Doetinchem (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdutɪŋxəm] ⓘ; Low Saxon: Deutekem) is a city and municipality in the east of the Netherlands.

doetinchem residents by ethnic background (2021)[6] It is known from archaeological finds of skulls, pottery shards, and flint arrowheads that the area was inhabited more than 11,000 years ago.

The first reference to the name of Doetinchem comes in a document from the year 838 which mentions a 'villa Duetinghem', a settlement with a small church.

For a long time, Doetinchem remained a small place but around 1100 it started to grow and, after suffering several attempts by plunderers, a town wall was built.

There were four barriers in the wall which, being weak points, were replaced over time by four large city-gates known as the Hamburgerpoort (built 1302), the Waterpoort, the Gruitpoort, and the Hezenpoort.

From its early years, Doetinchem had been an important marketplace for farmers to sell their wares; the market was held in the central square called the Simonsplein right up until the Second World War.

In the decades after the war, Doetinchem grew and in a few years had outgrown its "competitors" in the Achterhoek, namely Doesburg, Winterswijk and Zutphen.

From 2003 till 2005, the city grew enormously as new districts such as Dichteren were built, and as Doetinchem incorporates outlying villages such as Wehl into its municipality.

By building a new district as het Loo and Isseldoks, and the opening of a brand new theatre and cinema, Doetinchem is the biggest growing city in Gelderland.

A few other important buildings in the city are the Amphion-Theater, the Gruitpoort, a big cultural centre, the Rietveld Lyceum, the biggest high school in Doetinchem and the Tax administration office.

In 2009 the city's volleyball team took part in the CEV cup playing against Haltbank Ankara from Turkey.

On Tuesday, July 14, 2015, the Eastern Ring Road (Oostelijke Randweg) was opened, alleviating all traffic congestion in the city center.

DOS aims to contribute to the development of projects that can improve living conditions in La Libertad.

Additionally, it seeks to involve the residents of Doetinchem as much as possible in the life of La Libertad and the challenges faced there.

Additionally, efforts are made to contribute on a local level to improving relations between Eastern and Western European countries.