Erkelenz, Municipality in Heinsberg district, Germany
Erkelenz is a medium-sized town in Heinsberg district, located on the western edge of the North Rhine-Westphalian lowland plain. The municipal area covers flat terrain between the Meuse and Lower Rhine and includes several dozen settlements.
The settlement received town rights from Count Reginald II of Guelders in 1326 and belonged to the duchy until the 18th century. The Second World War destroyed large parts of the old town, which was rebuilt afterwards.
The name comes from early medieval times and refers to a place with alder trees near a natural hollow. Today a fountain stands in the market square with a medlar tree, the fruit of which appears in the coat of arms.
The town center offers several schools, medical facilities and shops for everyday needs. Many paths in the center are flat and easy to walk, while the surrounding villages are easier to reach by car.
From 2006 onward several villages were relocated due to the expansion of the Garzweiler II open-pit mine. Residents received new homes at different locations within the municipality.
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