City in Limburg on the Meuse River. Built on the site of a Roman settlement, Venlo obtained municipal rights in 1343 from the count of Guelders (Gelderland). Although the city signed the Union of Utrecht during the Revolt and was taken by Stadtholder Freder ick Henry in 1632, it remained a Spanish possession from 1637 until 1713. Between 1795 and 1813, the French governed Venlo. With two bridges over the Meuse on the frontline at the end of World WarII, many historic buildings were destroyed. The present municipality has about 92,000 inhabitants (the city itself, about 40,000). Well-known enterprises located here are the Oce copier factory and the transport firm Frans Maas.
Historical Dictionary of the Netherlands. EdwART. 2012.