Surroundings

Arcen (in the Arcens Árse) is the northernmost core of the municipality of Venlo at Dutch Limburgabout 12 kilometres north of the city of Venlo. Arcen lies on the easternmost Maasbend.

In the early Middle Ages Arcen belonged to the territory Straelen and it was donated in 1064 by Countess Irmentrudis to the Abbey of Siegburg. In 1330 Arcen separated from Straelen and became a separate seigniory that was a feud of Gelre. Arcen claimed then already a stacking right on the Meuse. The seigniory was allotted to the brothers Van Neighbors. In the 14th century Arcen already had a wall with three gates, although it had no city rights. The ramparts had to protect against punitive expeditions of competing cities, such as Venlo bans. In 1503 Arcen obtained the market law. In 1586 Arcen was -despite the ramparts- burnt down by the people of Venlo, including the area outside the ramparts. St Barbara Monastery. In 1635 and 1646 Arcen was destroyed by war, and in 1681 a fire raged in the city.

After 1648 Arcen belonged to Spanish Upper Gelre. During the War of the Spanish Succession it was by Prussian troops occupied, and so it remained as part of Prussian Upper Gelre German for about a century (until 1814).

The current core was formed during the 19th century, and in the second half of the 20th century several residential areas were added on the north side.

Arcen belonged traditionally to the municipality of Arcen and Velden. In 2010 it was incorporated into the municipality Venlo.