Wijk bij Duurstede

Various explanations are given for the name part Wijk, such as that it could be traced back to the Roman vicus, or the Germanic wik which means "bend" or "inlet". The name part Duurstede can be traced back to the former trading place Dorestad, which name is at least partly of Celtic origin.

During Roman times there was a Roman castellum here on the Rhine, perhaps Levefanum. The northern border (limes) of the Roman Empire also ran right through Wijk bij Duurstede.

In the early Middle Ages there was one of the most important trading places of Northwest Europe: Dorestad. Around 850, Dorestad fell due to viking attacks. Such was the historiography until fairly recently. However, serious consideration is now being given to the fact that natural and (church) political factors, together with the shifting balance of power, probably played a more important role. The Rhine bed would have moved a bit, the port would also start to silt up at that time and there was also a water rise. The decline of Dorestad meant prosperity for Tiel, Deventer and later Utrecht. Many finds have been made in and around Wijk bij Duurstede from these history periods, which can be seen in Museum Dorestad.

Wijk bij Duurstede received city rights from Gijsbrecht van Abcoude in 1300 and was built on a residential tower built in 1270 that would grow into Duurstede Castle. Probably shortly afterwards, in defense of the city, the construction of an earthen wall and moat was started, partly using the old riverbeds for the moat. In the middle of the 14th century, the city was expanded eastwards and probably in the same period the city was provided with a city wall that was equipped with city gates and fortification towers. The city wall and moat were renewed around 1445.

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