ALMELO

gemeente (municipality), Overijssel provincie (province), eastern Netherlands, at the junction of the Overijssel Canal and the Almelo-Nordhorn branch of the Twente Canal; it comprises the former municipalities of Ambt-Almelo, Stad-Almelo, and Vriezenveen. An independent barony belonging to the van Rechteren family, Almelo was acquired through marriage (1350) by the lords of Heeckeren, who also gained the countship of Limburg in 1711. A branch of the family still holds the seat and the Huis te Almelo castle (166264). Almelo shared in the rapid growth of the Twente district in the late 19th century. It is now a textile and metallurgical centre and rail junction. Among its notable buildings are the 17th-century Dutch Reformed Church, the 16th-century town hall (now a tourist office), and the Weighhouse, incorporating an art gallery. Pop. (1991 est.) 62,668.