It lies on the right bank of the river Meuse, which forms the border with Kessenich in Belgium.

[3] The village was first mentioned in 1221 as in Werde, and means "land near water dedicated to Saint Stephen".

[5] The Spanish built a fortress in 1633 during the Eighty Years War,[4] this is still apparent in the street plan of the town.

[6] The top of the sail measures 37 metres (121 ft) making it the tallest wind mill in the province of Limburg.

[7] In October 1944, it was hit several times by British artillery from the liberated Belgian side.