The town is sourrounded by the rivers Waal and Linge on the south and the north side. The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal is on the east side. The city was founded in the 5th century. The whole municipality has about 41,500 inhabitants. The town's mascot is a fruit man called "Flipje". Flipje used to be the mascot for a local jam factory, but is now an icon for the whole of Tiel.