Mook en Middelaar Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Mook en Middelaar

Mook en Middelar

Mook town centre across the Meuse

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in Limburg

Mook en Middelaar

Location in Netherlands

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

18.81 km² (7.26 sq mi)

• Land

17.39 km² (6.71 sq mi)

• Water

1.42 km² (0.55 sq mi)

Elevation

12 m (39 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

7,773

• Density

447/km² (1,160/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

6584–6587

Area code

024

Dutch Topographic map of Mook en Middelaar, June 2015

Mook en Middelaar is a small area in the southeastern part of the Netherlands. It's located at the northern tip of the Limburg province. This area is about 100 kilometers away from Maastricht, which is the capital city of Limburg. The total area of Mook en Middelaar is about 18.81 km² (7.26 sq mi), and a part of this is water.

About Mook en Middelaar
- Towns and Villages
A Look Back: History of Mook en Middelaar
Getting Around
Famous People from Mook en Middelaar
Gallery
See also

About Mook en Middelaar

This municipality is known for its beautiful, hilly landscape. These hills were formed a very long time ago, about 160,000 years ago, during the last ice age.

Towns and Villages

Mook en Middelaar is made up of several smaller towns and villages. These include:

Middelaar
Molenhoek
Mook
Plasmolen

A Look Back: History of Mook en Middelaar

The area of Mook en Middelaar has a long and interesting history, with discoveries from ancient times and important battles.

Ancient Times

People have lived in this area for many centuries.

Roman Discoveries

In a place called Plasmolen, people found the remains of an old Roman villa. This house was built around the 2nd century AD. Also, near the Meuse river, parts of a Roman bridge from the 4th century were discovered. These findings show that Romans were once active here.

Battles and Defenses

The region has seen several important historical events, especially battles.

The Battle of Mookerheide

The Mookerheide, a heathland near Mook, was the site of a famous battle in 1574. This battle was part of the Eighty Years War, a long conflict in the Netherlands. During this fight, Spanish forces defeated the rebel army.

Old Fortifications

To protect the area, two defense structures called the Mookerschans and Heumense schans were built. These were likely created in the 17th century. One of these, the Mookerheideschans, has been restored. It now offers amazing views over the Meuse river valley.

Modern History

More recently, the area played a role in major world events.

World War II Impact

During the Second World War, Mook en Middelaar experienced tough fighting. In May 1940, large bunkers on the other side of the Meuse river stopped enemy forces. The railway bridge between Mook and Katwijk was also destroyed.

In September 1944, Mook, Plasmolen, and Middelaar became a front-line area. This meant there was a lot of fighting, and many houses were damaged. Allied soldiers worked to secure the Heumen bridge, which was important for Operation Market Garden. The fighting was so intense that the village was liberated, then taken back by enemy forces, and then liberated again. Many soldiers who died in this area during the war are buried at the Mook War Cemetery. Most people living in Mook and Middelaar left their homes for safety until the area was fully freed.

The Mookerplassen Lakes

To help the cement industry, sand was dug from fields next to the Meuse river. This digging created the Mookerplassen, which are now popular lakes for recreation. After some floods in the 1980s and 1990s, a special movable lock was built to protect the area from future flooding.

Getting Around

Mook and the surrounding area have good public transport options. There are three bus lines that serve the municipality. It also has its own train station, called Mook-Molenhoek railway station.

Famous People from Mook en Middelaar

Several notable people have come from Mook en Middelaar:

Karel Martens (born 1939) is a graphic designer known for his work with typography (the art of arranging type).
Serge Daan (1940–2018) was a scientist who studied chronobiology, which is about how living things keep track of time.
Arjen Teeuwissen (born 1971) is an equestrian (horse rider) who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
Marko Koers (born 1972) is a retired middle-distance runner. He competed in three Olympic Games starting in 1992.