Eijsden-Margraten

Eijsden-Margraten
Municipality

Flag

Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Eijsden-Margraten in a municipal map of Limburg
Location in Limburg
Coordinates: 50°47′N 5°42′E / 50.783°N 5.700°ECoordinates: 50°47′N 5°42′E / 50.783°N 5.700°E
Country  Netherlands
Province  Limburg
Established 1 January 2011[1]
Government[2]
  Body Municipal council
  Mayor Dieudonné Akkermans (CDA)
Area[3]
  Total 78.32 km2 (30.24 sq mi)
  Land 77.40 km2 (29.88 sq mi)
  Water 0.92 km2 (0.36 sq mi)
Elevation[4] 56 m (184 ft)
Population (May 2014)[5]
  Total 24,995
  Density 323/km2 (840/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 6245–6269, 6307
Area code 043
Website www.eijsden-margraten.nl

Eijsden-Margraten ( pronunciation )( pronunciation ) (Limburgish: Èèsjde-Mergraote) is a municipality situated in the very south of the European country The Netherlands. There it is located in the southeastern part of the province of Limburg.

This municipality was formed in 2011 from the former municipalities of Eijsden and Margraten, that both consisted of a number of separately situated villages. As a result the nowadays Eijsden-Margraten municipality consists of 28 villages and townships, spread out over 15 administrative centres. As of 2011, it has a population of about 25,000.

Eijsden-Margraten is one of the most southerly municipalities in the Netherlands, for in its south it is extending up to the most southerly part of the border between the Netherlands and Belgium.

The Meuse river, coming from France and Belgium, at Eijsden enters its third and final flowing country, the Netherlands. From here on its name in Dutch is "Maas". Running northward to Eijsden-Margraten's west it locally forms the westerly frontier of the last mentioned country with Belgium.

A smaller stream, the Voer, coming from Belgium, drains into the Meuse river in this municipality, after having passed through a few of its villages.

Population centres

Of them Eijsden, Gronsveld, Mariadorp, Mesch, Oost-Maarland and Rijckholt are former parts of the Eijsden municipality, whereas the others are former parts of the Margraten municipality.

Fruit trees near Eijsden Castle
Land pastures on the hilly Margraten Plateau
Part of the Eijsden "Vroenhof" central square

Apart from Mesch all former Eijsden villages are situated in the valley of the Meuse river, whereas Mesch and the former Margraten villages are on a highland called the "Margraten Plateau".

Economy

Main aspects of economical activity in the for a long time agricultural villages of this municipality are:

Culture

Essential elements of culture in this municipality's villages are:

Sights

Persons

Miscellaneous

Gallery

Meuse river entering The Netherlands at Eijsden
Near Oost the Albert Canal is connected with the Meuse river through the Lanaye canal
Blooming fruittrees, a touristical attraction in a big part of this municipality
Gronsveld castle
Blankenberg castle at Cadier en Keer
Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial at Margraten
Marl of the Bemelerberg (Bemelen mountain) showing
Monumental half-timbered house at Banholt
Stylish buildings of religious origin, like former monasteries

References

Topographic map (in Dutch) of Eijsden-Margraten; (readable after three clicks on map)

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External links