Gelderlanders

Gelderlanders are residents or natives of Gelderland, a province in the eastern Netherlands. The term also reflects historical inhabitants of the Duchy of Guelders (Gelre), a medieval polity that gave the modern province its name and contributed to the region’s early identity.

Geographically, Gelderland is the largest Dutch province by land area, located in the eastern part of the country and bordered by Overijssel, Utrecht, South Holland, North Brabant, and the German states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony. The landscape includes the Veluwe, a prominent forested highland, and the Betuwe, a fertile river corridor. The provincial capital is Arnhem, with Nijmegen, Apeldoorn, and Doetinchem among its major cities.

About two million people live in Gelderland. The province features diverse dialects, such as Achterhoeks in the eastern Achterhoek and Veluws in central areas. Gelderlanders maintain a mix of rural traditions and urban influences, and nature tourism is important due to the Veluwe and protected areas like Hoge Veluwe National Park. Historic cities such as Arnhem and Nijmegen reflect ancient roots from Roman times through the medieval era.

Historically, the Duchy of Guelders existed from the 11th century and played a significant role in the politics and conflicts of the Low Countries, often in competition with neighboring powers and later with the Habsburgs. In the modern era, Gelderland became a province of the Netherlands, governed by its own provincial authorities. Gelderlanders are associated with a regional identity tied to landscape, history, and local culture across the province’s towns and countryside.