Meppel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɛpəl] ⓘ; Drents: Möppelt) is a city and municipality in the Northeastern Netherlands.

The people of Meppel thought the church tower was on fire, but after closer inspection, they realised it was only a swarm of mosquitoes.

The Meppelerdiep, the Drentsche Hoofdvaart and the Hoogeveense Vaart connect Meppel to Zwartsluis, Assen and Hoogeveen.

To offload professional transport vessels the Omgelegde Hoogeveense Vaart was dug out south of the city.

The population centres in the municipality are: Meppel is served by national and regional train connections with Zwolle to the southwest, which leads to the rest of the country, as well as Leeuwarden and Groningen to the northwest and northeast respectively.