Bunnik

Bunnik (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbʏnɪk] ) is a municipality and village in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands. The recorded history of the village dates back nearly 2000 years, when the Romans constructed a fort at Fectio (now Vechten) with a harbour facing the river Rhine, which marked the border of the Roman Empire. The fort developed into a thriving trading centre, which continued to exist after the Romans abandoned the fort in the fourth century. Subsequently, the area was occupied by the Frisians and the Franks. In the 8th and 9th century, the villages of Bunninchem (Bunnik), Lodichem (Odijk) and Wercundia (Werkhoven) developed. Bunnik is of interest for its surrounding nature area, consisting mainly of forests and farmlands. Additionally, Bunnik, hosts the oldest Youth Hostel in the Netherlands. The major European construction and services company Royal BAM Group has its headquarters in Bunnik.