Simpelveld

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
Municipality
Skyline of Simpelveld
Skyline of Simpelveld
Flag of Simpelveld
Flag
Coat of arms of Simpelveld
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Simpelveld in a municipal map of Limburg
Location in Limburg
Coordinates: 50°50′N 5°59′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorRichard de Boer (VVD)
Area
[2]
 • Total16.03 km2 (6.19 sq mi)
 • Land16.03 km2 (6.19 sq mi)
 • Water0.00 km2 (0.00 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
138 m (453 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total10,477
 • Density654/km2 (1,690/sq mi)
DemonymSimpelvelter
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
6350–6353, 6369
Area code045
Websitewww.simpelveld.nl

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.

Population centres
  • Bocholtz
  • Simpelveld

Besides these official centres there are other hamlets which fall under the municipality:

  • Baaks-Sweijer
  • Baneheide
  • Bocholtzerheide
  • Bosschenhuizen
  • Broek
  • Bulkemsbroek
  • In de Gaas
  • Huls
  • Molsberg
  • Prickart
  • Vlengendaal
  • Waalbroek
  • Zandberg.
Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Simpelveld, June 2015

Religion

The municipality has two churches within its borders:

  • James the Greater Church in Bocholtz
  • Saint Remigius Church in Simpelveld

The city also has two monasteries, these are

  • the Loreto monastery and
  • Huize Damiaan, which has been home to The International Butler Academy since 2015.

Regional language

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.

Notable people
  • Step Vaessen (born 1965) a Dutch broadcast journalist, currently working as a Moscow correspondent for Al Jazeera English
  • Ralph Hamers (born 1966) a Dutch businessman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of UBS Group
  • Jolanda Jetten (born 1970, Simpelveld) a Dutch social psychologist and academic

See also
  • List of mayors of Simpelveld
  • Saint Remigius Church
    Saint Remigius Church
  • Station Simpelveld
    Station Simpelveld
  • Limburgs, De Boanhei
    Limburgs, De Boanhei
  • Aerial view of Simpelveld
    Aerial view of Simpelveld

References
  1. "Burgemeester mr. R. (Richard) de Boer" [Mayor mr. R. (Richard) de Boer] (in Dutch). Gemeente Simpelveld. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. "Postcodetool for 6369AH". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Simpelveld.
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