S Gravenzande

's-Gravenzande is a town in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Westland, and lies about 12 km southwest of The Hague. Until 2004 it was a separate municipality and covered an area of 20.77 km² (of which 3.38 km² water).

The town of 's-Gravenzande had 15,241 inhabitants in 2011. The built-up area of the town was 2.7 km², and contained 5,879 residences. The statistical area "'s-Gravenzande", which also can include the peripheral parts of the village, as well as the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 19,750. As of 1 January 2009, 's-Gravenzande is the largest town in Westland with 19.428 inhabitants.

The former municipality of 's-Gravenzande also included the township of Heenweg.

History

's-Gravenzande was granted city rights in 1246 by Count William II of Holland who, just like his father Count Floris IV, regularly resided at his estate near the town. It is therefore the only "city" in Westland.

Machteld van Brabant, daughter of Duke Henry I and wife of Floris IV, was responsible for building the town's church, and gave it a Madonna statue to which miraculous powers were attributed. 's-Gravenzande subsequently became a pilgrimage site.

The neighborhood of Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York in the United States is said by some to have been named for 's-Gravenzande.