Boeskool Cycle Route (around Oldenzaal)

(Low Saxon: Oldnzel) is a city in the Dutch province of Overijssel. On 31 January 2022, there were 31,788 people living there (source: CBS) in an area of 21.98 km². There are no other centres within the municipal boundaries. The municipality of Oldenzaal is part of the Twente Region and of Netwerkstad Twente.

History:

In the second half of the eighth century, after the Eastern Netherlands had been integrated into the Frankish Empire under King Pepin III, a royal domain was located in Oldenzaal, located at a strategic crossroads of roads. A court was set up on this royal domain, initially focusing on the military function. The court was fortified with a fence of wickerwork. It is possible that the itinerant Irish-Anglo-Saxon missionary Plechelmus - who had the abbey of Prüm or Echternach as a base - founded a church on this site around 765. The first church was dedicated to Saint Pope Silvester I. In 954, Bishop Balderic of Utrecht attached a chapter to the predecessor of the current St. Plechelmus Basilica. As a result, Oldenzaal became the most important religious centre in Twente.