Suenen

Suenen is a municipality and village in the western Netherlands. It is part of Zuid-Holland province, located about 40 kilometers south of Amsterdam and 15 kilometers north of Rotterdam. The municipality covers 42.3 square kilometers, of which about 4.1 square kilometers are water. The population was around 6,100 in 2022. The landscape is typical of the Dutch lowlands, with canalized waterways, farmland, and scattered woodland.

History: The settlement appears in medieval records from the 13th century. The name Suenen is thought to derive from an old term for marsh or wetland. The town developed around a parish church and a market square, with growth accelerated by agricultural modernization in the 19th century and by railway access in the early 20th century.

Municipal governance: Suenen is governed by a mayor and a 15-member municipal council elected to four-year terms. The council handles local planning, public services, and cultural programs. The town collaborates with neighboring municipalities on regional infrastructure and environmental management.

Economy and infrastructure: The economy combines dairy farming, crop production, light manufacturing, and logistics. The town is served by a regional rail line and is connected to the national highway network, with by-pass roads reducing through-traffic in the center.

Culture and landmarks: Notable sites include Saint Lambert Church (14th century), a 19th-century Town Hall, and a windmill preserved as a cultural landmark. Suenen hosts a harvest festival in autumn and a summer music series in the town square. Notable people are listed in local records and may include figures from various fields.