Hiertegenover

Hiertegenover is a fictional municipality in the river delta region of the northern Lowlands. It encompasses a historic town center and several surrounding villages, covering about 42 square kilometers with a population around 9,000. The name combines Dutch elements hier and tegenover, reflecting its historical location opposite a ferry point on the fictional Meander River.

The area is largely flat, with polders, meadows, and a network of canals. The climate is temperate maritime, with mild winters and cool summers, and about 800 millimeters of annual precipitation.

The settlement is first mentioned in 1273, growing as a river trading hub in the early modern period. It received its municipal charter in 1611. Industrialization in the late 19th century brought rail access and local factories, while the town preserved a compact historic core.

Hiertegenover is governed by an elected municipal council and a mayor. It belongs to a regional province and participates in an intermunicipal association that coordinates water management, public transport, and schooling across member municipalities.

The economy centers on agriculture (potatoes, dairy), horticulture, and small manufacturing. Tourism focuses on the historic center, canal routes, and rural trails. The town hosts a harvest market, a summer canal festival, and a small museum dedicated to regional history.

Road connections link to nearby towns; a regional rail line once served the municipality but was replaced by bus services. A small harbor along the river accommodates leisure boats and fishing.