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West Maas en Waal facts for kids

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West Maas en Waal
Church in Boven-Leeuwen
Church in Boven-Leeuwen
Flag of West Maas en Waal
Flag
Coat of arms of West Maas en Waal
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of West Maas en Waal in a municipal map of Gelderland
Location in Gelderland
Country Netherlands
Province Gelderland
Established 1984
Government
 • Body Municipal council
Area
 • Total 85.21 km2 (32.90 sq mi)
 • Land 77.40 km2 (29.88 sq mi)
 • Water 7.81 km2 (3.02 sq mi)
Elevation
7 m (23 ft)
Population
 (May 2014)
 • Total 18,449
 • Density 238/km2 (620/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
6620–6621, 6626–6629, 6657–6659
Area code 0487

West Maas en Waal is a special area in the Netherlands. It is called a municipality. This means it has its own local government. It is located in the Gelderland province.

This municipality is in the western part of a land area called the Land van Maas en Waal. This area is like an island. It sits between two important rivers: the Meuse and the Waal.

Towns and Villages

West Maas en Waal is made up of several smaller towns and villages. These are the places where people live and work.

  • Alphen aan de Maas
  • Altforst
  • Appeltern
  • Beneden-Leeuwen
  • Boven-Leeuwen
  • Dreumel
  • Maasbommel
  • Moordhuizen
  • Wamel

Understanding the Area

2013-WestMaasenWaal
Dutch Topographic map of the municipality of West Maas en Waal, 2013.

This map shows the different parts of West Maas en Waal. It helps us see where the towns are. It also shows the rivers that surround the area. Maps like this are called topographic maps. They show the shape and features of the land.

Who Lives Here?

The people living in West Maas en Waal come from different backgrounds. Most residents are Dutch. There are also people from other parts of Europe. A smaller number of people are from other places around the world.

Famous People from West Maas en Waal

Many interesting people have come from this municipality. They have made a name for themselves in different fields.

  • Samuel Story (1752–1811) was born in Maasbommel. He became a vice admiral in the Batavian Republic Navy. This was a navy from a time when the Netherlands was called the Batavian Republic.
  • Jona Lendering (born 1964) is from Beneden-Leeuwen. He is a historian. This means he studies and writes about the past. He has written books about ancient times and Dutch history.
  • Marco Pastors (born 1965) also grew up in Beneden-Leeuwen. He worked as a civil servant. He was also a politician for some time.
  • Iris van Herpen (born 1984) was born in Wamel. She is a very creative fashion designer. She is known for mixing new technology with traditional fashion design. Her work is often seen as art.

Sports Stars

West Maas en Waal has also produced some talented athletes.

  • Jan van Deinsen (born 1953) was a professional football player. He played in many games during his career.
  • Ivo den Bieman (born 1967) is from Wamel. He was also a football player. He played most of his career in Scotland.
  • Arno van Zwam (born 1969) was born in Beneden-Leeuwen. He was a football goalkeeper. He played in over 300 games.

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: West Maas en Waal para niños

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