Batavia (region)
The Netherlands c. 50 AD. The river island of Batavia can be seen directly below the large round river island in the center. Thin, it stretched from the country's centre to the German border, with roughly a third of its western side fens (indicated in brown) and two thirds of its eastern side river valleys (green). The modern Betuwe region corresponds greatly with it. | |
Interactive map of Batavia | |
| Alternative name | Betuwe (modern region) |
|---|---|
| Location | Netherlands |
| Region | Gelderland |
| Type | Historical tribal land |
| Part of | Germania |
| History | |
| Cultures | Batavi |
| Satellite of | Roman Empire (after 80 AD) |
| Events | Batavian Revolt |
Batavia (/bəˈteɪviə/ bə-TAY-vee-ə), known in Dutch as Betuwe (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbeːtyu.ə] ⓘ), is a historical and geographical region in the Netherlands, composed of large fertile islands in the river delta formed by the waters of the Rhine (Dutch: Rijn) and Meuse (Dutch: Maas) rivers. During the Roman Empire, it was an important frontier region and source of imperial soldiers. Its name is possibly pre-Roman.
The name Batavia derives directly from the Roman term for the region, and is related to the name of the Batavi or Batavians who lived in the area under Roman rule, until the third century AD. Administratively, the modern version, Betuwe, is a part of the Dutch province of Gelderland, and although the rivers and provinces have changed over history it is roughly the same. Today it includes the Waal river on the south and the Lek and Nederrijn in the north (all rivers which start in the delta itself and are branches of the Rhine). Historically, the former municipality of Rijnwaarden belonged to Betuwe, now in Zevenaar, which was cut off by the building of the Pannerdens Kanaal.
A major freight railroad, the Betuweroute, passes through the Betuwe. It was opened in 2007 after many years of controversy.
Today's Betuwe region is divided into nine municipalities: Lingewaard, Arnhem (southern part), Nijmegen (northern part), Overbetuwe, Neder-Betuwe, Buren, Tiel, Culemborg and West Betuwe. The region is characterised by its many orchards, and has been known for centuries as the fruit garden of the Netherlands.