Editing Mierlo (section)

== History ==
The oldest inhabitants of the area that we have any knowledge of were the reindeer hunters. In 1961, a piece of [[sandstone]], dated at around [[9th millennium BC|9,000B.C.]] was discovered on the [[heath]] between Mierlo and Geldrop. On this stone a half-naked dancing female figure was etched, which is now known as the '[[Venus of Mierlo]].' It is the oldest artistic expression ever found in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-14 |title=De Venus van Mierlo |url=http://www.brabantserfgoed.nl/page/5428/de-venus-van-mierlo |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Brabants Erfgoed |language=nl}}</ref>

The village was first mentioned in 1245 as Henricus de Mirle, and is a combination of the words for moorland and open forest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://etymologiebank.nl/trefwoord/mierlo |title=Mierlo - (geografische naam) |website=Etymologiebank |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref> Mierlo developed in the 12th century near a castle. The castle was rebuilt in 1210 after it was destroyed, and collapsed in a storm in 1800.<ref name="monument">{{cite book|url=https://dbnl.org/tekst/sten009monu02_01/sten009monu02_01_0115.php |title=Mierlo |author=Chris Kolman & Ronald Stenvert| year=1997 |publisher=Waanders |location=Zwolle |isbn=90 400 9945 6 |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

The Catholic St. Lucia Church was built between 1856 and 1858. Part of the tower of the medieval church was incorporated in the new church.<ref name="monument"/> The nameless [[grist mill]] of Mierlo was built around 1640. It was moved in 1860 and 1992. It was restored several times and nowadays only used occasionally.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.molendatabase.nl/nederland/molen.php?nummer=556 |title=(standerdmolen) |website=Molen database |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

Mierlo was home to 466 people in 1840. Mierlo was an independent municipality. In 1968, the village [[Mierlo-Hout]] was transferred to [[Helmond]]. In 2003 when it was merged into [[Geldrop-Mierlo]].<ref name="plaats">{{cite web|url=https://www.plaatsengids.nl/mierlo |title=Mierlo |website=Plaatsengids |access-date=16 April 2022 |language=nl}}</ref>

In 2004, Mierlo acquired a [[zoo]] named 'Eindhoven Zoo' near the [[Gulbergen]]. This zoo initially began under the name 'Dierenrijk Europa,' featuring animals ranging from [[Polar bear|polar bears]] to [[Ape|apes]] from [[Gibraltar]], as well as [[Beaver|beavers]] that had been reintroduced in the Netherlands. When non-European animals, such as [[Elephant|elephants]] and [[Camel|camels]], were also introduced, the name was changed to 'Dierenrijk' and later 'Eindhoven Zoo'.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dierenrijk {{!}} Kom dichter bij de dieren {{!}} Vlakbij Eindhoven |url=https://www.dierenrijk.nl/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=Dierenrijk |language=nl-NL}}</ref>