Gulpen Explained

Official Name:Gulpen
Native Name:Gulpe
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Netherlands#Netherlands Limburg
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the Netherlands##Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Netherlands
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1: Limburg
Subdivision Type2:Municipality
Subdivision Name2:Gulpen-Wittem
Elevation Footnotes:[1]
Elevation M:94
Area Total Km2:20.75
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:4,685
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:6271
Area Code Type:Dialing code
Area Code:043
Coordinates:50.8167°N 59°W

Gulpen (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈɣʏlpə(n)/; Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Gullepe in Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish pronounced as /ˈɣʏləpə/) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is approximately midway between the Dutch city of Maastricht and the German city of Aachen.

Gulpen was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Wittem. The newly formed municipality is called Gulpen-Wittem.

The village itself derives its name from the river Gulp, which runs straight through the centre of the village and characterises the townscape.

There is a Romanesque tower in the old cemetery, which dates from the 11th Century and is the only still existing part of a mediaeval village church. Considering its construction (its walls are up to 2 metres thick) and its location, it probably also served as defence tower, where the local villagers could go in case of danger.The former rectory, which leans against the tower, dates from 1732. It is now being let as luxurious group accommodation.

The current Neo-Romanesque St.Petrus church dates from 1924 and was designed by Casper Franssen.

A former monastery that was built in 1932 after a design by Alphons Boosten is being used as town hall.

The village is home to the Gulpener Brewery.

Every year in June, a walking tour of 70 kilometres is organised that is called the Nacht van Gulpen (Night of Gulpen). A little over a thousand people participate in this event each year.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Postcodetool for 6271AA . nl . Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland . Het Waterschapshuis . 24 April 2022 .
  2. Web site: Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 . Central Bureau of Statistics . 24 April 2022.