Nederlek
Encyclopedia
Nederlek is a municipality in the western Netherlands
, in the province of South Holland
. The municipality had a population of 14,831 in 2004, and covers an area of 31.44 km² (of which 3.60 km² is covered by water). It was formed on January 1, 1985, by the amalgamation of the municipalities Krimpen aan de Lek
and Lekkerkerk
. Its name means "Lower Lek", a reference to its location on the Lek River
.
There is no town called Nederlek but the municipality consists of the population centres Krimpen aan de Lek
and Lekkerkerk
. The last town gained notoriety in 1980 when a large amount of toxic waste
was found underneath a residential area built in the 1970s. The cost of cleaning up the mess ran up to 188 million guilder
s (approximately 90 million US dollars).
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in the province of South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
. The municipality had a population of 14,831 in 2004, and covers an area of 31.44 km² (of which 3.60 km² is covered by water). It was formed on January 1, 1985, by the amalgamation of the municipalities Krimpen aan de Lek
Krimpen aan de Lek
Krimpen aan de Lek is a town on the Lek River in the municipality Nederlek, province South Holland, the Netherlands. It has 6607 inhabitants in 2008.The name Krimpen comes from the archaic word "Krempener", meaning "river crossing"...
and Lekkerkerk
Lekkerkerk
Lekkerkerk is a town and former municipality on the Lek River, now part of the municipality Nederlek, South Holland province, the Netherlands. Since 1 January 1985 Lekkerkerk is no longer is an independent municipality....
. Its name means "Lower Lek", a reference to its location on the Lek River
Lek River
The Lek is a river in the western Netherlands of some 60 km in length. It is the continuation of the Nederrijn after the Kromme Rijn branches off at the town of Wijk bij Duurstede. The main westbound waterway is hereafter called the Lek River...
.
There is no town called Nederlek but the municipality consists of the population centres Krimpen aan de Lek
Krimpen aan de Lek
Krimpen aan de Lek is a town on the Lek River in the municipality Nederlek, province South Holland, the Netherlands. It has 6607 inhabitants in 2008.The name Krimpen comes from the archaic word "Krempener", meaning "river crossing"...
and Lekkerkerk
Lekkerkerk
Lekkerkerk is a town and former municipality on the Lek River, now part of the municipality Nederlek, South Holland province, the Netherlands. Since 1 January 1985 Lekkerkerk is no longer is an independent municipality....
. The last town gained notoriety in 1980 when a large amount of toxic waste
Toxic waste
Toxic waste is waste material that can cause death or injury to living creatures. It spreads quite easily and can contaminate lakes and rivers. The term is often used interchangeably with “hazardous waste”, or discarded material that can pose a long-term risk to health or environment.Toxic waste...
was found underneath a residential area built in the 1970s. The cost of cleaning up the mess ran up to 188 million guilder
Guilder
Guilder is the English translation of the Dutch gulden — from Old Dutch for 'golden'. The guilder originated as a gold coin but has been a common name for a silver or base metal coin for some centuries...
s (approximately 90 million US dollars).