Gilze en Rijen is a municipality in the southern Netherlands. The municipality contains four villages: Rijen, Gilze, Hulten and Molenschot. It is home to the Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Rijen grew in the 19th century due to its leather factories.

Population centres

• Rijen (population: 16,581) • Gilze (7,729) • Molenschot (1,341) • Hulten (328)

Topography

Dutch Topographic map of the municipality of Gilze en Rijen, June 2015

Transportation

Railway Station: Gilze-Rijen

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Gilze en Rijen has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps. On 24 July 2019, temperatures in Gilze en Rijen reached as high as 39.2 C, the highest temperature ever recorded in The Netherlands until it was surpassed by Eindhoven the same day. However, a day later, on 25 July, temperatures in Gilze en Rijen reached 40.7 C, making it the first place ever in The Netherlands where 40 C was measured and took away the record back from Eindhoven. Climate change was found to be the culprit of such hot temperatures in Netherlands.

Notable people

Sport

Gallery