Meerssen

Meerssen Meersje
—  Municipality  —
Castle Geulle
Flag Coat of arms
Coordinates: 50°53′N 5°45′E / 50.883°N 5.75°E / 50.883; 5.75
Country	Netherlands
Province	Limburg
Area(2006)
- Total	27.71 km2 (10.7 sq mi)
- Land	27.15 km2 (10.5 sq mi)
- Water	0.55 km2 (0.2 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2007)
- Total	19,733
- Density	727/km2 (1,882.9/sq mi)
	Source: CBS, Statline.
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)

Coordinates: 50°53′N 5°45′E / 50.883°N 5.75°E / 50.883; 5.75

Meerssen ( pronunciation (help·info)) (Limburgish: Meersje) is a place and a municipality in southeastern Netherlands.

History

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 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.

Population centres

• Bunde
• Geulle
• Meerssen
• Rothem
• Ulestraten

Transportation

Railway station: Meerssen

Historical fact

In 870 the treaty of Meerssen was signed here.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in The Netherlands

Twin towns - Sister cities

Meerssen is a founding member of the Douzelage, a unique 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.^[1][2] Discussions regarding membership are also in hand with three further towns (Agros in Cyprus, Škofja Loka in Slovenia, and Tryavna in Bulgaria).

Altea, Spain - 1991

Bad Kötzting, Germany - 1991

Bellagio, Italy - 1991

Bundoran, Ireland - 1991

Granville, France - 1991

Holstebro, Denmark - 1991

Houffalize, Belgium - 1991

Meerssen, the Netherlands - 1991

Niederanven, Luxembourg - 1991

Preveza, Greece - 1991

Sesimbra, Portugal - 1991

Sherborne, United Kingdom - 1991

Karkkila, Finland - 1997

Oxelösund, Sweden - 1998

Judenburg, Austria - 1999

Chojna, Poland - 2004

Kőszeg, Hungary - 2004

Sigulda, Latvia - 2004

Sušice, Czech Republic - 2004

Türi, Estonia - 2004

Zvolen, Slovakia - 2007

Prienai, Lithuania - 2008

Marsaskala, Malta - 2009

Siret, Romania - 2010

External links

Media related to Meerssen at Wikimedia Commons

• Official Website
• Website Bunde en Geulle

References

Notes

1. ^ "Douzelage.org: Home". www.douzelage.org. http://www.douzelage.org/. Retrieved 2009-10-21. 
2. ^ "Douzelage.org: Member Towns". www.douzelage.org. http://www.douzelage.org/index.php?id=15. Retrieved 2009-10-21.