Cleves

Cleves, known in German as Kleve, is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It lies on the Niers river near the border with the Netherlands and serves as the administrative seat of Kreis Kleve. The town is part of the Lower Rhine region and features a historic city center that reflects its long urban history.

Historically, Cleves originated as a medieval fortress and became the seat of the County of Cleves, later elevated to the Duchy of Cleves within the Holy Roman Empire. The duchy played a role in regional politics until its territories were united with Jülich and Berg in the early modern period, forming the United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. The area passed to French control during the Napoleonic era and was incorporated into Prussia in the 19th century.

In modern times, Kleve is a small city with cultural and educational institutions and serves as a local economic center. It maintains cross-border links with the Netherlands and is part of the broader Rhine-Ruhr region. The nearby Schloss Moyland castle and museum contribute to its cultural landscape and attract visitors.

The English exonym Cleves is derived from the German name Kleve and is used in historical and some contemporary contexts to refer to the town and its historic territory.