 Remains of settlements in the Amersfoort area from around 1000 BC have been found, but the name Amersfoort, after a ford in the Amer River, today called the Eem, did not appear until the 11th century.The city grew around what is now known as the central square, the "Hof", where the Bishops of Utrecht established a court in order to control the "" area.It was granted city rights in 1259 by the bishop of Utrecht, Henry I van Vianden.