Simpelveld (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsɪmpəlˌvɛlt] ; Limburgish: Zumpelveld [ˈzʏm˦pəlˌvælt˦]) is a municipality and a town in the southeastern Netherlands. It is part of the municipal cooperative unit Parkstad Limburg.
Simpelveld
Zumpelveld | |
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| |
Coordinates: 50°50′N 5°59′E / 50.833°N 5.983°E | |
Country | Netherlands |
Province | Limburg |
Government | |
• Body | Municipal council |
• Mayor | Richard de Boer (VVD) |
Area | |
• Total | 16.03 km2 (6.19 sq mi) |
• Land | 16.03 km2 (6.19 sq mi) |
• Water | 0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi) |
Elevation | 138 m (453 ft) |
Population (January 2021)[4] | |
• Total | 10,477 |
• Density | 654/km2 (1,690/sq mi) |
Demonym | Simpelvelter |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postcode | 6350–6353, 6369 |
Area code | 045 |
Website | www |
Simpelveld is part of the Mergelland, named after the presence of chalk (mergel), hill country popular with tourists. The Mergellandroute passes through the town.
The population centre of Simpelveld has 28 national monuments, amongst which are the Oude Molen and the Saint Remigius Church. Simpelveld has a heritage railway station and is the home base of the South Limburg Railway Company. On one weekend in October there is a Day Out with Thomas from the children's television series Thomas and Friends.
Besides these official centres there are other hamlets which fall under the municipality:
The municipality has two churches within its borders:
The city also has two monasteries, these are
Simpelveld is part of The Netherlands and therefore the official language is Dutch. A lot of people also speak Simpelvelds, a regional language that depending on the definition belongs to Ripuarian or Limburgish. It is also referred to as Southeast Limburgish.