Meerkerk

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). 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.

Most-observed species

• Eurasian Blackbird

  Turdus merula Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  29,863
• Eurasian Coot

  Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  29,177
• Common Chiffchaff

  Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  27,960
• muskrat

  Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Mammalia
  27,304
• Great Tit

  Parus major Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  26,277
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  26,050
• Gray/Purple Heron

  Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  25,277
• Common Wood-Pigeon

  Columba palumbus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  24,733

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2018-05-25
  1 km S of Reppel, Belgium
• M 4.2 — 2011-09-08
  3 km ENE of Heijen, Netherlands
• M 2.9 — 2008-10-11
  19 km WNW of Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands
• M 2.8 — 2002-10-21
  2 km ENE of Tongerlo, Belgium
• M 2.9 — 2001-09-25
  1 km NE of Oirlo, Netherlands