landmark
Giethoorn
Car-free village known as the 'Dutch Venice' where thatched-roof farmhouses are connected by canals and wooden bridges.
9 km · about 15 min drive
EuropeNetherlandsDrenthe
Meppel
Drenthe, Netherlands · Europe
About Meppel
Meppel is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Ruinerwold, 53km from Houtribdijk.
Meppel is in Drenthe, Netherlands, with about 31,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Ruinerwold, about 5 km away.
Meppel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɛpəl] ; Drents: Möppelt) is a city and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands. It constitutes the southwestern part of the province of Drenthe. Meppel is the smallest municipality in Drenthe, with a total area of about 57 km2 (22 sq mi). As of 1 July 2021, it had a population ofRead more
34,506 with over 30,000 inhabitants within city limits.
While it is a small city, it has a rich trading history. Agriculture and shipbuilding were important sources of income for Meppel. The market also played an important regional role. The city owes its regional tourist appeal to its accessibility via the canals for pleasure boats and its characteristic, densely built-up old town center with its squares.
People born in Meppel are occasionally referred to as Meppeler Muggen in Dutch; this translates as 'mosquitoes from Meppel'. The nickname comes from a traditional folk tale. The people of Meppel thought the church tower was on fire, but after closer inspection, they realised it was only a swarm of mosquitoes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Meppel?
Within an hour or so of Meppel: Giethoorn (9 km), De Librije (21 km), Schokland (29 km), TT Circuit Assen (37 km).
Are there any good drives near Meppel?
The nearest famous roads are Houtribdijk and Afsluitdijk.
Where is Meppel?
Meppel is in Drenthe, Netherlands, about 5 km from Ruinerwold.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 30,697
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Netherlands
- Region
- Drenthe
- Timezone
- Europe/Amsterdam
- Coordinates
- 52.6958, 6.1944
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Netherlands
Watch for cyclists. They generally have priority.
Full driving guide for NetherlandsTags
Worth the detour from Meppel
7 notable places within an hour's drive.
restaurant
De Librije
The Netherlands' only three-Michelin-star restaurant, set in a former prison complex in Zwolle, where the late Jonnie Boer's team under chef Nelson Tanate has held the top rating since 2004.
21 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Schokland
Former Zuiderzee island now stranded in the Noordoostpolder, the Netherlands' first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
29 km · about 35 min drive
racetrack
TT Circuit Assen
The Cathedral of Speed -- the only circuit to have hosted a MotoGP round every year since the championship began in 1949.
37 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Walibi Holland
Dutch thrill park near Amsterdam known for intense roller coasters and a fun Halloween Fright Nights event.
41 km · about 45 min drive
ancient ruins
Hunebedcentrum
Museum in Borger beside D27, the largest of the Netherlands' 5,000-year-old hunebed dolmens: 22-metre granite burial chambers older than Stonehenge, scattered along the Drenthe hondsrug ridge.
48 km · about 55 min drive
famous road
Houtribdijk
A 26 km dike road (N302) running straight across the water between Enkhuizen and Lelystad, splitting the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer with sea views on both sides.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Meppel
- 53 kmHoutribdijkA 26 km dike road (N302) running straight across the water between Enkhuizen and Lelystad, splitting the IJsselmeer from the Markermeer with sea views on both sides.
- 71 kmAfsluitdijkA 32km causeway sealing off the Zuiderzee, this dead-straight engineering marvel is one of Europe's great driving roads.
Driving in Netherlands
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€2.04/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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