Nederweert

Nederweert Ni-jwieërt
Municipality
Saint Lambert church in Nederweert
Flag Coat of arms
Location in Limburg
Coordinates: 51°17′N 5°45′E / 51.283°N 5.750°E / 51.283; 5.750Coordinates: 51°17′N 5°45′E / 51.283°N 5.750°E / 51.283; 5.750
Country	Netherlands
Province	Limburg
Government
• Body	Municipal council
• Mayor	Henk Evers (PvdA)
Area
• Total	101.78 km2 (39.30 sq mi)
• Land	100.23 km2 (38.70 sq mi)
• Water	1.55 km2 (0.60 sq mi)
Elevation	33 m (108 ft)
Population (May 2014)
• Total	16,747
• Density	167/km2 (430/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Nederweerter
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode	6030–6035, 6090–6092
Area code	0495
Website	www.nederweert.nl

Nederweert ( pronunciation ) (Limburgish: Ni-jwieërt) is a municipality and a town in southeastern Netherlands with 16,747 as of 2014 and has an area of 101.78 km² (39.30 sq mi) of which 1.55 km² (0.60 sq mi) is water.

Nederweert lies at the intersection of three channels: the Zuid-Willemsvaart, the Noordervaart and the channel Wessem-Nederweert. In the 19th century these channels provided transport routes to export peat that was harvested from the Peel. These channels connect Nederweert to Maastricht and 's-Hertogenbosch.

Nederweert was originally called 'Merefelt' which means 'amongst the lakes', though it was later named Weert van den nedersten eynde. A 'Weert' in old Dutch means a high place in the landscape. This latter name later changed into Nederweert as it is called today.

Before the 14th century Nederweert was part of the municipality of Weert. The first reference which speaks of Nederweert as independent was in 1419.

Nederweert has been under rule of the Graven van Horn (the dukes of Horn) until 1701. Later in 1715 it became part of the southern states of the Netherlands.

In 1785 it was annexed by the French. During this era it was part of the Belgian departement of the Nedermaas.

The most prominent monument of Nederweert is the Sint-Lambertus Kerk. It is a Brabantine Gothic-style church that was built in 1467.