Geldrop-Mierlo

Geldrop-Mierlo
Municipality
Geldrop town centre
Flag Coat of arms
Location in North Brabant
Coordinates: 51°25′N 5°34′E / 51.417°N 5.567°ECoordinates: 51°25′N 5°34′E / 51.417°N 5.567°E
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Brabant
Established	1 January 2004[1]
Government[2]
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Berry Link (CDA)
Area[3]
• Total	31.39 km^2 (12.12 sq mi)
• Land	31.02 km^2 (11.98 sq mi)
• Water	0.37 km^2 (0.14 sq mi)
Elevation[4]	19 m (62 ft)
Population (May 2014)[5]
• Total	38,809
• Density	1,251/km^2 (3,240/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	5660–5667, 5730–5731
Area code	040, 0492
Website	www.geldrop-mierlo.nl

Geldrop-Mierlo ( pronunciation ) is a municipality in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality was created from the two former municipalities of Geldrop and Mierlo on 1 January 2004.

Villages

Geldrop-Mierlo had a population of 38,809 in 2014. It covers an area of 31.39 km² (12.12 sq mi). The two villages of Geldrop and Mierlo used to be separate municipalities, but joined together after threats from Helmond to take over Mierlo. Its partner city is Dobříš in the Czech Republic.

Topography

Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo, June 2015

History

The exact age of Geldrop isn't known. Over the years there have been several archaeological finds relating to prehistoric peoples who lived in or passed through the area. In the area of Geldrop, where over 10,000 years ago reindeerhunters of the so-called Ahrensburg culture placed their tents, two {?} with engravings have been found, among other artefacts. On one of them a reindeerhorn have been represented, on the other one a dancing little girl, who is called 'venus van Mierlo'. In the south of Zesgehuchten (district of Geldrop) finds have been done which indicate on small settlements from the New Stone Age (round 3000 BC). Finds from the Roman Time and the early Middle Ages have been found off Genoenhuis and Hoog Geldrop (districts in Geldrop). In the autumn of 1989 nearby 't Zand (cemetery) archaeological unearthings has been carried out. These had a remarkable result. Four settlements were found from the late Roman Time and the Middle Ages: a period which covers the years between 350 and 1225.

Transportation

• Geldrop railway station

Notable residents

• Dries van Agt, former Dutch prime-minister, born in Geldrop in 1931
• Ernest Faber, football defender, born in Geldrop in 1971
• A.F.Th. van der Heijden, writer, born in Geldrop in 1951
• Pieter van den Hoogenband, swimmer, winner of three Olympic gold medals, grew up in Geldrop
• Lara Stone, model, born in Geldrop in 1983 and lived in Mierlo
• Lévi Weemoedt, poet, born in Geldrop in 1948
• Petrus Kerstens, EU official

References

1. "Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2004" [Municipal divisions on 1 January 2004]. cbs.nl (in Dutch). CBS. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
2. "Burgemeester" [Mayor] (in Dutch). Gemeente Geldrop-Mierlo. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
3. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
4. "Postcodetool for 5664HT". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
5. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.

External links

• Media related to Geldrop-Mierlo at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website