| Geldrop, Netherlands | |
| Settlement Type: | Town and former municipality |
| Native Name Lang: | nl |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands North Brabant#Netherlands |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the province of North Brabant in the Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | North Brabant |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Geldrop-Mierlo |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 21 |
| Area Total Km2: | 13.36 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 29,245 |
| Population As Of: | 2023 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 5660-5667 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 040 |
| Coordinates: | 51.4222°N 5.5578°W |
Geldrop is a town in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is in the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo, around 5km east of Eindhoven's city centre. Geldrop was a separate municipality until 2004, when it merged with Mierlo.
As of 2023, Geldrop has a population of approximately 29.245 residents.[3]
Geldrop is noted for having a neighbourhood with streets named after characters and elements from the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.[4] [5] [6]
Geldrop is situated near the city of Eindhoven, making it part of the Eindhoven metropolitan area. The village is characterized by its picturesque settings, surrounded by natural landscapes including forests and meadows which are part of the larger Strabrechtse Heide, an extensive heathland area.
The A67 motorway (part of European route E34) links Geldrop with Eindhoven.
Geldrop railway station is on the Eindhoven–Weert line.
Geldrop has proven a fertile ground for archaeological digs, with finds from various historical and prehistorical eras. Through the years, several archaeological finds were made which testify to prehistoric occupants.
Finds in the south of Zesgehuchten (a district of Geldrop) indicate small settlements from the New Stone Age (about 3000 BC).
Finds from the Roman Period and the early Middle Ages have been found off Genoenhuis and Hoog Geldrop (districts in Geldrop). In the autumn of 1989, archaeological diggings at the nearby 't Zand Cemetery found four settlements from the late Roman Period and the Middle Ages: a period which covers the years between 350 and 1225 AD.
The history of Geldrop itself dates back to the Middle Ages, and it was first mentioned in historical records in 1296. Over the centuries, it developed from a small agricultural community into a more industrially oriented village by the 19th century, with textiles becoming a significant industry.
While historically reliant on the textile industry, modern Geldrop has diversified its economy. Today, it hosts a variety of businesses and services, with significant contributions from the healthcare, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Geldrop benefits economically from its close proximity to the technological and industrial hub of Eindhoven.