Meppel Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Meppel

Meppeler toren (Tower of Meppel)

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Drenthe

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

57.03 km² (22.02 sq mi)

• Land

55.69 km² (21.50 sq mi)

• Water

1.34 km² (0.52 sq mi)

Elevation

2 m (7 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

32,860

• Density

590/km² (1,500/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Meppeler

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

7940–7949, 7965–7969

Area code

0522

Meppel is a city and a municipality in the northeastern Netherlands. It is located in the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe. Meppel is the smallest municipality in Drenthe. Its total area is about 57 square kilometers (22 square miles). As of July 1, 2021, about 34,506 people lived there. More than 30,000 of these people live within the city itself.

People born in Meppel are sometimes called Meppeler Muggen in Dutch. This means 'mosquitoes from Meppel'. This funny nickname comes from an old folk tale. The story says that the people of Meppel once thought their church tower was on fire. But when they looked closer, they realized it was just a huge swarm of mosquitoes!

Discovering Meppel's Past
Exploring Meppel's Location and Waterways
- Towns and Villages in Meppel
How to Get Around Meppel
Meppel's International Friends
Famous People from Meppel
- Artists from Meppel
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Meppel's Past

A 2014 map showing the city of Meppel

Meppel started to grow in the 1500s. It became an important inland harbor. This harbor was used for moving and selling peat. Peat is a type of soil that can be burned for fuel. In the past, Meppel had many waterways. Today, only one main waterway remains. Meppel was given special "city rights" in 1644. These rights gave the town more freedom to govern itself.

In 1867, the Meppel railway station opened. This made it much easier to travel to and from Meppel. It also helped connect the region better. Later, in 1998, the nearby municipality of Nijeveen joined with Meppel. The combined area kept the name Meppel.

Exploring Meppel's Location and Waterways

Meppel is located in the southwestern part of the Drenthe province. This is in the northeastern part of the Netherlands.

Several important waterways connect Meppel. The Meppelerdiep, the Drentsche Hoofdvaart, and the Hoogeveense Vaart link Meppel to other towns. These towns include Zwartsluis, Assen, and Hoogeveen. A special canal, the Omgelegde Hoogeveense Vaart, was built south of the city. This helps large transport ships move goods more easily. The Meppelerdiep is deep enough for boats weighing up to 2,000 tons.

Two streams, the Reest and the Wold Aa, also flow through the city. The Reest stream eventually flows into the Meppeler Diep.

Towns and Villages in Meppel

The municipality of Meppel includes several smaller towns and villages. These are:

Nijeveen
Nijentap
Havelterberg (part of it)
Broekhuizen
Rogat
De Schiphorst

How to Get Around Meppel

Meppel has good transport links. You can travel by train to many places. There are national and regional train connections. Trains go southwest to Zwolle, which connects to the rest of the country. Trains also go northwest to Leeuwarden and northeast to Groningen. The city's train station is on two important railway lines.

There are also many bus lines in Meppel. These buses travel within the city. They also go to nearby cities like Zwolle, Hoogeveen, and Assen.

Meppel's International Friends

Meppel has a special friendship with another city. This is called a "twin town" relationship. Meppel is twinned with:

Most, which is in the Czech Republic.

Famous People from Meppel

Many interesting people have come from Meppel. They have made contributions in different fields.

Jan Jansen Bleecker (1641–1732) was a merchant and politician. He became the Mayor of Albany, New York.
Petrus Johannes Waardenburg (1886–1979) was an eye doctor and geneticist. A medical condition, Waardenburg syndrome, is named after him.
Ben Nijboer (1915–1999) was a physicist. He studied light and how materials behave.
Louise Fresco (born 1952) is a scientist and writer. She focuses on how to produce food in a way that helps the planet.
Erik Kwakkel (born 1970) is a scholar who studies old handwritten books from the Middle Ages.
Albert van der Haar (born 1975) is a former football player. He played in almost 500 club games.

Artists from Meppel

Meppel has also been home to many talented artists.

Petrus Kiers (1807–1875) was a painter, graphic artist, and photographer.
Sir Joseph Joel Duveen (1843–1908) was an art dealer. He also helped art galleries.
Eduard Frankfort (1864–1920) was a Dutch Jewish painter.
Jan Mankes (1889–1920) was a Dutch painter known for his unique style.
Roelof Frankot (1911–1984) was a Dutch painter. His work was connected to the CoBrA art movement.
Emmanuel Ohene Boafo (1993) is a Dutch-Ghanaian actor. He won a major acting award in 2021.