Mechelen, Netherlands (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Village in Limburg, Netherlands

Mechelen Mechele
Village
The centre of MechelenThe centre of Mechelen
Mechelen is located in NetherlandsMechelenMechelenLocation in the NetherlandsShow map of NetherlandsMechelen is located in Limburg, NetherlandsMechelenMechelenLocation in the province of Limburg in the NetherlandsShow map of Limburg, Netherlands
Coordinates: 50°47′47″N 5°55′30″E / 50.79639°N 5.92500°E / 50.79639; 5.92500
Country Netherlands
Province Limburg
Municipality Gulpen-Wittem
Area[1]
• Total 9.74 km2 (3.76 sq mi)
Elevation[2] 116 m (381 ft)
Population (2021)[1]
• Total 1,485
• Density 152/km2 (395/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code 6280-6281[1]
Dialing code 043

Mechelen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɛxələ(n)]; Limburgish: Mechele [ˈmæxələ]) is a town in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is a part of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem, and lies about 13 km south of Heerlen.

The village was first mentioned in 1133 as "de Mechluns", and means "mighty place". It was sometimes called Klein-Mechelen (little Mechelen) to distinguish from Mechelen.[3] Mechelen developed around a large farm which was donated to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta by Henry III, Duke of Limburg. Until 1795, it was a heerlijkheid except for the commandery and a small part of the village which formed an independent enclave.[4]

The Heerenhof is the remainder of the commandery and farm. In 1797, it became private property. In 1986, it became the town hall. The complex has experienced several fires, and the oldest building dates from 1754.[4]

The St John the Baptist Church is a single-aisled church. It burnt down in 1568, and was enlarged between 1810 and 1811 and 1863 to 1867. In 1935, it was redesigned with a larger tower by Joseph Cuypers.[4]

Mechelen was home to 740 people in 1840.[5] Mechelen used to be the capital of the municipality of Wittem. In 1998, it became part of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.[5]

  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 24 April 2022. two entries
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 6281AB". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Mechelen - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Sabine Broekhoven, & Ronald Stenvert (2003). Mechelen (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9623 6. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Mechelen". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 April 2022.