Arnhem, city in the eastern Netherlands, capital of Gelderland Province, on the Lower Rhine River, near Utrecht. Arnhem is an industrial and commercial center, with a large trade in grain and with plants engaged in the manufacture of precision instruments, paper, mirrors, and wood products. Among the principal points of interest in Arnhem are the Groote Kerk (Great Church), dating from the 15th century, and the town hall, another 15th-century building. In medieval times Arnhem was a member of the Hanseatic League, a commercial federation of European cities. The city came under the authority of the States-General, the parliament of the Dutch Republic, in 1585. It remained under Dutch rule, except for periods of French occupation from 1672 to 1674 and from 1795 to 1813, until World War II (1939-1945). In May 1940, Arnhem was occupied by German troops. The Allied forces made an unsuccessful attempt to recapture the city and the Rhine River bridges in 1944. Arnhem was finally liberated by the Allies in 1945. Population (2000) 138,020.
