Goch (German: [ɡɔx] ⓘ; archaic spelling: Gog) is a town in the Kleve district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, close to the border with the Netherlands, 12 km (7 mi) south of Kleve and 27 km (17 mi) southeast of Nijmegen.

History

County of Guelders 1259–1339 Duchy of Guelders 1339–1393 Duchy of Jülich 1393–1423 Duchy of Guelders 1423–1473 Duchy of Cleves 1473–1521 United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg 1521–1614 Duchy of Cleves 1614–1622 Spanish Empire 1622–1625 Duchy of Cleves 1625–1666 Brandenburg-Prussia 1666–1701 Kingdom of Prussia 1701–1757 Kingdom of France 1757–1762 Kingdom of Prussia 1762–1795 French Republic 1795–1804 French Empire 1804–1815 Kingdom of Prussia 1815–1871 German Empire 1871–1918 Weimar Republic 1919–1933 Nazi Germany 1933–1945 Allied-occupied Germany 1945–1949 West Germany 1949–1990 Germany 1990–present

Goch is at least 750 years old: the earliest mention of Goch is in a document dated 1259. It was a part of the Duchy of Cleves. During World War II, the city was completely destroyed by Allied bombers during Operation Veritable. On September 8th, 2011, A Magnitude 4.5 struck the town, causing damage to infrasctructure and to homes.

Twin towns – sister cities

Goch is twinned with:

Notable people

Vincent van Gogh, according to his name, which translates to "Vincent from Goch", has ancestors likely native to this location.

Gallery

  • Siege of Goch[nl] in 1625, by Jan Luyken
  • Goch during Operation Veritable, February 21, 1945
  • Watertower
  • Am Steintor Street
  • Vicarage Goch Hommersum
  • Protestant church

External links

Media related to Goch at Wikimedia Commons