Meerssen | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality and town |
Flag Size: | 100x67px |
Map Alt: | Highlighted position of Meerssen in a municipal map of Limburg |
Coordinates: | 50.8833°N 50°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | Limburg |
Government Footnotes: | [1] |
Governing Body: | Municipal council |
Leader Party: | VVD |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Mirjam Clermonts-Aretz |
Unit Pref: | Metric |
Elevation Footnotes: | [2] |
Elevation M: | 57 |
Population Demonym: | Meerssenaar |
Timezone1: | CET |
Utc Offset1: | +1 |
Timezone1 Dst: | CEST |
Utc Offset1 Dst: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postcode |
Postal Code: | 6230–6243 |
Area Code Type: | Area code |
Area Code: | 043 |
Meerssen (in Dutch; Flemish ˈmeːrsə(n)/; Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Meersje in Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish pronounced as /ˈmeːʀʃə/) is a town and a municipality in southeastern Netherlands.
The Treaty of Meerssen was signed in Meerssen in 870. The Treaty of Meerssen was an agreement of the division of the Carolingian Empire by the surviving sons of Louis I: Charles II of the West Franks and Louis the German of the East Franks.
Around the middle of the 10th century the allodium Meerssen was the property of queen Gerberga, the daughter of king Henry I. She was the spouse of Louis IV of France. In 968 she donated all her property to the abbey of Saint Remigius in Reims.
Railway station: Meerssen
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the Netherlands.
Meerssen is a founding member of the Douzelage, a town twinning association of 24 towns across the European Union. This active town twinning began in 1991 and there are regular events, such as a produce market from each of the other countries and festivals.[3] [4] Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).