Elst is a town in the municipality of Overbetuwe in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is situated in the Betuwe, between the cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen. In January 2022 the town had 22,509 inhabitants.[1]
Elst is known for its Roman temples, which are situated under St Martin's (or the St Werenfried) church. Elst was a separate municipality until 2001, when it became a part of Overbetuwe.[2]
Elstar is an apple cultivar that was developed in Elst in the 1950s.
A number of archeological finds have been made in Elst. In 1947, while repairing war damage, the remains of two Roman temples were discovered under St Martin's Church, including one of the largest found north of the Alps. Further Roman buildings have since been found in the town,[3] as have prehistoric items.[4]
The missionary Saint Werenfried of Elst, was buried in Elst in circa 780. In the middle ages his tomb attracted pilgrims, as his intercession was believed to cure disorders, especially those related to arthritis.[5]
In September 1944, Elst was the scene of fighting between Allied and German troops during Operation Market Garden. During this, the tower of St Martin's Church was used as an observation post, and was largely destroyed by shelling.[6] The church was rebuilt after the war.
The municipality of Elst has existed since 1812. In January 2001 it became a part of the new municipality of Overbetuwe, when it merged with of Heteren and Valburg.[7] Since then, Elst has expanded with the building of new housing and industrial estates.
H. J. Heinz Company's sauce factory for the European market is located in Elst. In 2006 Heinz moved production of HP Sauce here from Birmingham, England. Seen as a traditional British sauce, the decision received adverse publicity in the UK at the time.[8]
