Kessel

Derived from Latin castellum (“fortress”) with early Germanisation (showing the effects of umlaut and with stress shifted to the first syllable). Doublet of kasteel, Castilië, chateau, castellum, telo, and ketella.
* (Limburg): Attested with certainty as cassele in 1107.
* (Noord-Brabant): Attested with certainty as casella in 997.

doublet

A town and former municipality of Limburg, Netherlands


Spa

A town and municipality in the province of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, famous for its springs


Blankenberge

Meronym: Uitkerke

A municipality and town on the coast of Belgium


Methoni

Methoni (a town in Messinia prefecture, in southwestern Greece)

Methoni (a town in Pieria prefecture, in north-central Greece)


Duinkerke

From duin (“dune”) + kerke (“church”, variant of kerk).

com

variant of <i class="Latn mention" lang="nl">kerk</i>

Dunkirk (a town in the Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France)


Zeist

First attested as seist in 838. From Middle Dutch seist, of unknown etymology. One proposal derives the toponym from Proto-Indo-European *sagis (a plant species) suffixed with the collectivising suffix -t.
Compare Zeegse, Zeesse, Zeijen, Ziek, Seeste and Segeste.

unk

unknown

cog

Meronyms: Austerlitz, Bosch en Duin, Den Dolder, Huis ter Heide

A town and municipality of Utrecht, Netherlands


Srebrenica

Nederlandse troepen hadden in het kader van de Verenigde Naties in een aantal gebieden rond de stad Srebrenica de veiligheid van de (overwegend uit moslims bestaande) bevolkering tijdens de Bosnische burgeroorlog moeten waarborgen, maar zij hadden in 1995 niet weten te verhinderen dat duizenden moslims door (christelijke) Servische Bosniërs werden vermoord. […] Kok wilde met zijn aftreden 'op een zichtbare manier verantwoordelijkheid nemen tegenover de slachtoffers en nabestaanden van Srebrenica'.

2006, Parlement en kiezer: jaarboek zittingsjaar, G. G. J. Thissen, →ISBN, page 213:

In a number of areas around the town of Srebrenica, Dutch troops under a United Nations framework were supposed to ensure the safety of the population (consisting predominantly of Muslims) during the Bosnian civil war, but in 1995 they were not able to prevent thousands of Muslims being murdered by (Christian) Serbian Bosnians. […] Kok wanted, by his resignation, to "in a visible way take responsibility towards the victims and survivors of Srebrenica".

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina#English

Srebrenica (a town in Bosnia and Herzegovina)


Duffel

From Middle Dutch 1059 Duffla, from Latin dubro + locus (“place”), from Gaulish dubrum, from Proto-Celtic *dubros (“water”).

Meronyms: Itterbeek, Mijlstraat


Best

First attested as est in 1307. Etymology unknown. One proposal links the toponym to bast (“bark, rind”) with collectivising suffix -t, but it is impossible to conclusively prove or disprove this hypothetical etymology.

unk

unknown

Meronyms: Aarle, Batadorp, Vleut

A town and municipality of North Brabant, Netherlands


Veghel

First attested as in vehchele in the first quarter of the 13th century. Potentially derived from dialectal vechel (“layer of gravel just below and on the surface of the soil”). Earlier etymologies proposed derivations from a compound of Middle Dutch vigge (“young pig”) or a term derived from Proto-Germanic *fehu (“cattle”) and lo (“light forest”).

A town and former municipality of Meierijstad, North Brabant, Netherlands


Noord

* (Aruba) Derived from noord (“north”). The settlement was named for its location near the northern tip of the island.
* (Netherlands) First attested as Het Noord in 1838-1857. Derived from noord (“north”).


Montfort

First attested as Montem circumfossatum qui Miemekar nuncupator in 1258. Derived from Latin mons (“mountain, hill”) and fortis (“strong, fortified”). Compare Hardenberg, Montfoort, Sterkenburg and Stoutenburg.
See also Limburgish Mofert.

A town and former municipality of Roerdalen, Limburg, Netherlands


Soest

First attested as soys and zoys in 1028. Etymology uncertain. One hypothesis proposes a derivation from a hydronym cognate to suizen (“swish, murmer”).

Meronyms: De Birkt, Hees, Melm, Pijnenburg, Soestdijk, Soestduinen, Soesterberg, Wieksloot

A town and municipality of Utrecht, the Netherlands


Hoogeveen

/ˌɦoː.ɣəˈveːn/

/ˈɦoː.ɣəˌveːn/

* (Drenthe) Attested as Nie Echten in 1634. Univerbation of hoog + veen. The settlement was initially called Nieuw Echten ("New Echten"). See also Dutch Low Saxon 't Ogeveine, 't Oveine, 't Hogeveine.
* (Zuid-Holland) Compound of hoog (“high, elevated”) and veen (“peat bog, marsh”). Formerly an independent hamlet.

Meronyms: Elim, Fluitenberg, Hollandscheveld, Nieuweroord, Nieuwlande, Nieuw Moscou, Nijstad, Noordscheschut, Pesse, Stuifzand, Tiendeveen

Hoogeveen (a town and municipality of Drenthe, Netherlands)


Uden

First attested as uthen in 1190. Etymology unknown. No relationship with Proto-Indo-European *ud- (“water, marsh”).
The surname derives from the toponym.

unknown

cog

A town and former municipality of Maashorst, North Brabant, Netherlands


Ridderkerk

First attested as riderkerke in 1280-1287. Compound of the toponym Riede (likely derived from the dative singular form of Old Dutch riet (“reed”)) and Middle Dutch kerke (“church”). The first element was gradually reinterpreted to ridder (“knight”).

Meronyms: Bolnes, Oostendam, Oude-Molen, Rijsoord, Slikkerveer, Strevelshoek, Wevershoek, Zwaantje, Zwet

A town and municipality of South Holland, Netherlands


Deurne

* (Noord-Brabant) First attested as durninum in 721. Derived from Proto-Germanic *þurnu- (“thorn, thorn bush”).

inh

Meronyms: Baarschot, Belgeren, Bleijs, Breemortel, Derp, De Voorstad, Donschot, Groote Bottel, Groot Bruggen, Haageind, Halte, Hanenberg, Heieind, Heimolen, Heitrak, Helenaveen, Kerkeind, Klein Bruggen, Kleine Bottel, Kranenmortel, Kulert, Leensel, Liessel, Merlenberg, Molenhof, Neerkant, Pannenschop, Ruth, Schans, Schelm, Sloot, Veldheuvel, Vlierden, Vloeieind, Voorste Beersdonk, Voort, Vreewijk, Walsberg, Zand


Waver

The hamlet in the Netherlands is first attested as wauere in 1217. The toponym is derived from the name of a forest, which derives in turn from a term cognate to German wabern (“undulate, waft”) and English waver. Compare Weiver, Waver, Waverley, Waverton and Wavertree.


Stadskanaal

First attested as Nieuw-Stads-Kanaal in 1858. Compound of stad + -s- + kanaal. The city in question is Groningen.
See also Dutch Low Saxon Knoal.

Meronyms: Alteveer, Barlage, Blekslage, Braamberg, Ceresdorp, Höchte, Höfte, Holte, Horsten, Kopstukken, Mussel, Musselkanaal, Onstwedde, Oomsberg, Smeerling, Sterenborg, Tange, Ter Maarsch, Ter Wupping, Veenhuizen, Vledderhuizen, Vledderveen, Vosseberg, Wessinghuizen

A town and municipality of Groningen, Netherlands


Joure

First attested as jeure in the 13th century. Etymology unknown. Potentially derived from the ancient hydronym *Gebharô or (less probably) from West Frisian hjouwer (“oat, Avena sativa”). Compare Hiaure, De Joere and De Jouwer. See also West Frisian De Jouwer.

unk

unknown

cog

De Fryske Marren
De Fryske Marren#English

A town and former municipality of De Fryske Marren, Friesland, Netherlands


Drachten

First attested as nortdracht and suutdracht in 1444. Derived from the hydronym Dracht, derived in turn from Old Frisian draga (“flow, pull”).

A town and former municipality of Smallingerland, Friesland, Netherlands


Venray

First attested as de rode in 1220. Compound of ven (“pool in a forest or heath”) and rode (“land cleared of trees”).

Meronyms: Beek, Blitterswijck, Boddenbroek, Boshuizen, Castenray, Daland, Endepoel, Geijsteren, Haag, Heide, Helling, Hoogriebroek, Kleindorp, Klein Oirlo, Laagriebroek, Leunen, Loobeek, Merselo, Molenhoek, Oirlo, Oostrum, Overbroek, Scheide, Schoor, Smakt, Veulen, Vredepeel, Wanssum, Weverslo, Ysselsteyn, Zandhoek

A town and municipality of Limburg, Netherlands


IJmuiden

First attested as IJmuiden in 1848. Compound of IJ (a hydronym) + muide (“mouth (of a river)”); the -n is following toponyms such as Muiden, where it indicates an old dative plural. The name was coined by lawyer and journalist Simon Vissering.

compound

A town in Velsen, North Holland, Netherlands


Leidschendam

First attested as den damme ofte overtocht in 1486. Univerbation of Leiden + dam.

A town and former municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg, South Holland, Netherlands, to the north of Voorburg and The Hague


Vught

First attested as fughte in 1028. Derived from Middle Dutch vucht (“humid area, wetland”), from Old Dutch fughte, from Proto-West Germanic *fų̄ht.

inh

Meronyms: Bergenshuizen, Cromvoirt, Distelberg, Gijzel, Helvoirt, Laar, Loveren, Molenstraat


Voorburg

* (Zuid-Holland) First attested as foreburg in 918-948. Compound of the hydronym Fore and Old Dutch burg (“fortified settlement, castle”). Compare Veur and Voorschoten.
* (Noord-Brabant)

A town and former municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg, South Holland, Netherlands, to the north of The Hague


Rijswijk

* (Zuid-Holland) First attested as riiswiicaround the end of the 11th century. Compound of Old Dutch ris (“twig, branches, brushwood”) (potentially referring to interwoven fencing) and wic (“farm, settlement, village”).
* (Noord-Brabant) Potentially attested as riswic in 1076-1081, attested with certainty as riseuuihc in the first quarter of the 13th century. Compound of Old Dutch ris (“twig, branches, brushwood”) (potentially referring to interwoven fencing) and wic (“farm, settlement, village”).
* (Gelderland) First attested as risuuic in 918-948. Compound of Old Dutch ris (“twig, branches, brushwood”) (potentially referring to interwoven fencing) and wic (“farm, settlement, village”).

Meronyms: Sion, 't Haantje

A town and municipality of South Holland, Netherlands, to the south of The Hague


Nijverdal

First attested as Nijverdal in 1836. Compound of nijver (“industriousness, industry”) + dal (“valley, dale”). Originally founded by the Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij to house factory workers. The toponym was coined by the then-mayor of Hellendoorn, who was asked to hold a speech at the opening of a textile mill in the new town.

compound

A town in Hellendoorn, Overijssel, Netherlands


Spijkenisse

First attested as spiiknesse in 1235. Tautological compound of Middle Dutch spic (“headland, spit”) and nisse (“headland, spit”). Compare Staverden, Stavenisse, Stavoren and Stavern.

A town and former municipality of Nissewaard, South Holland, Netherlands


Nieuwegein

Univerbation of nieuwe + Gein, named after the historic settlement Middle Dutch Gein or Geyne.

A town and municipality of Utrecht, Netherlands


Heerhugowaard

First attested as die waerd in 1319. Compound of heer (“lord”), Hugo (a personal name) and Middle Dutch waert (“land next to water, riverine island, polder complex surrounded by water”). Named after Lord Hugo of Assendelft (d. 1296), the creator of the polder complex the town stands on.

inh

A town and former municipality of Dijk en Waard, North Holland, Netherlands


Veenendaal

First attested as veenlo and vendel in the 16th century. Compound of veen (“peat bog, marsh”) and dal (“dale, valley”).

Meronym: Benedeneind


Leusden

First attested as lisiduna in 777. Etymology uncertain. One hypothesis proposes a derivation from Proto-Germanic *lis (“furrow”) suffixed with the collectivising suffix *-iþi; this etymology, however, runs into phonological difficulties. Compare Huisduinen, Leesten, Lieshout, Lisse, Loosduinen, Lesdain and Lesdins.

Meronyms: Achterveld, Asschat, Bavoort, Den Treek, De Ruif, Jannendorp, Leusden-Zuid, Moorst, Musschendorp, Oud-Leusden, Snorrenhoef, Stoutenburg, Waterloo


Nieuwstadt

First attested as Novo Opido in 1242. Calque of Latin novum (“new”) and oppidum (“fortified city”).
See also Limburgish De Nuujsjtad.

A town and former municipality of Echt-Susteren, Limburg, Netherlands


Echt

First attested as Eitha around 1050. Derived from Middle Dutch echt (“property”) (compare achte), used here in a special sense to refer to a forest reserved for the exclusive use of the feudal lord who owned it. Compare Acht, Achterveld and Achtmaal.
See also Limburgish Ech.


Susteren

First attested as svestra in 714. Derived from a hydronym of pre-Germanic (possibly Celtic) origin. Potentially linked to Proto-Indo-European *seu- (“moist”) suffixed with -str.
See also Limburgish Zöstere.


Wessem

First attested as wisheim in 965. Compound of Old Dutch wes (“good”) and heem (“home, settlement”). The first element is not west (“west, western”).
See also Limburgish Wèssem.

A town and former municipality of Maasgouw, Limburg, Netherlands


Geleen

Potentially attested as glene around 1148, attested with certainty as glene in 1201. Derived from the hydronym *Glani ("the shining one"). It is unclear whether the hydronym is of Celtic, Germanic, or Old European origin. Compare Glane.
See also Limburgish Gelaen.

A town and former municipality of Sittard-Geleen, Limburg, Netherlands


Waddinxveen

First attested as waddinxuene in 1233. From Middle Dutch waddinsvene, potentially a compound of a hydronym derived from wadde (“ford, fordable stretch of a watercourse”) suffixed with the collectivising suffix -ing- and veen (“peat bog, marsh”).

Meronym: Noordeinde


Didam

First attested as diedehun in 1025. Compound of Old Dutch Diede (a personal name) and heem (“home, settlement”). The second element was gradually reinterpreted to dam (“dam”). Compare Zeddam.

A town and former municipality of Montferland, Gelderland, Netherlands


Etten-Leur

Compound of Etten + Leur, the names of the villages that grew into the town. Etten is first attested as etthen in 1233. Leur is first attested as loersche vaart in 1405. Etten is of unknown etymology. Leur may be cognate with Middle Dutch lore (“worthless thing, rubbish”), here referring to the poor quality of the turf around the village. Compare for Etten Attelaken, Eethen and Etten. Compare for Leur Leur and Leurke.
The municipality was formerly called Etten en Leur.

cog

Meronyms: Attelaken, Bankenstraat, Haansberg, Klappenberg, Wildert, Zandspui, Zwartenberg

A town and municipality of North Brabant, Netherlands


Lichtenvoorde

First attested as lichtenuorde in 1312. Compound of licht (“bright, clear”) and voorde (“ford, crossing”). Apparently named for the clear, unclouded water near the crossing. Compare Duistervoorde.
See also Dutch Low Saxon Lechtenvoorde.

A town and former municipality of Oost Gelre, Gelderland, Netherlands


Marburg

A town, the administrative seat of Marburg-Biedenkopf district, Hesse, Germany


Heesch

First attested as hese in 1191. Derived from the dative singular form of hees (“brushwood”).

A town and former municipality of Bernheze, North Brabant, Netherlands


Valkenswaard

First attested as wederde and wederze in the first quarter of the 13th century. Derived from Old Dutch weder (“castrated ram”) with collectivising suffix *-iþi. The toponym was gradually reinterpreted as a compound of valk (“falcon, Falco sp.”) and waard (“land next to water”). This reinterpretation was given a boost by the thriving falconry industry that developed in the (then) village in the 18th century.

Meronyms: Achterste Brug, Borkel en Schaft, Deelshurk, De Kapel, Dommelen, Heuvel, Hoek, Hoeve, Keersop, Venbergen, Voorste Brug, Zeelberg


Boxtel

First attested as buchestelle in 1108-1110. Derived from a compound of Middle Dutch buk (“roebuck, hart”) and stelle (“stable”). Compare Aarle-Rixtel and Scheepstal.

Meronyms: Den Berg, De Vorst, Esch, Hal, Heult, Hezelaar, Kasteren, Kinderbos, Kleinder-Liempde, Langenberg, Lennisheuvel, Liempde, Luissel, Nergena, Roond, Schorvert, Selissen, Tongeren, Vrilkhoven


Hoogezand

/ˌɦoː.ɣəˈzɑnt/

First attested as hooge sant in 1613-1618. Compound of hoog (“high, elevated”) and zand (“sand”).
See also Dutch Low Saxon Hoogzaand.

A town and former municipality of Midden-Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands


Hellevoetsluis

Attested as Helvoet Sluys in 1639. Compound of the toponym Hellevoet (derived from a compound of the hydronym Helle and voet (“foot, bottom”)) and sluis (“lock, sluice”).

A town and former municipality of Voorne aan Zee, South Holland, Netherlands


Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht

First attested as henrick iden ambocht in 1340. Compound of the name of Hendrik Ye Wittenzoon and Middle Dutch ambacht (“type of fiefdom”). Wittenzoon was the scion of a banking family which financed the land reclamation projects the current village stands on; he received the fiefdom in 1376.

inh

A town and municipality of South Holland, Netherlands


Papendrecht

First attested as papendreht in 1105. Compound of Old Dutch Papo (a personal name) or pape (“cleric”) and dreht (“ferry, watercourse”) (see -drecht). Compare Barendrecht, Duivendrecht and Woensdrecht.

Meronyms: Matena, Oosteind


Zwijndrecht

First attested as suindrecht in 1280-1287. Likely a compound of Old Dutch swin (“gully, creek”) and dreht (“ferry, watercourse”) (see -drecht). The first element was gradually reinterpreted to zwijn (“boar”). Compare Barendrecht and Ossendrecht.

Meronyms: Achter-Lindt, Heerjansdam, Kijfhoek, Kleine-Lindt


Capelle aan den IJssel

First attested as cappelle in 1316. Derived from Middle Dutch capelle (“chapel”) and the hydronym IJssel.


Krimpen aan den IJssel

First attested as duabus villis que crimpen nuncupantur, sitis super meruede et super yssel in 1277. Derived from a term cognate to Old Saxon krampo (“hook”), Middle Dutch krampe (“hook”) and the hydronym IJssel. The toponym contrasts with Krimpen aan de Lek.

Meronym: Boveneind


Sint Nicolaas

Named after Saint Nicholas. According to a local etymology, the settlement was once owned by one Nicolaas van der Biest (1808-1873), whose subordinates were forced to address him as shon (“master”) Nicolaas. The toponym was then reinterpreted to the name of Saint Nicholas.


Hoofddorp

First attested as Kruisdorp in 1867. Compound of hoofd (“head-, chief”) and dorp (“village”). Originally named Kruisdorp after the village's central location in the Haarlemmermeer. The settlement was renamed in 1868 as it became the chief settlement of the polder.

A town in Haarlemmermeer, North Holland, Netherlands


Nieuw-Vennep

First attested as Venneperdorp in 1867. Compound of nieuw (“new”) and the toponym Vennep, a former fiefdom named after the river Vennep (a compound of Old Dutch fenne (“peat bog, marsh”) and *apa (“river, watercourse”)).


Houten

First attested as haltna in 918-948. Etymology unknown. Not derived from hout (“rising deciduous forest”) or Latin altus (“high”).

unk

unknown

Meronyms: De Heul, Heemstede, Honswijk, Leebrug, Oud-Wulven, Schalkwijk, 't Goy, Tull en 't Waal, Wayen


Maarssen

First attested as marsna in 918-948. Etymology unknown. Potentially derived from a hydronym of unknown etymology.
Compare Meerssen.

unknown

A town and former municipality of Stichtse Vecht, Utrecht, Netherlands


Eupen

From Middle Dutch Oepen. See German Eupen below for more.

German-speaking Community
w:German-speaking Community

Eupen, A town in German-speaking Community, province of Liège, Belgium


Audierne

Audierne (a town in the Finistère department, Brittany, France)


Blaasveld

From Middle Dutch Blaersvelt, probably originated from the Proto-West Germanic name *Bladahari + *felþu (“field”) or a later form of the name with Middle Dutch velt.

A town in the municipality of Willebroek, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium


Tisselt

From Middle Dutch Tieselt, probably from the root of distel + -t, from Proto-Germanic *-iþja- (“collective suffix”).


Hombeek

From Middle Dutch Hoenechbeke, from honech (“honey”) + bēke (“creek, brook”), meaning 'honey-colored creek'.
It could also be derived from the name Huno.

com

A town in the municipality of Mechelen, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium


Heffen

From Middle Dutch Heffena, most likely from Middle Dutch heffe (“sediment”) + â (“stream of water”).
Other possibilities are a relation to the verb heffen or the noun hoeve (“farmstead”).


Battel

Origin unknown. Could be derived from English battle or French batelier (“riverboatman”)


Ramsdonk

From Middle Dutch Raemsdonc, from Old Dutch Ramesdun, from ravan (“raven”) + *dung (“sandy hill protruding above a silty area”).

af

A town in the m of Kapelle-op-den-Bos, Flemish Brabant, Belgium


Moerkerke

From Middle Dutch Moerkerke, from Old Dutch Murkerka, from *mor (“moor”) + *kirica (“church”).