It is generally assumed that Gorinchem was founded 1000 AD by fishermen and farmers on the raised land near the mouth of the river
Linge at the
Merwede.
Goriks Heem ("Home of Gorik" in early
Middle Dutch) is first mentioned in a document from 1224 in which
Floris IV granted people from Gorinchem exemption of
toll payments throughout
Holland. Somewhere between 1247 and 1267, Gorinchem became property of the
Lords of Arkel. At the end of the 13th century earthen mounds reinforced with
palisades were built around the settlement to protect it from domination by the neighboring counties of Holland and Gelre. Half a century later real
city walls were built complete with 7
gates and 23
watchtowers. Otto van Arkel granted it
city rights on 11 November 1322.
Jan van Arkel had a dispute with
Albert I, brother of
Willem V of Holland, leading to war and subsequently to the annexation of Gorinchem to Holland in 1417. This resulted in increased trade and Gorinchem grew to be the eighth city of Holland.
Charles the Bold constructed the
Blue Tower palace in Gorinchem in 1461. This castle was already demolished in 1578. On 9 July 1572, the
Watergeuzen (Dutch rebels against Spanish rule) conquered the city and captured 19 Catholic priests and monks. Because they refused to renounce their faith, these priests and monks were brought to
Brielle where they were hanged and were from then on known among Catholics as the
Martyrs of Gorkum. The Martyrs of Gorkum were canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867. Their martyrdom is commemorated annually in Gorinchem and has become an integral part of the city’s religious and cultural identity. As victims of religious persecution during the Eighty Years' War, their story symbolizes the broader conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism in the region. The martyrs hold a notable place in Dutch religious history, and their legacy continues to resonate with Catholics around the world. By the 16th century, the city walls had deteriorated and were replaced with new fortifications and eleven
bastions that are still almost completely intact. The new walls were completed in 1609 and were located further from the town centre, making the city twice as large. In 1673, Gorinchem became part of the old
Dutch Water Line. The city walls had four city gates: the Arkel Gate in the north, the Dalem Gate in the east, the Water Gate in the south (where the ferry to
Woudrichem was), and the Kansel Gate in the west. Of these four gates, only the Dalem Gate remains. The others were removed in the 19th century to make way for vehicular traffic. A portion of the Water Gate was preserved in the gardens of the
Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. In the 18th century, the economy went into decline. After the
French domination, the retreating French troops established themselves in the
bastion fortress of Gorinchem. After a three-month siege they capitulated but the city was heavily damaged. During the Industrial Revolution, Gorinchem recovered. Increased shipping led to new canals being dug and a railway connection to the city. Its population quickly increased, filling the inner city, and new neighbourhoods had to be built outside the city walls. At the beginning of the 20th century, expansion took place in the Lingewijk and West neighbourhoods. After World War II, expansion started in the north-western portion of the municipality which was completed in the 1970s. This was followed by development of the neighbourhoods Wijdschild and Laag Dalem east of the city center. In 1986, the town Dalem was added to the municipality. In August 2021
ANWB named Gorinchem the most beautiful star fort in the Netherlands. == Demographics ==