486 



THE NETHERLANDS. 



as the MctUebaan, or Mall, stretches eastward for nearly a mile. The old cathe- 

 dral is one of the most remarkable Gothic edifices of the country, but has been 

 sadly defaced by the restorers, who took possession of it after the great hurricane 

 which nearly destroyed it in 167 K Utrecht has numerous superior schools, a 

 meteorological observatory, and various museums. One of its quarters is inhabited 

 by Jansenists, whilst the Moravian Brethren have established themselves at Zcist, a 

 village in the neighbourhood. Amers/oort (13,578 inhabitants), a manufacturing 

 town, is the only other place of note in the province. 



Gelderland. — Ni/megen (23,509 inhabitants), the ancient Noviomagus, is built 

 on " seven " hills rising on the northern bank of the Waal, which flows through the 



Fig. 276. MONNICKENDAM AND THE ISLAND OF MaRKEN. 



Scale 1 : 100,000. 



1 Mile. 



southern part of the province. Its historical associations abound in interest. 

 Upon one of its city gates may be read the oft- quoted inscription, "Melius est 

 bellicosa libertas quam servitus pacifica." Important treaties were signed at 

 Nymegen in 1678 and 1679. It is no longer a fortress, and its commercial 

 dealings with Germany have assumed gigantic proportions. The only other large 

 town on the Waal is Tiel (8,851 inhabitants). 



Arnhem (38,017 inhabitants), the capital of the province, is delightfully 

 situated on the right bank of the Rhine, here bounded by hills. It is the gayest 

 town of the Netherlands, with numerous country houses, and rapidly increases in 

 population. Lower down, the Rhine flows past Wageningen (6,162 inhabitants) and 



