Merkelbeek
Merkelbeek | |
|---|---|
Village | |
Sint-Clemenskerk (Merkelbeek) | |
| Coordinates: 50°57′15″N 5°56′15″E / 50.95417°N 5.93750°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Limburg |
| Municipality | Beekdaelen |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.42 km2 (1.32 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 81 m (266 ft) |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 1,615 |
| • Density | 470/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 6447 |
| Dialing code | 045/046 |
Merkelbeek (Limburgish: Merkelbek) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Beekdaelen, about 9 km northwest of Heerlen.
The village was first mentioned in 1283 as Merkelbeke. The etymology is unclear. Merkelbeek started in the Early Middle Ages along a brook and developed into a road village.
The Catholic St Clemens Church is a three-aisled church with built-in tower with needle spire which was built between 1876 and 1878. In 1935, the choir was replaced by a transept and choir in Gothic Revival style.
Merkelbeek was home to 309 people in 1840. It was a separate municipality until 1982, when it became part of Onderbanken. In 2019, it was merged into Beekdaelen.