Geilenkirchen (German pronunciation: [ˈɡaɪlənkɪʁçn̩] , Ripuarian: Jellekerke [ˈjæləˌkæʀ˦(ə)kə]) is a town in the district Heinsberg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated near the border with the Netherlands, on the river Wurm, approx. 15 km (9.3 mi) north-east of Heerlen and 20 km (12.4 mi) north of Aachen.
Geilenkirchen | |
---|---|
Location of Geilenkirchen within Heinsberg district | |
Coordinates: 50°57′55″N 6°07′10″E / 50.96528°N 6.11944°E | |
Country | Germany |
State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
Admin. region | Köln |
District | Heinsberg |
Subdivisions | 13 |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–25) | Daniela Ritzerfeld[1] (Ind.) |
Area | |
• Total | 83 km2 (32 sq mi) |
Elevation | 95 m (312 ft) |
Population (2023-12-31)[2] | |
• Total | 28,399 |
• Density | 340/km2 (890/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Postal codes | 52511 |
Dialling codes | 02451; 02453; 02462 |
Vehicle registration | HS, ERK, GK |
Website | www.geilenkirchen.de |
It was the site of Operation Clipper in November 1944.
The town gives its name to nearby NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. The base is home to seventeen E-3A airborne early warning and control aircraft flown by aircrew from over fourteen nations.
On 24 July 2019 the highest temperature ever recorded in Germany was measured in Geilenkirchen at 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) during a heat wave that affected much of Europe.[3] The record was broken the following day when temperature in Lingen reached 42.6 °C (108.7 °F).[4]
Born in Geilenkirchen
edit- Ludolf Camphausen (1803–1890), banker, Prussian minister president in the revolutionary year 1848
- Otto von Camphausen (1812–1896), Prussian Finance Minister
- Christoph Dohmen (born 1957), professor of the Old Testament at the University of Regensburg
- Hans Meyer (1900–1962), German physician and ministerial official
- Max Wilms (1867–1918), German physician and surgeon
References
edit- ^ Wahlergebnisse in NRW Kommunalwahlen 2020, Land Nordrhein-Westfalen, accessed 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Bevölkerung der Gemeinden Nordrhein-Westfalens am 31. Dezember 2023 – Fortschreibung des Bevölkerungsstandes auf Basis des Zensus vom 9. Mai 2011" (in German). Landesbetrieb Information und Technik NRW. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ Waidner, Jannik. "In Geilenkirchen in NRW: 40,5 Grad – Neuer Hitzerekord in Deutschland". Faz.net – via www.faz.net.
- ^ "Neuer Hitzerekord: 42,6 °C in Lingen (Emsland)!". www.nwzonline.de.