Langenboom

History

The village was first mentioned in 1794 as Langenboom, and means "long boom barrier". It is likely referring to a barrier on the road to Zeeland which was used to provide cattle access to the pastures. For most of its history, it was a hamlet and peat excavation settlement. In 1858, a novice centre and study hall of the Dominican Order was established in Langenboom. In Langenboom 21 houses, the monastery, the church and the school were destroyed. In 1944, after Operation Market Garden, General Miles Dempsey set up his headquarters in a farm in Langenboom. The farm has been renamed Koningshoeve (King's farm), because it was visited by King George VI on 15 October 1944. It was assumed that Dempsey was knighted at the farm, however photographic evidence suggests that the knighting probably took place at Eindhoven Airport.