]

The headquarters of multinational Océ is located in Venlo.

Born in Venlo[link]

• Henri Alexis Brialmont, Dutch-born Belgian military engineer.
• Glenn Corneille, Acclaimed Dutch jazz pianist
• Paul Cox, award-winning Australian-based film director.
• Teun van Dijck, Dutch politician and one of the members of the PVV.
• Evert Dudok, President of EADS Astrium Space Transportation
• Michael Evans, Dutch footballer.
• Maico Gerritsen, Dutch footballer
• Hubert Goltzius, Renaissance painter, engraver, and printer
• Rick Hoogendorp, Dutch footballer
• Jens Janse, Dutch footballer
• Luc Joordens, Dutch footballer and property & casualty insurance underwriter
• Saskia Linssen, Dutch model and actress
• Jos Luhukay, Dutch football coach and former player.
• Will Sanders, an acclaimed hornist.
• Frank Scheffer, Dutch cinematographer and producer of documentary film,
• Jeu Sprengers, Dutch chairman of the Royal Netherlands Football Association
• Paul van der Sterren, chess grandmaster
• Boris Titulaer, Dutch singer. He was the winner of the second season of Idols in the Netherlands.
• Chriet Titulaer, Dutch astronomer and media personality
• Geert Wilders, Dutch politician. He has been a member of the Dutch Parliament since 1998, and is leader and chairperson of the PVV.

Coffee shops[link]

By the late 1990s, drug-related nuisance had become a problem in the centre of Venlo.^[1] National and municipal officials launched the Q-4 Project and Tango initiatives that, amongst other measures, included moving the town's largest coffee shops to the outskirts, where they continue to do business in a former rest stop. This was a win-win solution, as the town was freed from disturbances and the coffee shops are now even closer to the expressways. Since Germany prohibits the sale of hashish and marihuana, German citizens cross the nearby border to purchase these substances. Venlo is connected to Germany by two motorways (i.e., Bundesautobahn 40 and Bundesautobahn 61), which connect to Düsseldorf, Cologne, and the Ruhr area within one hour.

References[link]

1. ^ Snippe, J.; Naayer, H.; Bieleman, B. (2006), Hektor in 2005. Evaluatie aanpak drugsoverlast in Venlo, Groningen/Rotterdam: Interval/WODC, http://www.wodc.nl/onderzoeksdatabase/hektor-vervolgonderzoek.aspx 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Venlo

• Official Website

v t e    Municipalities of Limburg Beek Beesel Bergen Brunssum Echt-Susteren Eijsden-Margraten Gennep Gulpen-Wittem Heerlen Horst aan de Maas Kerkrade Landgraaf Leudal Maasgouw Maastricht Meerssen Mook en Middelaar Nederweert Nuth Onderbanken Peel en Maas Roerdalen Roermond Schinnen Simpelveld Sittard-Geleen Stein Vaals Valkenburg aan de Geul Venlo Venray Voerendaal Weert See also Netherlands Provinces Municipalities map

Danny Guijt (born 7 February 1981 in Leiden) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Dutch second division club Willem II.

Club career[link]

Guijt makes his debut in professional football in the 2000–01 Eerste Divisie season for TOP Oss. After four seasons, playing as a regular for TOP, he decides to play for RBC Roosendaal who play in the Eredivisie. His second season for RBC proves to be a failure, with Guijt only playing three matches because of an injury.^[1] RBC were also relegated, meaning that Guijt would play in the second division again. Following a series of good performances from Guijt in the 2006–07 season, various Eredivisie clubs showed their interest in him.

In 2008 he chose to sign with SC Cambuur, another club from the Dutch second division. He signed a contract, keeping him in Leeuwarden until mid-2011.^[2]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Danny Guijt profile on Cambuur.nl (Dutch)
• Voetbal International: Danny Guijt (Dutch)

Ola Toivonen

Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-07-03) 3 July 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth	Degerfors, Sweden
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	PSV Eindhoven
Number	7
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2006	Degerfors	27	(5)
2006–2007	Örgryte	25	(6)
2007–2009	Malmö FF	51	(17)
2009–	PSV	76	(35)
National team‡
2003	Sweden U17	2	(0)
2004–2005	Sweden U19	11	(6)
2006–2009	Sweden U21	28	(13)
2007–	Sweden	23	(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 May 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12:37, 31 May 2012 (UTC)

Ola Toivonen (born 3 July 1986 in Degerfors, Örebro County) is a Swedish footballer who plays for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. He plays as a striker. His father was born in Finland and emigrated to Degerfors to work in a factory.^[1]

Club career[link]

Early career[link]

Toivonen started his career at Degerfors,^[2] where he became involved in their campaign in 2005 to avoid relegation from Superettan.

He was then bought by Örgryte, and their manager Zoran Lukić. The first, and only, season in Örgryte ended sadly. Lukić was sacked, and Örgryte finished last in Allsvenskan, and thus was relegated to Superettan. In November 2006, he won the "Newcomer of the Year" award at the annual Swedish football awards.^[3] He soon signed a four-year contract with Malmö FF,^[4] in a transfer worth more than $1.1 million.^{[citation needed]} He became Malmö's second most expensive player of all time (only Brazilian international Afonso Alves cost Malmö more money, when the club bought him for approximately $1.3 million in 2004, also from Örgryte).^[5][6]

PSV Eindhoven[link]

In the 2007 season, Toivonen's first at Malmö, the club finished 9th in Allsvenskan and Toivonen scored three goals. The 2008 season went somewhat better for Malmö, finishing 6th, and this was the absolute breakthrough for Toivonen.^[7] In 27 games, he managed to score 14 goals as well as seven assists.^[2] This drew the attention of some Premier League and Eredivisie clubs, most notably West Ham United and PSV Eindhoven,^[8][9] whom he signed a contract with in early 2009.^[10] The transfer fee was, according to some source, €3,5 million, and according to other sources €4.5 million.^[7] He received a red card in a February 2009 match against FC Volendam, which sidelined him for two matches. His first half season in the Netherlands, saw Toivonen score 6 goals in 14 appearances for his new club.^[11]

On 8 November 2009, Toivonen scored four out of five goals against ADO Den Haag in a 5–1 win, scoring a hat trick in the first 42 minutes of the game. His first full season in the Eredivise proved very successful, adapting quickly, scoring 13 goals.^[11]

2010–11 season[link]

The first game of the new season kicked off on 7 August 2010 and saw PSV head to the Abe Lenstra Stadion to face Herenveen.^[12] Toivonen struck two second half goals, before Orlando Engelaar added a third, helping to secure a comfortable 3–1 victory.^[13] 14 August 2010 saw Toivonen net his second hat trick for PSV, scoring three goals^[14] in a 6–0 win over De Graafschap.^[15] He added the third goal in a 3–1 win against NEC Nijmegen on 11 September that helped his side climb to first in the Eredivisie rankings.^[16] 24 October saw his side record a memorable 10–0 win over rivals Feyenoord at the Philips Stadion.^[17][18] Toivonen scored the first of six goals in the second half.^[19] On 4 December Toivonen added two goals to his account in a 5–2 win over Heracles Almelo.^[20]

In PSV's second game back following the winter break, Toivonen netted the equalizing goal in a 2–1 win against Willem II.^[21] A month later on 20 February 2011, Toivonen scored the third goal, in a 4–1 home win against NAC Breda that saw PSV move two points clear at the top of the Eredivisie.^[22] A crucial game against SC Heerenveen on 10 April saw Toivonen return to the squad. He started on the bench, coming on as a 77th minute substitute for Zakaria Labyad.^[23] Toivonen scored PSV's second goal, deep into stoppage time, securing a 2–2 draw.^[24] On 24 April, PSV travelled to Rotterdam to play Feyenoord at De Kuip. After embarrassingly losing 10–0 in the first meeting of the season, Feyenoord responded by winning 3–1, Toivonen scored the only goal for the Boerens,^[25] ending PSV's title hopes.^[26] The 2010–11 campaign saw Toivonen score 15 Eredivisie goals and 3 Europa League goals for PSV, making him the club's second leading goalscorer of the season behind Balázs Dzsudzsák.^[27]

2011–12 season[link]

With strike partner Balázs Dzsudzsák leaving PSV to join Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala,^[28] Toivonen was required to fill in and contribute with more goals for the new season. Toivonen scored his first goal of the season in PSV's 3–0 win over ADO Den Haag on 21 August.^[29] He followed this effort up with another goal in his side's 5–0 thrashing of Austrian Bundesliga outfit SV Ried in the qualifying stages of the Europa League.^[30] PSV and Toivonen continued their rich goal-scoring form, as they hammered Excelsior 6–1 on 28 August with Toivonen netting a brace.^[31]

International career[link]

On 21 August 2007, he scored a hat trick (including 2 penalties) for Sweden U21 against Wales U21 in a 4–3 friendly defeat.^[32] He was a member of the U-21 national team at the 2009 European Championship in Sweden and scored three times in the competition against Italy U21,^[33] Serbia U21,^[34] and a superb freekick against England U21 which contributed to a comeback from 3–0 down to 3–3 with Toivonen scoring the second goal.^[35]

Toivonen's full international debut came on 14 January 2007, when Sweden lost 2–0 away to Venezuela.^[36]

Leading up to the World Cup in South Africa, Sweden played Bosnia and Herzegovina in a friendly on 29 May. Toivonen was included in the starting lineup, as Sweden were without striker Zlatan Ibrahimović.^[37] Toivonen scored the opening goal in the 44th minute, giving Sweden a lead at half time. This goal was Toivonen's first at international level. Blackburn Rovers defender Martin Olsson scored a brace in the second half, leading Sweden to a 4–2 win.^[38] On 11 August 2010, Toivonen started for the national side in a friendly against Scotland at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm.^[39] Toivonen grabbed Sweden's third goal in the 55th minute, his second international goal, helping to seal a 3–0 win for the home side.^[40]

International goals[link]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	29 May 2010	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–0	4–2	Friendly
2.	11 August 2010	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	Scotland	3–0	3–0	Friendly
3.	3 June 2011	Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău	Moldova	1–0	4–1	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
4.	11 October 2011	Råsunda Stadium, Solna	Netherlands	3–2	3–2	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
5.	30 May 2012	Gamla Ullevi, Göteborg	Iceland	2-0	x-x	Friendly

Honours[link]

Club[link]

PSV Eindhoven

• KNVB Cup: 2011-12

Individual[link]

• Swedish Newcomer of the Year: 2006

References[link]

External links[link]

• (English) Ola Toivonen stats in The Guardian
• (English) Ola Toivonen stats @ Soccer Terminal
• (Swedish) Ola Toivonen profile @ Svensk Fotboll
• ESPN Profile

Sweden squads v t e Sweden squad – 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship 1 Dahlin 2 Lustig 3 Bjärsmyr (c) 4 R. Bengtsson 5 Johansson 6 Karlsson 7 Toivonen 8 Landgren 9 Berg 10 Avdić 11 Söder 12 Hansson 13 Svensson 14 Molins 15 Harbuzi 16 P. Bengtsson 17 Olsson 18 Elm 19 Wernbloom 20 Bajrami 21 Özkan 22 Ekstrand 23 Nordfeldt Coach: Söderberg & Lennartsson v t e Sweden squad – UEFA Euro 2012 1 Isaksson 2 Lustig 3 Mellberg 4 Granqvist 5 M. Olsson 6 Elm 7 Larsson 8 Svensson 9 Källström 10 Ibrahimović (c) 11 Elmander 12 Wiland 13 J. Olsson 14 Hysén 15 Antonsson 16 Wernbloom 17 Safari 18 Holmén 19 Bajrami 20 Toivonen 21 Wilhelmsson 22 Rosenberg 23 Hansson Coach: Hamrén

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ola Toivonen