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{{Infobox German location
|type               = Stadt
|name              = Geldern
|image_photo       = Geldern, Sankt Maria Magdalenakirche op de Markt DmGE10012 foto4 2013-04-30 16.16.jpg
|image_caption     = 
|image_flag           = Flagge Geldern.svg
|image_coa            = Geldern wapen.svg
|coordinates       = {{coord|51|31|11|N|06|19|57|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|image_plan          = Geldern in KLE.svg
|state        = Nordrhein-Westfalen
|region  = Düsseldorf
|district             = Kleve
|elevation              = 24
|area            = 96.97
|postal_code               = 47591–47608
|area_code           = 0 28 31,  0 28 32 (Lüllingen) 0 28 38 (Kapellen)
|licence               = KLE (until 1975: GEL)
|Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 1 54 012
|divisions         = 8
|website           = [https://www.geldern.de/ www.geldern.de]
|mayor             = Sven Kaiser<ref>[https://www.wahlergebnisse.nrw/kommunalwahlen/2020/index_bm.shtml Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020], Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 21 June 2021.</ref>
|leader_term       = 2020&ndash;25
|party             = CDU
}}

'''Geldern''' ({{IPA|de|ˈɡɛldɐn|-|De-Geldern.ogg}}; {{langx|nl|Gelre}}, {{lang|nl|Gelder}}, {{lang|nl|Gelderen}}; archaic English: ''Guelder(s)'') is a city in the [[States of Germany|federal German state]] of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. It is part of the [[Kleve (district)|district of Kleve]], which is part of the [[Düsseldorf (region)|Düsseldorf]]
[[Regierungsbezirk|administrative region]]. The nearby [[Province of the Netherlands|Dutch province]] of [[Gelderland]] is named after this city.

==Geography==

===Location===
Geldern lies in the plains of the lower, northern [[Rhineland]], west of the [[Rhine]]. Its average elevation is 27&nbsp;m [[Above mean sea level|AMSL]]. The river [[Niers]], a tributary of the [[Meuse]] (''Maas''), flows through Geldern. The stream [[Gelderner Fleuth]] flows into the Niers in Geldern.

It is close to both [[Düsseldorf Airport]] and [[Airport Weeze]], also called [[Airport Niederrhein]] (referring to the [[Lower Rhine]] region).

===Subdivisions===
Geldern is subdivided into the following [[borough]]s:
{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* Geldern City
* Hartefeld
* [[Geldern-Kapellen|Kapellen]] (formerly Capellen)
* Lüllingen
* Pont
* Veert
* Vernum
* Walbeck
{{div col end}}

===Neighbouring towns and municipalities===
Geldern shares borders with [[Kevelaer]] and [[Sonsbeck]] to the north, [[Issum]] to the east, [[Kerken]] and [[Straelen]] to the south, and the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] municipalities [[Venlo]] and [[Bergen, Limburg|Bergen]] to the west.

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Walbeck, Gerldern (1991-2020)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
| precipitation colour    = green
| Jan mean C  =3.3
| Feb mean C  =3.8
| Mar mean C  =6.7
| Apr mean C  =10.4
| May mean C  =14.3
| Jun mean C  =17.1
| Jul mean C  =19.0
| Aug mean C  =18.4
| Sep mean C  =15.0
| Oct mean C  =11.0
| Nov mean C  =6.9
| Dec mean C  =4.0
| year mean C =

| Jan precipitation mm  =63.6
| Feb precipitation mm  =57.8
| Mar precipitation mm  =53.2
| Apr precipitation mm  =41.7
| May precipitation mm  =55.9
| Jun precipitation mm  =64.8
| Jul precipitation mm  =74.2
| Aug precipitation mm  =76.2
| Sep precipitation mm  =62.2
| Oct precipitation mm  =65.3
| Nov precipitation mm  =67.7
| Dec precipitation mm  =73.1
| year precipitation mm =

|Jan sun = 57
|Feb sun = 76
|Mar sun = 127
|Apr sun = 180
|May sun = 212
|Jun sun = 212
|Jul sun = 218
|Aug sun = 201
|Sep sun = 154
|Oct sun = 111
|Nov sun = 62
|Dec sun = 46
|year sun = 
|source 1 = ''[[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lufttemperatur: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/temp_9120_SV_html.html;jsessionid=F558D2C0CDA2880A317234326A2E55CF.live21063?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |website=dwd.de |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |access-date=4 May 2025 |no-pp=y |language=German |trans-title=Air Temperature: Long-term averages for 1991-2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/nieder_9120_SV_html.html;jsessionid=F558D2C0CDA2880A317234326A2E55CF.live21063?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |title=Niederschlag: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |access-date=4 May 2025|website=dwd.de |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |no-pp=y |language=German |trans-title=Precipitation: Long-term averages for 1991-2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dwd.de/DE/leistungen/klimadatendeutschland/mittelwerte/sonne_9120_SV_html.html;jsessionid=F558D2C0CDA2880A317234326A2E55CF.live21063?view=nasPublication&nn=771428 |title=Sonnenscheindauer: vieljährige Mittelwerte 1991 - 2020 |website=dwd.de |publisher=Deutscher Wetterdienst |access-date=4 May 2025 |no-pp=y |language=German |trans-title=Sunshine: Long-term averages for 1991-2020 |postscript=.}}</ref>
}}

==Coat of arms==
The first coat of arms of the city of Geldern was a [[Escutcheon (heraldry)|shield]] with three [[medlar]]s, referring to an event in the [[dragon]] legend. The lion of [[Guelders]], recognizable in the present coat of arms, has been used since the [[Middle Ages]].

==History==
{{Quote box |width=21em |align=right |bgcolor=#B0D4DE
|title=Historical affiliations
|fontsize=85% |quote=<poem>[[Francia]] 812–843
[[Middle Francia]] 843–855
[[Kingdom of Lotharingia]] 855–959
{{flagicon image|Lothringen-Nieder.PNG}} [[Duchy of Lower Lorraine]] 959–ca. 1096
{{flagicon image|Armoiries Gueldre.svg}} [[Guelders|County of Guelders]] ca. 1096–1339
{{flagicon image|Armoiries Gueldre.svg}} [[Guelders|Duchy of Guelders]] 1339–1393
{{flagicon image|Arms of Flanders.svg}} [[Duchy of Jülich]] 1393–1423
{{flagicon image|Guelders-Jülich Arms.svg}} [[Guelders|Duchy of Guelders]] 1423–1543
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Low Countries.svg}} [[Habsburg Netherlands]] 1543–1556
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Low Countries.svg}} [[Spanish Netherlands]] 1556–1578
{{flag|Dutch Republic}} 1578–1587
{{flagicon image|Flag of the Low Countries.svg}} [[Spanish Netherlands]] 1587–1713
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1750}} 1713–1794
{{flagicon image|Flag of France (1794-1815).svg}} [[French First Republic|French Republic]] 1794–1804
{{flagicon image|Flag of France (1794-1815).svg}} [[First French Empire|French Empire]] 1804–1814
{{flag|Kingdom of Prussia|1803}} 1815–1871
{{flag|German Empire}} 1871–1918
{{flag|Weimar Republic}} 1919–1933
{{flag|Nazi Germany}} 1933–1945
{{flag|Allied-occupied Germany}} 1945–1949
{{flag|West Germany}} 1949–1990
{{flag|Germany}} 1990–present</poem>
}}

===Dragon legend===
According to folk legend, local noblemen Wichard and Lupold of Pont fought a fire-breathing [[dragon]] around 878. They found it under a [[Mespilus|medlar]] tree, and one of them stabbed it with his [[spear]]. The dying dragon rattled two or three times: ''Gelre! Gelre!'' In commemoration of this heroic feat, the Lords of Pont founded the city of Geldern at the confluence of the [[Niers]] and the Fleuth.

===Middle Ages===
The city of Geldern was first documented around 900. Several versions of the name have been used: ''Gelre, Gielra, Gellero, Gelera'' and similar. The probable ancestor of the Counts of Guelders was Gerhard Flamens, who received [[Wassenberg]] as a [[fief]] from Emperor [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] in 1020. His great-grandson Gerhard IV of Wassenberg was the first to call himself Count of Guelders (as Gerhard I), from 1096. The title "count" came from other properties, probably in [[Teisterbant]]. From 1125 only the title ''of Guelders'' was used. Wassenberg itself was given to the [[Duchy of Limburg|Duke of Limburg]] (and later to [[Duchy of Jülich|Jülich]]) as a wedding gift in 1107. The counts of Guelders moved their residence to the castle in Geldern, that was built probably around this date at the crossing of the Niers. The castle and the accompanying medieval settlement were the origin of the present city, and also gave its name to the [[county]] and later [[duchy]] of [[Guelders]].

The settlement was [[fortification|fortified]] in the 13th century with earth and stone walls and moats. The walls were named after the four [[cardinal directions]] and had three gates. Geldern received [[city rights]] in 1229. It was the residence of the counts and dukes of Guelders until 1343, and capital of the [[Upper Guelders|Upper Quarter of Guelders]] until 1347. The [[monastery]] of the [[Carmelites]] was built in the early 14th century. The [[Gothic architecture|Late Gothic]] parish church of [[Mary Magdalene]] was built between 1400 and 1418.

===Spanish and Dutch rule===
[[File:Geldern - Gelre (1649).jpg|thumb|Spanish-ruled Guelder in 1649]]
Often in its history, Geldern lay in the battlefield of territorial disputes. It was subordinate to [[Spain|Spanish]] rule from 1543 until 1578, when it was occupied by the [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]]. Geldern returned to Spanish control in 1587, which lasted until 1703. During this period (more exactly between 1662 and 1664) [[Schloss Haag]] (first documented in 1337, located 1&nbsp;km north of Geldern) was expanded. (Since [[World War II]] only the outer castle has remained.)

===18th century===
[[File:Bombardement van Geldern, 1703 Veue perspective du bombardement de la ville de Gueldre par un corps d'armée des troupes de sa maieste le roy de Prusse au mois d'octobre 1703 (titel op object), RP-P-OB-83.394.jpg|thumb|left|Siege of Guelder in 1703]]
[[File:Karte_von_Geldern.tif|thumb|Map of Geldern (around 1760)]]
From 1701 until 1714 the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] took place. The city was under [[Prussia]]n siege beginning February 1703, but only surrendered on 21 December. At the end of the war, at the 1713 [[Treaty of Utrecht]], the previously Spanish [[Upper Guelders|Upper Quarter of Guelders]] was divided between four powers: [[Austria]], the [[Dutch Republic|United Provinces]], [[Prussia]] and the [[Duchy of Jülich]]. With the larger part of the former Upper Quarter, Geldern fell to Prussia and became the seat of administration of [[Prussian Guelders]]. King [[Frederick II of Prussia]] visited Geldern in August 1740. He ordered the demolition of the city fortifications in 1764.

===Modern era===
Between 1794 and 1814 Geldern was occupied by the [[France|French]]. They disbanded the old structures and created a new, more strict administration. The canton of Geldern was part of the arrondissement of [[Cleves]], which was a part of the département of the [[Roer (département)|Roer]]. In 1802 the monastery of the Carmelites was [[Secularization|secularized]].

In the course of the Prussian reorganization of administration, the district of Geldern was formed on 23 April 1816. It was one of over 40 rural districts of the [[Province of Jülich-Cleves-Berg]], the northern half of the later [[Rhine Province]]. In 1863 the [[railway]] line [[Cologne]] – [[Krefeld]] – Geldern – [[Cleves]] was opened, and a [[narrow-gauge]] local line in 1902 (closed in 1932).

In [[World War II]] Geldern was [[bomb]]ed several times, at the end of 1944 and on 14 February 1945, which led to devastation in the city centre. Only a few houses were saved, about 82% was destroyed. The parish church was also severely damaged, and the main building of [[Schloss Haag]] was completely destroyed. The parish church of Mary Magdalene was rebuilt in 1952, and redecorated in 2003/2004.

==Religion==
[[File:Geldern.jpg|thumb|St. Mary Magdalene church]]
The [[population]] of Geldern is mostly Roman [[Catholic]]. There are several Catholic churches, including the historically important parish church of Mary Magdalene on the market square. There are two [[Protestant]] churches: the Holy Spirit church near the market, and one in the borough of Walbeck.

==Territorial reorganization==
[[File:Geldern - Rathaus 04 ies.jpg|thumb|Town hall]]
The present composition of the city of Geldern was created at the territorial reorganization of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], on 1 July 1969. The municipalities of Kapellen, Vernum, Pont, Veert and Walbeck were incorporated into Geldern.

On 1 January 1975 the former districts of Cleves and Geldern and parts of the districts of [[Moers]] and [[Rees, Germany|Rees]] were merged to form the new [[Cleves (district)|district of Cleves]].

==Population==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Population
|-
| 1885 || style="text-align:right;"| 5,690
|-
| 1905 || style="text-align:right;"| 6,551
|-
| 1937 || style="text-align:right;"| 7,228
|-
| 1946 || style="text-align:right;"| 5,288
|-
| 2003 || style="text-align:right;"| 33,314
|}

==Culture and tourism==
[[File:Steprather Mühle.JPG|thumb|upright|Steprath Mill]]

===Buildings===
There is an approx. 60&nbsp;km long cycle path along the [[Fossa Eugeniana]], a never completed [[canal]] from the [[Rhine]] near [[Rheinberg]] to the [[Meuse]] near [[Venlo]]. Hiking is possible around the former [[Schloss Haag]], part of which still remains, and is home to Golfclub Schloss Haag e.V. There is a mill tower and the [[refectory]] of the 16th century former monastery of [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] nuns. There are some [[wind mill]]s in the vicinity, including one within 1&nbsp;km of Geldern-Kapellen.

===Events===
Every summer Geldern hosts a [[street painting]] contest, which attracts international artists. Geldern has the largest [[Whitsun]](Pentecost) [[funfair]] of the lower Rhine, a street party in summer, and a [[Christmas Market]]. Several other events are organized in summer.

==Transport==

===Aviation===
Geldern is served by two nearby airports [[Weeze Airport]] (19&nbsp;km) and [[Düsseldorf Airport]] (55&nbsp;km).  The international airport in Amsterdam is 180&nbsp;km or about 2 hours by auto.
[[File:Pedestrianbridgegelderntrainstation04.JPG|thumb|Geldern train station]]

===Trains and buses===
The [[Deutsche Bahn]] railway station of Geldern lies on the line from [[Cleves]] to [[Düsseldorf]] via [[Krefeld]]. There are two trains per hour. Buses are used for public transport in the city and the surrounding area.

===Roads===
Geldern is connected to the German Autobahns: [[autobahn|motorways]] [[Bundesautobahn 40|A40]] ([[International E-road network|E 34]]) and [[Bundesautobahn 57|A57]] ([[International E-road network|E 31]]) by the federal roads [[Bundesstraße 9|B9]] and [[Bundesstraße 58|B58]].

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}}
Geldern is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerstädte|url=https://www.geldern.de/de/rathaus-aktuelles/partnerstaedte/|website=geldern.de|publisher=Geldern|language=de|access-date=2021-03-10}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Bree, Belgium|Bree]], Belgium
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Fürstenberg/Havel|Fürstenberg]], Germany

==Notable people==
*[[Benedictus Buns]] (1642–1716), priest and composer
*[[Max Pfeffer]] (1883–1955), officer, General of the artillery in the World War II
*[[Joseph Veltjens]] (1894–1943), Jagdflieger in the [[World War I]] and bearer of the Order [[Pour le Mérite]]
*[[Thomas Struth]] (born 1954), photographer
*[[Suzie Kerstgens]] (born 1971), singer
*[[Xenia Seeberg]] (born 1972), actress
*[[Björn Böhning]] (born 1978), politician (SPD)
*[[Johannes Oerding]] (born 1981), singer and songwriter
*[[Anne van Bonn]] (born 1985), footballer

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*''Geldrischer Heimatkalender'', Historischer Verein für Geldern und Umgegend (Herausgeber), erscheint jährlich
*Irmgard Hantsche, ''Geldern Atlas - Karten und Texte zur Geschichte eines Territoriums'', Geldern 2003, {{ISBN|3-921760-39-9}}
*Johannes Stinner und Karl-Heinz Tekath, ''Gelre—Geldern—Gelderland - Geschichte und Kultur des Herzogtums Geldern'', Geldern 2001, Verlag des Historischen Vereins für Geldern und Umgegend, {{ISBN|3-921760-31-3}}
*Heinz Bosch, ''Illustrierte Geschichte der Stadt Geldern 1848-1969'', Band I: ''Von den revolutionären Ereignissen 1848 bis zum Ausbruch des ersten Weltkriegs 1914'', Geldern 1994
*Gregor Hövelmann, ''Geschichte des Kreises Geldern. Eine Skizze. Erster Teil: 1816-1866'', Geldern 1974

==External links==
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.hv-geldern.de/ History Club of Geldern - (German)]
* [[Geldern-Kapellen|Geldern-Kapellen English Wiki page]]
* [[:de:Walbeck (Geldern)|Wiki Page of the village of Geldern-Walbeck (German)]]

{{Cities and towns in Kleve (district)}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Kleve (district)]]
[[Category:Members of the Hanseatic League]]