Geilenkirchen
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 | |
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Town | |
Aerial view | |
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Coat of arms | |
Location of Geilenkirchen within Heinsberg district | |
Geilenkirchen Geilenkirchen | |
| Coordinates: 50°57′55″N 6°07′10″E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | North Rhine-Westphalia |
| Admin. region | Köln |
| District | Heinsberg |
| Subdivisions | 13 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2020–25) | Daniela Ritzerfeld (Ind.) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 83 km2 (32 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 95 m (312 ft) |
| Population (2022-12-31) | |
| • Total | 28,252 |
| • Density | 340/km2 (880/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 July 24, 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. The record was broken the following day when temperature in Lingen reached 42.6 °C (108.7 °F).