In 2004 the new municipality of Oost Gelre
was formed by the merger of the former municipalities of Groenlo and Lichtenvoorde.
Number of inhabitants (1 Jan 2003): 9.400; area: 9,41 km². Settlements:
Groenlo (seat), Eefsele.
Groenlo is an old medieval town in the Achterhoek. It was one of the
last Spanish held possessions north of the big rivers during the 80-years
war, taken by us in 1627. Also (and perhaps better) known as Grol, hence
Grolsch beer.
The old flag (rampant lion or on blue) had been long in use, before
it was officially adopted on 5 September 1961. That flag was derived from
the municipal Coat of Arms, where the lion reminds of the death of Willem van Nassau
before the walls of Groenlo in 1627.
Willem aka Willem Lalecq (1601-1627) was the bastard son of Maurits
van Nassau and Margaretha van Mechelen.
Jarig Bakker, 26 September 1999