Meerkerk
title: "Meerkerk" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["former-municipalities-of-south-holland", "populated-places-in-utrecht-(province)", "vijfheerenlanden"] topic_path: "general/former-municipalities-of-south-holland" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkerk" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Meerkerk |
| settlement_type | Village |
| other_name | |
| native_name | |
| native_name_lang | nl |
| image_skyline | File:Nieuwe uitbouw aan Hervormde Kerk Meerkerk.jpg |
| image_caption | Protestant Church with extension |
| image_map | LocatieZederik.png |
| image_map1 | Map NL - Zederik - Meerkerk.png |
| map_caption1 | The town centre (dark green) and the statistical district (light green) of Meerkerk in the former municipality of Zederik. |
| pushpin_map | Netherlands Utrecht#Netherlands |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in the Netherlands |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Netherlands |
| subdivision_type1 | Province |
| subdivision_name1 | Utrecht |
| subdivision_type2 | Municipality |
| subdivision_name2 | Vijfheerenlanden |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| elevation_m | -0.5 |
| area_footnotes | |
| area_total_km2 | 15.27 |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 3,860 |
| population_as_of | 2021 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| timezone | CET |
| utc_offset | +1 |
| timezone_DST | CEST |
| utc_offset_DST | +2 |
| postal_code_type | Postal code |
| postal_code | 4231 |
| area_code_type | Dialing code |
| area_code | 0183 |
| coordinates | |
| :: |
| name = Meerkerk | settlement_type = Village | other_name = | native_name = | native_name_lang = nl | image_skyline = File:Nieuwe uitbouw aan Hervormde Kerk Meerkerk.jpg | image_alt = | image_caption = Protestant Church with extension | image_flag = | image_shield = | nickname = | motto = |image_map = LocatieZederik.png |image_map1 = Map NL - Zederik - Meerkerk.png |map_caption1 = The town centre (dark green) and the statistical district (light green) of Meerkerk in the former municipality of Zederik.
| pushpin_map = Netherlands Utrecht#Netherlands | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Netherlands | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Utrecht | subdivision_type2 = Municipality | subdivision_name2 = Vijfheerenlanden | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_party = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = -0.5 | elevation_min_m = | elevation_max_m = | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 15.27 | established_title = | established_date = | population_footnotes = | population_total = 3,860 | population_as_of = 2021 | population_demonym = | population_note = | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = CET | utc_offset = +1 | timezone_DST = CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 4231 | area_code_type = Dialing code | area_code = 0183 | website = | footnotes = | coordinates =
Meerkerk is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the municipality of Vijfheerenlanden, and lies about 9 km north of Gorinchem.
In 2001, the village of Meerkerk had 2281 inhabitants. The built-up area of the village was 0.71 km², and contained 818 residences. The statistical area "Meerkerk", which also can include the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 2310.
History
Not much is known of Meerkerk's early history. According to municipal sources, the town was first mentioned in a clerical document, written in 1266 or 1267AD. The origins of the name 'Meerkerk' (Literally translated: 'Lakechurch') are unclear, though it is probable it derived from 'De Kerk bij het Meer', meaning 'The Church by the Lake', referring to several small strips of land called 'Het Meer' (The Lake).
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Meerkerk_1866.png" caption="Meerkerk in 1866."] ::
In the early centuries of its existence the village played an important role in regional traffic, due to its favourable location by the river Viaanse Vaart. During the French occupation of the Netherlands in the early 19th century Napoleon Bonaparte ordered the construction of a major road connection between Paris and Amsterdam, passing through Meerkerk as well. According to local legend, the emperor himself once spent some time in Meerkerk during an official visit to the Netherlands. The main road was made by the army of Napoleon, and it was the first road of stone in the region.
Meerkerk was a separate municipality in the province of South Holland until 1986, when it became part of Zederik. When Zederik merged into the new municipality Vijfheerenlanden in 2019, it became a part of the province of Utrecht.
Since 1886 the Zederik Channel passes the town, maintaining Meerkerk's importance to regional traffic. By the end World War II the municipality expanded its borders, giving the population a chance to increase to some 2500 souls.
Gallery
File:Meerkerk - Voormalig postkantoor.JPG|Former post office File:Gorinchemsestraat 21 - Meerkerk (1).jpg|House in Meerkerk File:De haven van Meerkerk aan het Merwedekanaal (01).JPG|Harbour File:De zeer landelijke weg Noordseweg.jpg|Country road
References
References
- "Postcodetool for 4231AA". Het Waterschapshuis.
- "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021".
- Statistics Netherlands (CBS), [http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/themas/milieu-natuur-ruimte/ruimte/publicaties/cartografie-geografie/geografische-data/2001-bevolkingskernen-in-nederland.htm ''Bevolkingskernen in Nederland 2001''] {{webarchive. link. (March 19, 2006 . (Statistics are for the continuous built-up area).)
- Statistics Netherlands (CBS), [http://statline.cbs.nl/ ''Statline: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2003-2005''] {{webarchive. link. (1999-04-27 . As of 1 January 2005.)
- "KNAW > Publicaties > Detailpagina".
- "Fusiegemeente Vijfheerenlanden in provincie Utrecht".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::