Meerlo is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Horst aan de Maas.

Meerlo
Village
RK Kerk Sint Johannes de Doper Meerlo
RK Kerk Sint Johannes de Doper Meerlo
Coat of arms of Meerlo
Meerlo is located in Netherlands
Meerlo
Meerlo
Location in the Netherlands
Meerlo is located in Limburg, Netherlands
Meerlo
Meerlo
Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
Coordinates: 51°30′43″N 6°5′8″E / 51.51194°N 6.08556°E / 51.51194; 6.08556
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
MunicipalityHorst aan de Maas
Area
 • Total7.97 km2 (3.08 sq mi)
Elevation16 m (52 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Total1,845
 • Density230/km2 (600/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
5864[1]
Dialing code0478

History

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The village was first mentioned in the 1180s as Mirlare. The village name is a combination of "forest pasture" and swamp.[3] Meerlo developed in the Middle Ages along the Grote Molenbeek. In 1485, it became an independent parish. In 1648, it became part of Spanish Guelders. In 1713, it went to Prussia, and finally in 1815, it became part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.[4]

The Meerlo Castle existed before 1230. It was destroyed in 1580, rebuilt in 1619, and burnt down in 1752. The count of Hatzfeldt ordered rebuilding of the farms on the castle ground which are now known as 't Kasteeltje (little castle).[4]

The Catholic John the Baptist Church is a three-aisled church with the tower at the side. It was built in 1934 and 1935 to replace the church from around 1500. In 1944, the tower was blown up and rebuilt in 1954.[4]

Meerlo was home to 520 people in 1840. It was an independent municipality until 1969. It was the seat of the former municipality Meerlo-Wanssum until 2010 when it was merged into Horst aan de Maas.[5]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021". Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Postcodetool for 5864AA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  3. ^ "Meerlo - (geografische naam)". Etymologiebank (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 April 2022. 1134 reference is a forgery
  4. ^ a b c Sabine Broekhoven, & Ronald Stenvert (2003). Meerlo (in Dutch). Zwolle: Waanders. ISBN 90 400 9623 6. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  5. ^ "Meerlo". Plaatsengids (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 April 2022.