Molenwaard

Molenwaard
Former municipality
A view of Kinderdijk at sunrise
A view of Kinderdijk at sunrise
Flag of Molenwaard
Flag
Coat of arms of Molenwaard
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Molenwaard in a municipal map of South Holland
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 51°52′N 4°47′E / 51.867°N 4.783°E / 51.867; 4.783
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
MunicipalityMolenlanden
Established1 January 2013[1]
Merged1 January 2019
Area
[2]
 • Total
126.47 km2 (48.83 sq mi)
 • Land118.29 km2 (45.67 sq mi)
 • Water8.18 km2 (3.16 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
−1 m (−3 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total
data missing
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
2957–2977
Area code0184
Websitewww.gemeentemolenwaard.nl
View of Brandwijk
Windmills near Kinderdijk
Polder and cycling-bridge near Streefkerk

Molenwaard[a] (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmoːlə(ɱ)ˌʋaːrt]) is a former municipality in the western Netherlands, in the southeastern part of the province of South Holland, and the northwestern part of the region of Alblasserwaard. It was the result of a merger of the municipalities of Graafstroom, Liesveld, and Nieuw-Lekkerland on 1 January 2013. On 1 January 2019 it merged with Giessenlanden, together they form the new municipality of Molenlanden.[5] Molenwaard had about 29,000 inhabitants and an area of about 126 km2 (49 sq mi). The largest settlements are Bleskensgraaf, Groot-Ammers, and Nieuw-Lekkerland.

Molenwaard is a landscape of polders, consisting of large pastures traversed by ditches and canals, like the Groote- of Achterwaterschap, and the Ammersche Boezem. In the outermost northwest are the windmills of Kinderdijk. About 1.5 m below sea level, the municipality is bordered by the Lek river in the north and briefly the Noord river in the west. The Graafstroom and the Alblas flow through it.

Religiously, the municipality is part of the Bible Belt, resulting in the dominance of the Christian parties in politics.

Localities

Molenwaard consists of the following settlements:

Topography


Map of the municipality of Molenwaard, June 2015

Politics

Elections were held on 21 November 2012 for the first council of the new municipality of Molenwaard, which took office on 2 January 2013. The 21 seats divided as follows:[6]

Municipal council seats
Party 2013
Reformed Political Party (SGP) 5
Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) 5
ChristianUnion (CU) 4
Labour Party (PvdA) 3
Gemeentebelangen Molenwaard 2
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) 2
Total 21

There was an election in November 2018 for the new merged Molenlanden municipality that commenced work on 1 January 2019, replacing Molenwaard council.[7]

Notable people

Els Veder-Smit, 1978
Corien Wortmann, 2011

Notes

  1. ^ Derived from molen ('mill') and waard ('flat riverland'). A large number of windmills are built in the territory.

References

  1. ^ "Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2013" [Municipal divisions on 1 January 2013]. cbs.nl (in Dutch). CBS. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 2971VR". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Herindeling Molenwaard-Giessenlanden". Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  6. ^ "Molenwaard municipal election 2022". www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl (in Dutch). 21 November 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Molenlanden municipal election 2018". www.verkiezingsuitslagen.nl (in Dutch). 21 November 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
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