Meppel
City and municipality
Meppeler toren (Tower of Meppel)
Meppeler toren (Tower of Meppel)
Flag of Meppel
Flag
Coat of arms of Meppel
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Meppel in a municipal map of Drenthe
Location in Drenthe
Coordinates: 52°42′N 6°11′E / 52.700°N 6.183°E / 52.700; 6.183
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceDrenthe
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorRichard Korteland (VVD)
Area
[2]
 • Total57.03 km2 (22.02 sq mi)
 • Land55.53 km2 (21.44 sq mi)
 • Water1.50 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total34,386
 • Density619/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
DemonymMeppeler
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
7940–7949, 7965–7969
Area code0522
Websitewww.meppel.nl

Meppel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɛpəl] ⓘ; Drents: Möppelt) is a city and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. It constitutes the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe. Meppel is the smallest municipality in Drenthe, with a total area of about 57 km2 (22 sq mi). As of 1 July 2021, it had a population of 34,506 with over 30,000 inhabitants within city limits.

People born in Meppel are occasionally referred to as Meppeler Muggen in Dutch;[5] this translates as 'mosquitoes from Meppel'. The nickname comes from a traditional folk tale. The people of Meppel thought the church tower was on fire, but after closer inspection, they realised it was only a swarm of mosquitoes.[6]

History

2014 topographic map of the city of Meppel

Meppel developed in the 16th century as an inland harbour for peat transport and distribution. There used to be a lot of waterways in the town, but now only one remains. Meppel received city rights in 1644. On 1 October 1867, Meppel railway station opened to service, drastically improving connectivity in the region. On 1 January 1998, the municipality of Nijeveen, northwest of Meppel, was merged with that of Meppel, retaining the latter name.

Geography

Meppel is located at 52°42′N 6°11′E / 52.700°N 6.183°E / 52.700; 6.183 in the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe in the northeastern part of the Netherlands.

The Meppelerdiep, the Drentsche Hoofdvaart and the Hoogeveense Vaart connect Meppel to Zwartsluis, Assen and Hoogeveen. To offload professional transport vessels the Omgelegde Hoogeveense Vaart was dug out south of the city. The Meppelerdiep is accessible for boats with a size of 2,000 ton.

The streams Reest and Wold Aa run through the city. The Reest end in the Meppeler Diep.

The population centres in the municipality are:

Transportation

Meppel is served by national and regional train connections with Zwolle to the southwest, which leads to the rest of the country, as well as Leeuwarden and Groningen to the northwest and northeast respectively. The city's station is located on both the Arnhem–Leeuwarden railway (Staatslijn A) and Meppel–Groningen railway (Staatslijn C).

There are regular and frequent bus lines within Meppel and towards Zwolle, Hoogeveen and Assen.

Twin towns – sister cities

Meppel is twinned with:[7]

  • Czech Republic Most, Czech Republic

Notable people

Louise Fresco
Petrus Kiers

The arts

References

  1. ↑ "Richard Korteland" (in Dutch). Gemeente Meppel. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 7941BJ". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "CBOEK363 - EENIGE SCHELDNAMEN VAN DE EENE PLAATS OP DE ANDERE". Nederlandse Volksverhalenbank. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  6. ↑ "De toren". Vrienden van de Grote of Mariakerk. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  7. ↑ "Stedenband Most" (in Dutch). Meppel. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  8. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement, Duveen, Joseph Joel. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Meppel.
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