Merkelbeek

Merkelbeek
Village
Sint-Clemenskerk (Merkelbeek)
Merkelbeek
Location in the Netherlands
Merkelbeek
Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 50°57′15″N 5°56′15″E / 50.95417°N 5.93750°E / 50.95417; 5.93750
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
MunicipalityBeekdaelen
Area
 • Total
3.42 km2 (1.32 sq mi)
Elevation81 m (266 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total
1,615
 • Density470/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
6447[1]
Dialing code045/046

Merkelbeek (Limburgish: Merkelbek) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Beekdaelen, about 9 km northwest of Heerlen.

The village was first mentioned in 1283 as Merkelbeke. The etymology is unclear.[3] Merkelbeek started in the Early Middle Ages along a brook and developed into a road village.[4]

The Catholic St Clemens Church is a three-aisled church with built-in tower with needle spire which was built between 1876 and 1878. In 1935, the choir was replaced by a transept and choir in Gothic Revival style.[4]

Merkelbeek was home to 309 people in 1840.[5] It was a separate municipality until 1982, when it became part of Onderbanken.[6] In 2019, it was merged into Beekdaelen.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 23 April 2022. together with Douvergenhout
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 6447AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Merkelbeek - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b Sabine Broekhoven, & Ronald Stenvert (2003). Merkelbeek (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9623 6. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Merkelbeek". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  6. ^ Ad van der Meer and Onno Boonstra, Repertorium van Nederlandse gemeenten, KNAW, 2011.