Meppel
Meppel | |
|---|---|
City and municipality | |
Meppeler toren (Tower of Meppel) | |
Location in Drenthe | |
| Coordinates: 52°42′N 6°11′E / 52.700°N 6.183°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Drenthe |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipal council |
| • Mayor | Arjen Maathuis (VVD) |
| Area | |
• Total | 57.03 km2 (22.02 sq mi) |
| • Land | 55.53 km2 (21.44 sq mi) |
| • Water | 1.50 km2 (0.58 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (January 2021) | |
• Total | 34,386 |
| • Density | 619/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Meppeler |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 7940–7949, 7965–7969 |
| Area code | 0522 |
| Website | www |
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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; 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.