Kiwaarden

Kiwaarden is a town and municipality in the fictional country of Veridia, located in the southern part of the province of Aalden near the Kiwa River. The municipality covers 25.5 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 8,100 in 2023. The terrain is gently rolling with a small coastal dune area along the river delta, and the climate is temperate maritime.

Kiwaarden originated as a medieval fishing village and is first mentioned in records from the 12th century. It developed through regional trade in the 16th–18th centuries, gained municipal rights in 1794, and expanded with the arrival of the railway in the 19th century.

The local economy combines services, retail, light manufacturing, and agriculture. The harbor supports fishing and small-scale shipping, while tourism centers on the river landscape, cycling routes, and historic architecture. Administratively, Kiwaarden is governed by an elected municipal council and a mayor, and it participates in the Aalden regional district and the Veridia Intermunicipal Association for shared services.

Culturally, Kiwaarden preserves sites such as St. Martin's Church (14th century) and the windmill De Zonne (18th century). An annual Kiwaarden Festival celebrates local crafts, music, and cuisine, and the regional dialect belongs to the Veridian language group.

Infrastructure includes a railway station on the Veridia Coastal Line and regional road connections. The town has three primary schools and one secondary school, and healthcare is provided by a district clinic. Notable residents include the 20th-century writer Joris van Kiwaarden.