Middelharnis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Middelharnis
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Town and former municipality
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The Avenue at Middelharnis by Meindert Hobbema, 1689
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 Middelharnis
Location in South Holland
Middelharnis
Location in Netherlands
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| Country | Netherlands | |
| Province | South Holland | |
| Municipality | Goeree-Overflakkee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 17.98 km2 (6.94 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 0.3 m (1.0 ft) | |
| Population
(2021)
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| • Total | 7,645 | |
| • Density | 425.19/km2 (1,101.2/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
3241
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| Dialing code | 0187 | |
Middelharnis is a town in the western part of the Netherlands. It is located in the province of South Holland, on an island called Goeree-Overflakkee. In 2012, about 6,800 people lived there.
Middelharnis used to be its own municipality. But on January 1, 2013, it joined with other towns like Goedereede, Dirksland, and Oostflakkee. They all became part of the new municipality of Goeree-Overflakkee. The main office for this new municipality is in Middelharnis.
Contents
A Look at Middelharnis History
Middelharnis was first mentioned in records in 1466. Back then, it was called "die Middelharnisse." People are not completely sure where the name came from.
The town started to grow after a special wall, called a dike, was built in 1465. This dike protected an area of land known as the Oudeland polder. In 1598, a place to sell fish was built in Middelharnis. This helped the town become an important center for the region.
Important Buildings in Middelharnis
The town has a beautiful old church called the Dutch Reformed church. It was built in the 15th century. The church tower was added in different stages between about 1475 and 1520. Sadly, a fire damaged the church in 1904, but it was later fixed and restored.
Another important building is the former town hall. It's a grand building with a small tower on top. It was built between 1639 and 1640. A famous architect named Arent van 's-Gravesande designed it. The building was made bigger between 1834 and 1839. Since 1992, the old town hall has been used as the Rien Poortvliet Museum.
How Middelharnis Grew
In 1840, about 3,104 people lived in Middelharnis. By 2022, the population had grown to 7,755 people. Middelharnis has also grown together with the nearby town of Sommelsdijk. They now form one larger urban area.
Life in Middelharnis
Middelharnis has a popular shopping area called D'n Diek. This shopping street is built on an old dike. This dike used to protect the town from the waters of the Haringvliet.
The town has several schools for older students. There are two public high schools and one Christian high school. Middelharnis also has a harbor that connects to the Haringvliet. This means boats can travel from the town to the larger waters. There is even a small beach in Middelharnis. It can get very busy and fun during the summer!
Images for kids
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Dutch Reformed Church.
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A house in Middelharnis.
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A street view in Middelharnis.
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The former town hall building.
