The name “Rheinland” strictly speaking denotes the territory on both sides of the river Rhine from the town of Bingen to the border with the Netherlands. The Rheinland people (the Rheinländer) enjoy merry celebrations at carnival time and during the grape harvesting. Rheinländer is also the name of a Polka-like dance. The composer L. van Beethoven {see planet  (1815)}, the physicist W. C. Röntgen and the surgeon F. Sauerbruch had their roots in the Rheinland. (M 24919) _ _.