View source for Thorn, Netherlands

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Thorn
| settlement_type         = City
| image_skyline           = File:Fahrräder in der Daalstraat.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = The Daalstraat (daalstreet) in Thorn
| image_flag              = Thorn vlag.svg
| image_shield            = Thorn gemeentewapen.svg
| image_map               = 
| image_map1              = 
| pushpin_map             = Netherlands#Netherlands Limburg
| pushpin_label_position  = left
| pushpin_mapsize         = 250
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in the Netherlands##Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = Province
| subdivision_name1       = [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]
| subdivision_type2       = Municipality
| subdivision_name2       = [[Maasgouw]]
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 6017AA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |date = 24 July 2019 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 25 April 2022 }}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 24
| elevation_min_m         =
| elevation_max_m         =
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="stat"/>
| area_total_km2          = 6.69
| established_title       = 
| established_date        = 
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=25 April 2022}}</ref>
| population_total        = 2,490
| population_as_of        = 2021
| population_demonym      = 
| population_note         =
| population_density_km2  = auto
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[List of postal codes in the Netherlands|Postal code]]
| postal_code             = 6017<ref name="stat"/>
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Dialing code]]
| area_code               = 0475
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|10|N|5|50|E|region:NL_type:city|display=inline, title}}
}}

'''Thorn''' ({{IPA|nl|tɔr(ə)n|lang|163 Thorn.ogg}}; {{langx|li|Toear}} or ''Thoear'') is a [[city]] in the municipality of [[Maasgouw]], in the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]. It lies on the rivers [[Meuse]] and Witbeek. It is known as 'the white city' for its white-washed brick houses in the centre of town. It used to be part of the [[Imperial Abbey of Thorn]].

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2024}}
The region of Thorn was originally a swamp nearby the [[Roman road]] between [[Maastricht]] and [[Nijmegen]]. But the region was drained and about 975, [[Bishop]] [[Ansfried of Utrecht]] founded a Benedictine nunnery. This monastery 
developed since the 12th century into a secular ''stift'' or [[convent]]. The principal of the ''stift'' was the [[abbot|abbess]]. She was assisted by a chapter of at most twenty ladies of the [[nobility]]. 

Previously the abbess and the chapter were endowed with religious tasks but, since the 12th century, they served secular matters and formed the government of a truly sovereign miniature [[principality]], a smaller independent [[Imperial immediacy|state]] in the [[Germany|German]] [[Holy Roman Empire]], approximately 250 x 250 metres. Besides Thorn, [[Ittervoort]], [[Grathem]], [[Baexem]], [[Stramproy]], [[Ell, Netherlands|Ell]], [[Haler]] and [[Molenbeersel]] belonged to this principality.  After the French invasion in the winter of 1794–95 and the formal abolition in 1797 made an end to the existence of the abbey and the [[thorn Abbey|principality of Thorn]]; Thorn was first part of the department of [[Meuse-Inférieure]], and after the [[Vienna Congress]] it became a municipality of the [[United Kingdom of the Netherlands]].

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Flirrende Hitze über Thorn.jpg|The abbey church of Thorn
File:Street in the "White Town" of Thorn.JPG|Street view of Thorn
File:Brigade Pironbrug Thorn (1).JPG|Brigade Piron Bridge
File:Kapel onder de Linden (49073101287).jpg|Chapel
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Thorn Abbey]]

== References ==
{{RefList}}

{{Commons category|position=left}}

{{Dutch municipality Maasgouw}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:States and territories established in 1292]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1797]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Maasgouw]]