Meijel
Village and former municipality in Limburg, Netherlands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Meijel (Dutch: [ˈmɛi.əl] ⓘ; Limburgish: Méél) is a former municipality and a village in south-eastern Netherlands.
Meijel
Méél | |
|---|---|
Village and former municipality | |
| |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
  Meijel Location in the Netherlands  Meijel Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands | |
| Coordinates: 51°21′N 5°53′E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Limburg |
| Municipality | Peel en Maas |
| Area | |
• Total | 2.80 km2 (1.08 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 5,120 |
| • Density | 1,830/km2 (4,740/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 5768[1] |
| Dialing code | 077 |
History
The village was first mentioned in 1303 as "Iohannes et Henricus fratres dicti van der Vloet de Meyele". The etymology is uncertain. It might mean "middle of the forest".[3] Meijel developed on a sandy ridge in the raised bog of the Peel. It became a free heerlijkheid (no fief). In 1716, it became part of the Austrian Upper Guelders.[4]
The Catholic St Nicolaas Church is a three-aisled church with a wide tower which was constructed from 1953 to 1955 to replace the church which was destroyed in 1944.[4]
Meijel was home to 996 inhabitants in 1840.[5] It was severely damaged during World War II during a failed German counter attack.[4] Meijel was an independent municipality until 2010 when it was merged into Peel en Maas.[5]
