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Coordinates: 50°53′N 5°59′E / 50.883°N 5.983°E / 50.883; 5.983
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox Dutch municipality|
name=Heerlen|province=[[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]|
{{Short description|City and municipality in Limburg, Netherlands}}
{{Infobox settlement
area=45.78|land=45.68|water=0.10|
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
population=93,523|population_year=2004|density=2047}}
<!-- Name and transliteration -->| name = Heerlen
| native_name = {{native name|li|Heële|icon=no}}
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|City]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
| image_skyline = Heerlen2013, Raadhuis-08.jpg
| image_caption = View of the town hall
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->| image_map = Map - NL - Municipality code 0917 (2009).svg
| map_alt = Highlighted position of Heerlen in a municipal map of Limburg
| map_caption = Location in Limburg
| coordinates = {{coord|50|53|N|5|59|E|region:NL-LI|display=inline,title}}
| image_flag = Heerlen vlag officieel.svg
| flag_size = 100x67px
| image_shield = Heerlen wapen.svg
| shield_size = 100x80px
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]
| government_footnotes = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
|url=http://www.heerlen.nl/pauldepla
|title=Burgemeester Paul Depla
|trans-title=Mayor Paul Depla
|language=nl
|publisher=Gemeente Heerlen
|access-date=12 October 2022 |url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013185344/http://www.heerlen.nl/pauldepla
|archive-date=13 October 2013 }}</ref>
| governing_body = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party = [[VVD]]
| leader_title = Acting [[List of mayors of Heerlen|Mayor]]
| leader_name = [[Roel Wever]]
<!-- Geographic information -->| total_type = Municipality<!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->| area_total_km2 = {{Dutch municipality total area|Heerlen}}
| area_land_km2 = {{Dutch municipality land area|Heerlen}}
| area_water_km2 = {{Dutch municipality water area|Heerlen}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web
|url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
|title=Postcodetool for 6411HP
|language=nl
|work=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
|publisher=Het Waterschapshuis
|access-date=12 October 2022 |url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
|archive-date=21 September 2013 }}</ref>
| elevation_m = 113
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m =
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m = <!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref><ref>{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total = 86874
| population_as_of = Municipality, {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}}; Urban and Metro, {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|popbasemonth}}}} {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|popbaseyear}}}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Dutch municipality population density|Heerlen}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_urban = {{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|Heerlen Urban}}
| population_metro = {{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|Heerlen Metro}}
| population_demonym = Heerlenaar
<!-- Other information -->| timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1 = +1
| timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code = 6400–6433
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code = 045
| website = {{URL|1=http://www.heerlen.nl}}
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}


'''Heerlen''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈɦeːrlə(n)|-|135 Heerlen.ogg}}; {{langx|li|Heële}} {{IPA|li|ˈɦeə˦lə|}}) is a [[city]] and a [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] in the southeast of the [[Netherlands]]. It is the third largest settlement proper in the province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]. Measured as municipality, it is the fourth municipality in the province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]].


Heerlen forms part of the city-region of [[Parkstad Limburg]], an agglomeration with about 250,000 inhabitants and encompassing 8 municipalities. It is to the east of [[Maastricht]] and north of the German city of [[Aachen]].
'''Heerlen''' is a [[municipality]] and a [[town]] in the southeastern [[Netherlands]].


After its early Roman beginnings and a modest medieval period, Heerlen became a centre for the coal mining industry in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, architect [[Frits Peutz]] played a major role in shaping the city as we know it today. His most famous design, and a distinctive building in the city centre, is the so-called [[Glaspaleis]] (''Glass Palace''), listed as one of the world's thousand most architecturally important buildings of the 20th century.
== Population centres ==
*Heerlen
*Hoensbroek.


== External link ==
==History==
A habitation from the [[Michelsberg culture]] ({{nowrap|4400–3500 BC}}) was excavated at the [[Schelsberg]], near Heerlen, in 1997. Archeological finds from this period are rare in the Netherlands, and this site is unique among those in the country, as it is the first excavated site with ditches and earth walls (earthworks).<ref>[http://www.vvvzuidlimburg.nl/uploads/i/plaatsen/pdf/57.pdf Heerlen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220164809/http://www.vvvzuidlimburg.nl/uploads/i/plaatsen/pdf/57.pdf |date=20 February 2006 }}</ref>
*[http://www.heerlen.nl Official Website]


Even with these proofs of early habitation, the history of Heerlen properly starts with the arrival of the Romans. They founded a military settlement, named ''Coriovallum'' on the crossroad of two main roads: [[Boulogne sur Mer]] - [[Cologne]] and [[Xanten]] - [[Aachen]] - [[Trier]]. In Heerlen and its surroundings, much evidence of Roman life has been excavated, especially Roman villas (country estates). The most notable archeological excavation from Roman times is the [[Thermae]] complex in the centre of Heerlen, a Roman bathhouse, discovered in 1940. In the Netherlands only a few of these have been found. It is a clear indication that Coriovallum/Heerlen was of some importance. A museum has been built over the Thermae and opened in 1977. The Thermenmuseum also houses other Roman finds from the area.
{{Province NL-Limburg}}

[[Category:Limburg (Netherlands)]]
Like many other Roman settlements in the Netherlands, Coriovallum was probably abandoned after the 3rd/4th century Roman retreat. Very little is known about Heerlen's history until the 10th century, when agricultural development continues once again in these parts of Europe. Farmhouses and mills are built across the valleys of Caumerbeek, Schandelerbeek and Geleenbeek and medieval Heerlen slowly takes shape.

The oldest mention of Heerlen (as 'Herle') is in an official document dated 1065. [[Udo, bishop of Toul]], documents some gifts. One of them is the allodium Heerlen, in the bishopry of Liege. Another allodium consists of a few chapels, which belong to the mother church in Voerendaal, close to Heerlen. Shortly after this, the allodium of Heerlen appears to be owned by the counts of Ahr-Hochstaden.

Theoderich van Are (Udo van Toul's cousin) separated Heerlen from [[Voerendaal]] and chose Saint [[Saint Pancras of Rome|Pancratius]] as the patron saint of the church. The counts of Are where probably responsible for the construction of the Schelmentoren and the St-Pancratius church and also may have ordered the construction of a moated castle. Through these fortifications, Heerlen acquired some rights and freedoms, which gave it an elevated status over the surrounding countryside. Voerendaal, Hoensbroek, Schaesberg en Nieuwenhagen now fell under the legislation of the so-called "Land van Herle".

In 1244, Heerlen came under the authority of the dukes of [[Duchy of Brabant|Brabant]], but in 1388, along with [[Hoensbroek]], it was given a separate status. During the [[Eighty Years' War]] (1568–1648), Heerlen was disputed by the kingdom of Spain and the Dutch Protestant rebels and swapped sides several times. At the 1661 Partage Treaty, Heerlen became part of "Staat-Limburg", ruled by the States-General of the newly founded Dutch Republic. This resulted in it bordering the territory of the [[Spanish Netherlands]], causing it to remain quite isolated from the rest of the state until 1793, when the [[Low Countries theatre of the War of the First Coalition|French conquered Heerlen]]. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, it became part of the Netherlands province of Limburg (present-day Dutch and Belgian Limburg). In 1830, like most of Limburg, Heerlen sided with Belgium in the [[Belgian Revolution]]. In 1839, however, as a result of [[Treaty of London (1839)|an agreement between the main European powers]], it became part of the Netherlands again.

In the 19th century, Heerlen, like most of Limburg municipalities (Maastricht was an exception), did not partake in the Industrial Revolution and it remained largely agrarian until coal mining began in the late 19th/early 20th century. In March 1874, coal had been found at the Valkenburgerweg. However, setting up a mine was a risky long-term investment and only very few private enterprises took up the challenge and bought a concession. In 1896, Heerlen got its first railway connection to allow the transportation of coal from these first coal mines. Development was still rather slow: in 1812 Heerlen had a population of 3497; in 1900 this was still only 6646. In 1901, the national government stepped in and bought all remaining unsold concessions and set up the [[DSM (company)|State Mines]]. In a short period of time several large state-operated coalmines began production. The population rose sharply from 6646 in 1900 to 12,098 in 1910 to 32,263 in 1930.<ref>[http://www.heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=3297 Groei van dorp naar stad] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235715/http://www.heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=3297 |date=26 September 2007 }}</ref> During these early expansion years many old buildings in the centre of Heerlen were demolished. The coalmines remained central to the development of Heerlen into a modern city until the early 1960s, during which [[Marcel van Grunsven]] ended his service as mayor of Heerlen.

The golden years of coal mining ended in the late 1950s, after which production gradually diminished due to competition from cheaper Polish and American coal and the discovery of natural gas in the province of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]]. In the period 1965–1975 the coal mines were closed altogether. In the area around Heerlen-Kerkrade-Brunssum and Sittard-Geleen 60,000 people lost their jobs. A difficult period of economic re-adjustment started. The Dutch government tried to ease the pain by moving several governmental offices (ABP, CBS) to Heerlen but even today the city has not fully recovered from the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.

In the cityscape of modern-day Heerlen, there are very few reminders of the once omni-present mining industry. Most of the typical mounts of mining debris that surrounded the coal mines have been removed or transformed into green hills during an operation called ''van zwart naar groen'' (from black to green). Even the tallest mine chimney of Europe, 'Lange Lies' (tall Liz) and her older brother 'Lange Jan' (tall John), once major landmarks, were demolished. One of the few remaining mining buildings (shaft 2 of the Oranje Nassau I) now houses the Dutch Mine Museum.

==Geography==
Heerlen is located at {{coord|50|53|N|5|59|E}} in the province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]] in the southeast of the [[Netherlands]] on the border with [[Germany]]. It is situated in the [[COROP]] region of [[South Limburg]] and is part of the [[urban agglomeration|agglomeration]] [[Parkstad Limburg]], formerly known as [[Oostelijke Mijnstreek]].

Heerlen is bordered by the Dutch municipalities of [[Simpelveld]] (in the south), [[Voerendaal]] and [[Nuth]] (west), [[Schinnen]] (northwest), [[Brunssum]] (north), [[Landgraaf]] and [[Kerkrade]] (east), and the German municipality of [[Aachen]] (southeast).

Heerlen's high elevation makes it one of the highest cities above sea level in the Netherlands.

==Economy==
Heerlen houses the biggest furniture strip of Europe, with {{formatnum:120000}} m<sup>2</sup> floorspace after the opening of the biggest ({{formatnum:35000}} m<sup>2</sup>) [[IKEA]] of the [[Benelux]] on 27 August 2008.

On 1 October 2008, the world's first [[Minewater Project|minewater power station]] was opened in Heerlen. It will be used to heat and cool 200 homes, along with shops, a supermarket, a library and large office buildings.

===Mines===
[[File:Schatgebouw van schacht 1 met hijsinstallatie - Heerlen - 20341387 - RCE.jpg|thumb|right|Oranje Nassau mine 1]]
List of mines which were located in what is now Heerlen:

* [[Oranje Nassau I]], 1899–1974, now used in the [[Minewater Project]]
* [[Oranje Nassau III]], 1917–1973, now used in the [[Minewater Project]]
* [[Oranje Nassau IV]], 1927–1966
* [[Staatsmijn Emma]], 1911–1973

==Education==
Among the educational institutes in Heerlen is [[Hogeschool Zuyd|Zuyd Hogeschool]], which is a [[Vocational university#Netherlands|University of Applied Sciences]] with branches in Heerlen, [[Sittard]] and [[Maastricht]]. Also based in Heerlen is the administrative office of the [[Open University of the Netherlands]] ([[Open Universiteit]] or OU in Dutch), which is a university for [[distance learning]] with tens of thousands of students throughout the Netherlands. Heerlen was also the location of the now-defunct [[University of Theology and Pastorate]] ([[Universiteit van Theologie en Pastoraat]] or UTP in Dutch), which had to close down due to lack of students. Jokingly it was said that Heerlen was the location of the biggest (OU) and the smallest (UTP) university of the Netherlands.

==Health care==
Health care in Heerlen (and the rest of the [[Parkstad Limburg]]) is provided by [[Stichting Gezondheidszorg Oostelijk Zuid-Limburg]] (G.O.Z.L.). Zuyderland Medisch Centrum Parkstad (Zuyderland Medical Center Parkstad), is the name of the different hospitals in the Parkstad, and is part of G.O.Z.L. Until 2015 these hospitals were called Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad. Zuyderland location Heerlen was previously known as De Wever ziekenhuis named after [[Frans de Wever]], who in 1904, together with mgr. [[Joseph Savelberg]], founded the first hospital in Heerlen (at its foundation in 1904 called Maria Hilfspital, and after a few years renamed St. Joseph hospital until the De Wever was opened in 1968).

==Architecture==
[[File:Glaspaleis front-east.jpg|thumb|left|Glaspaleis]]
The city's best-known architect is [[Frits Peutz]]. His legacy consists of at least 10 landmark buildings in Heerlen. In 1935 Heerlen's most famous landmark building, the [[Glaspaleis]], was built next to the medieval church in the centre of the then modest town. It was commissioned by the merchant Peter [[Schunck]] and it was quite an extraordinary step for this conservative businessman to ask the young Heerlen-based architect Peutz to design the new Schunck department store. It is one of the most outstanding examples of early [[Modernism]] in The Netherlands but it was only recognized as such at a fairly late stage (after it had been badly maimed). In the 1990s it was added to a prestigious list of the world's ''1000 most important buildings of the 20th century'' created by the [[International Union of Architects]] (only 13 buildings in the Netherlands are on that list). It encouraged the city administrators to buy the dilapidated building and make plans for its renovation. The renovation has now been completed and it now houses several of the city's cultural institutions, including a museum of modern art. The renovated Glaspaleis has become a symbol of the revived Heerlen after the closing of the coalmines.

Although many interesting buildings were demolished around 1900, some older buildings still exist in the centre of Heerlen, for instance, a [[Romanesque style]] 12th-century church ([[Pancratiuskerk]]), and a former prison tower from around the same period ([[Schelmentoren]]).

Other buildings worth mentioning are a [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] chapel ([[Grafkapel de Loë]] built in 1848, the only remaining Neoclassical building in Heerlen), and a former mansion annex pharmacy, left in almost the same state as after its 1801–1828 expansion ([[Huis de Luijff]]).

In other parts of Heerlen, especially near the numerous small rivers around Heerlen, many older buildings can be found, noticeably a couple of watermills (like the [[Weltermolen]] (14th century), [[Eikendermolen]] (15th century), [[Oliemolen]] (16th century), and [[Schandelermolen]] (17th century)), some [[castle]]s (for instance [[Hoensbroek Castle]] oldest part 1380, [[Ter Worm Castle|Kasteel Terworm]] 15th century) and old farms ([[Geleenhof]] (dating back to Roman days), [[Benzeraderhof]] (13th century), [[Hoeve Den Driesch]] (14th century), [[Overste Douvenrade]] (largely destroyed and rebuilt in 1779) and [[Hoeve de Bek]] (1796)).

===Architects with significant work===
Here follows a list of architects who have built important landmarks in Heerlen, and those landmarks.

* [[A van Beers]]: [[Huize Op de Berg]] (1897)
* [[Johan Kayser]], (1842, [[Harlingen, Netherlands|Harlingen]] – 1917): Chapel Savelberg Convent (1878–1879, style: [[Neo-Gothic]])
* [[Jan Stuyt]] (1868–1934)): [[Ambachtsschool (Heerlen)|Ambachtsschool]] (1913, style: [[Hollands Classicisme]]<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=2645 Beschrijving route] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235832/http://www.heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=2645 |date=26 September 2007 }}</ref>)
* [[J. Pauw]]: Former library (1917, style: [[Amsterdam School]])<ref name="autogenerated1" />
* [[Dirk Roosenburg]] (1887–1962): Former office Oranje Nassau mine (1928, style: [[International style (architecture)|International style]])
* [[Dirk Brouwer (Architect)|Dirk Brouwer]] (3 November 1899 – 1941): Former [[HEMA (store)|HEMA]] building (1939, style: International style)
* [[Frits Peutz]] (7 April 1896 – 24 October 1974): [[Glaspaleis]] (1933, style: International style), [[Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat House]] (1932), townhall (1940), municipal theatre
* [[Gerrit Rietveld]], ([[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] 24 June 1888- Utrecht 26 June 1964): house on Zandweg (1961–1964)
* [[Jo Coenen]] (born 1949 in Heerlen-Hoensbroek): Library and entrance Stadsgalerij (1983, 1989)

==Transport==
Heerlen has three railway stations:
* [[Heerlen railway station|Heerlen]]
* [[Heerlen Woonboulevard railway station|Heerlen Woonboulevard]]
* [[Hoensbroek railway station|Hoensbroek]]

From Heerlen one can travel to Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Maastricht/Liège, Kerkrade and towards Aachen/Köln in Germany.

==Sports==
The [[GP Heerlen]] is a February [[cyclo-cross]] race held in Heerlen.

==People from Heerlen==
{{main|List of people from Heerlen}}
{{see also|Category:People from Heerlen}}
A chronological list of notable ''Heerlenaren'' (inhabitants of Heerlen):<ref>[http://www.heerlen.nl/Smartsite.dws?id=3317 Dorpsfiguren en notabelen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041021063342/http://heerlen.nl/smartsite.dws?id=3317 |date=2004-10-21 }}</ref>
[[File:FdeWever1.jpg|140px|thumb|bust of Frans de Wever, 2011]]
[[File:KlaasDeVries2008.jpg|140px|thumb|Klaas de Vries, 2008]]
[[File:Gijs Tuinman.jpg|140px|thumb|Gijs Tuinman, 2014]]
=== Public service & public thinking ===
* [[M. Sattonius Iucundus]] (third century), Roman politician
* [[Theoderich van Are]] (1087–1126) the first count of Are (Germany) <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eventjesuit.nl/smartsite.dws?id=3219 |title=Gemeente Heerlen |access-date=27 May 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041128222455/http://eventjesuit.nl/smartsite.dws?id=3219 |archive-date=28 November 2004 }}</ref>
* [[Jacob Derk Carel van Heeckeren]] (1730–1795) a politician from a Dutch noble family
* [[Christian Quix]] (1773–1844) a Roman Catholic priest and director of the Aachen city library
* [[Jan Gerard Kemmerling]] (1776–1818), [[Mayors of Heerlen|Mayor of Heerlen]]
* [[Egidius Slanghen]] (1820–1882), politician and historian
* [[Joseph Savelberg]] (1827–1907), Roman Catholic priest
* [[Henri Sarolea]] (1844–1900), a Dutch railway entrepreneur and contractor
* [[Frans de Wever]] (1869–1940), general practitioner
* [[Frederik van Iterson]] (1877-1957) a Dutch mechanical engineering professor, developed the [[power station]] [[Stack effect|natural draught]] [[cooling tower]]
* [[Marcel van Grunsven]] (1896–1969), Mayor of Heerlen from 1926 to 1961
* [[Maximilian von Fürstenberg]] (1904–1988) a [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|cardinal]] of the Roman Catholic Church
* [[Pierre Schunck]] (1906–1993) family owned [[Schunck]] department store and worked in the [[Dutch resistance]]
* [[Theo Bemelmans]] (born 1943), a Dutch computer scientist and academic
* [[Klaas de Vries (politician)|Klaas de Vries]] (born 1943), a retired Dutch politician and jurist
* [[Maud de Boer-Buquicchio]] (born 1944) a Dutch jurist and [[United Nations special rapporteur]]
* [[Jo Ritzen]] (born 1945), a retired Dutch politician economist
* [[Jo Coenen]] (born 1949) a Dutch architect and urban planner
* [[Loek Hermans]] (born 1951), a retired Dutch politician and businessman <ref>[http://www.l1.nl/L1NWS/_rp_links4_elementId/1_2398420 L1 - nieuws en sport uit Limburg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717182423/http://www.l1.nl/L1NWS/_rp_links4_elementId/1_2398420 |date=17 July 2011 }}</ref>
* [[Wiel Arets]] (born 1955), a Dutch architect and industrial designer
* [[Ellen 't Hoen]] (born 1960) an international medical activist and academic
* [[Frans Timmermans]] (born 1961), politician, [[Vice-President of the European Commission]]
* [[Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert]] (born 1973), a Dutch politician, Minister of Defence 2012-2017
* [[Gijs Tuinman]] (born 1979) [[Royal Netherlands Army]] officer, recipient of the [[Military Order of William]]

=== Arts ===
[[File:Fotothek df roe-neg 0006440 2 035 Agnes Giebel (Sängerin).jpg|140px|thumb|Agnes Giebel, 1953]]
* [[Wilhelm of Herle]] (fl 1350–1370), painter.<ref>{{cite CE1913|wstitle= Wilhelm of Herle |volume= 15 |last= Gietmann |first= Gerhard |author-link= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Jan Michiel Dautzenberg]] (1808–1869), Belgian writer
* [[L. O. Wenckebach]] (1895–1962) a Dutch sculptor, painter and medallist
* [[Agnes Giebel]] (1921–2017), a German classical soprano
* [[Thomas Bernhard]] (1931–1989), an Austrian playwright and novelist
* [[Harrie Geelen]] (born 1939) a Dutch illustrator, film director, animator and poet <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0311590/ IMDb Database] retrieved 26 February 2020 </ref>
* [[Margriet Ehlen]] (born 1943), a Dutch poet, composer and conductor
* [[Hein van der Heijden]] (born 1958) a Dutch stage, TV and film actor <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0374037/ IMDb Database] retrieved 26 February 2020 </ref>
* [[L.A. Raeven]], twins and arts duo
* [[Tamara Hoekwater]] (born 1972), a Dutch pop singer
* [[Dennis Droomers|Dennis "Seregor" Droomers]] (born 1980), singer and guitarist of [[symphonic black metal]] band [[Carach Angren]]
* [[Simone Simons]] (born 1985), singer of Dutch [[symphonic metal]] band [[Epica (band)|Epica]]
=== Sports ===
[[File:Tinus Osendarp.jpg|140px|thumb|Tinus Osendarp, 1936]]
* [[Tinus Osendarp]] (1916–2002) a Dutch sprinter, twice bronze medallist at the [[1936 Summer Olympics]]
* [[René Hofman]] (born 1961) a retired Dutch footballer with 400 club caps
* [[Guido Görtzen]] (born 1970) a volleyball player, team gold medallist in the [[1996 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Ger Senden]] (born 1971) a retired Dutch footballer, played 411 games with [[Roda JC Kerkrade|Roda JC]]
* [[Fernando Ricksen]] (1976–2019) a Dutch professional footballer with 452 club caps
* [[Eugène Martineau (athlete)|Eugène Martineau]] (born 1980) a Dutch decathlete
* [[Shirley Kocaçınar]] (born 1986), a Turkish-Dutch women's football forward
* [[Danny Hoesen]] (born 1991) a Dutch footballer for [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
* [[Jessica Blaszka]] (born 1992) a Dutch female wrestler
* [[Jules Szymkowiak]] (born 1995) a Dutch racing driver

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==External links==
{{Commons and category|Heerlen}}
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Heerlen}}
* {{Official website|http://www.heerlen.nl}}
* [http://www.thermenmuseum.nl/ Thermae Museum]
* [http://www.heerlenvertelt.nl/ Oral History Project Heerlen Vertelt]
* [https://www.livius.org/ga-gh/germania/coriovallum.html Coriovallum]

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Heerlen
|North = [[Brunssum]]
|East = [[Landgraaf]]<br>[[Kerkrade]]
|Southeast = [[Aachen]]&nbsp;([[Germany|DE]]-[[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]])
|South = [[Simpelveld]]
|West = [[Voerendaal]]
|Northwest = [[Beekdaelen]]
}}
{{Gemeente Heerlen}}
{{Limburg Province (Netherlands)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Heerlen| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Mining communities in the Netherlands]]
[[nl:Heerlen]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Roman sites in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Germania Inferior]]
[[Category:South Limburg (Netherlands)]]

Latest revision as of 18:40, 31 October 2024

Heerlen
Heële
City and municipality
View of the town hall
View of the town hall
Flag of Heerlen
Flag
Coat of arms of Heerlen
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Heerlen in a municipal map of Limburg
Location in Limburg
Coordinates: 50°53′N 5°59′E / 50.883°N 5.983°E / 50.883; 5.983
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
Government
[1]
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • Acting MayorRoel Wever (VVD)
Area
[2]
 • Municipality
45.53 km2 (17.58 sq mi)
 • Land44.94 km2 (17.35 sq mi)
 • Water0.59 km2 (0.23 sq mi)
Elevation
[3]
113 m (371 ft)
Population
 (Municipality, January 2021; Urban and Metro, May 2014)[4][5]
 • Municipality
86,874
 • Density1,934/km2 (5,010/sq mi)
 • Urban
200,957
 • Metro
247,731
DemonymHeerlenaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
6400–6433
Area code045
Websitewww.heerlen.nl

Heerlen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦeːrlə(n)] ⓘ; Limburgish: Heële [ˈɦeə˦lə]) is a city and a municipality in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is the third largest settlement proper in the province of Limburg. Measured as municipality, it is the fourth municipality in the province of Limburg.

Heerlen forms part of the city-region of Parkstad Limburg, an agglomeration with about 250,000 inhabitants and encompassing 8 municipalities. It is to the east of Maastricht and north of the German city of Aachen.

After its early Roman beginnings and a modest medieval period, Heerlen became a centre for the coal mining industry in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, architect Frits Peutz played a major role in shaping the city as we know it today. His most famous design, and a distinctive building in the city centre, is the so-called Glaspaleis (Glass Palace), listed as one of the world's thousand most architecturally important buildings of the 20th century.

History

[edit]

A habitation from the Michelsberg culture (4400–3500 BC) was excavated at the Schelsberg, near Heerlen, in 1997. Archeological finds from this period are rare in the Netherlands, and this site is unique among those in the country, as it is the first excavated site with ditches and earth walls (earthworks).[6]

Even with these proofs of early habitation, the history of Heerlen properly starts with the arrival of the Romans. They founded a military settlement, named Coriovallum on the crossroad of two main roads: Boulogne sur Mer - Cologne and Xanten - Aachen - Trier. In Heerlen and its surroundings, much evidence of Roman life has been excavated, especially Roman villas (country estates). The most notable archeological excavation from Roman times is the Thermae complex in the centre of Heerlen, a Roman bathhouse, discovered in 1940. In the Netherlands only a few of these have been found. It is a clear indication that Coriovallum/Heerlen was of some importance. A museum has been built over the Thermae and opened in 1977. The Thermenmuseum also houses other Roman finds from the area.

Like many other Roman settlements in the Netherlands, Coriovallum was probably abandoned after the 3rd/4th century Roman retreat. Very little is known about Heerlen's history until the 10th century, when agricultural development continues once again in these parts of Europe. Farmhouses and mills are built across the valleys of Caumerbeek, Schandelerbeek and Geleenbeek and medieval Heerlen slowly takes shape.

The oldest mention of Heerlen (as 'Herle') is in an official document dated 1065. Udo, bishop of Toul, documents some gifts. One of them is the allodium Heerlen, in the bishopry of Liege. Another allodium consists of a few chapels, which belong to the mother church in Voerendaal, close to Heerlen. Shortly after this, the allodium of Heerlen appears to be owned by the counts of Ahr-Hochstaden.

Theoderich van Are (Udo van Toul's cousin) separated Heerlen from Voerendaal and chose Saint Pancratius as the patron saint of the church. The counts of Are where probably responsible for the construction of the Schelmentoren and the St-Pancratius church and also may have ordered the construction of a moated castle. Through these fortifications, Heerlen acquired some rights and freedoms, which gave it an elevated status over the surrounding countryside. Voerendaal, Hoensbroek, Schaesberg en Nieuwenhagen now fell under the legislation of the so-called "Land van Herle".

In 1244, Heerlen came under the authority of the dukes of Brabant, but in 1388, along with Hoensbroek, it was given a separate status. During the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), Heerlen was disputed by the kingdom of Spain and the Dutch Protestant rebels and swapped sides several times. At the 1661 Partage Treaty, Heerlen became part of "Staat-Limburg", ruled by the States-General of the newly founded Dutch Republic. This resulted in it bordering the territory of the Spanish Netherlands, causing it to remain quite isolated from the rest of the state until 1793, when the French conquered Heerlen. After the defeat of Napoleon in 1814, it became part of the Netherlands province of Limburg (present-day Dutch and Belgian Limburg). In 1830, like most of Limburg, Heerlen sided with Belgium in the Belgian Revolution. In 1839, however, as a result of an agreement between the main European powers, it became part of the Netherlands again.

In the 19th century, Heerlen, like most of Limburg municipalities (Maastricht was an exception), did not partake in the Industrial Revolution and it remained largely agrarian until coal mining began in the late 19th/early 20th century. In March 1874, coal had been found at the Valkenburgerweg. However, setting up a mine was a risky long-term investment and only very few private enterprises took up the challenge and bought a concession. In 1896, Heerlen got its first railway connection to allow the transportation of coal from these first coal mines. Development was still rather slow: in 1812 Heerlen had a population of 3497; in 1900 this was still only 6646. In 1901, the national government stepped in and bought all remaining unsold concessions and set up the State Mines. In a short period of time several large state-operated coalmines began production. The population rose sharply from 6646 in 1900 to 12,098 in 1910 to 32,263 in 1930.[7] During these early expansion years many old buildings in the centre of Heerlen were demolished. The coalmines remained central to the development of Heerlen into a modern city until the early 1960s, during which Marcel van Grunsven ended his service as mayor of Heerlen.

The golden years of coal mining ended in the late 1950s, after which production gradually diminished due to competition from cheaper Polish and American coal and the discovery of natural gas in the province of Groningen. In the period 1965–1975 the coal mines were closed altogether. In the area around Heerlen-Kerkrade-Brunssum and Sittard-Geleen 60,000 people lost their jobs. A difficult period of economic re-adjustment started. The Dutch government tried to ease the pain by moving several governmental offices (ABP, CBS) to Heerlen but even today the city has not fully recovered from the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.

In the cityscape of modern-day Heerlen, there are very few reminders of the once omni-present mining industry. Most of the typical mounts of mining debris that surrounded the coal mines have been removed or transformed into green hills during an operation called van zwart naar groen (from black to green). Even the tallest mine chimney of Europe, 'Lange Lies' (tall Liz) and her older brother 'Lange Jan' (tall John), once major landmarks, were demolished. One of the few remaining mining buildings (shaft 2 of the Oranje Nassau I) now houses the Dutch Mine Museum.

Geography

[edit]

Heerlen is located at 50°53′N 5°59′E / 50.883°N 5.983°E / 50.883; 5.983 in the province of Limburg in the southeast of the Netherlands on the border with Germany. It is situated in the COROP region of South Limburg and is part of the agglomeration Parkstad Limburg, formerly known as Oostelijke Mijnstreek.

Heerlen is bordered by the Dutch municipalities of Simpelveld (in the south), Voerendaal and Nuth (west), Schinnen (northwest), Brunssum (north), Landgraaf and Kerkrade (east), and the German municipality of Aachen (southeast).

Heerlen's high elevation makes it one of the highest cities above sea level in the Netherlands.

Economy

[edit]

Heerlen houses the biggest furniture strip of Europe, with 120,000 m2 floorspace after the opening of the biggest (35,000 m2) IKEA of the Benelux on 27 August 2008.

On 1 October 2008, the world's first minewater power station was opened in Heerlen. It will be used to heat and cool 200 homes, along with shops, a supermarket, a library and large office buildings.

Mines

[edit]
Oranje Nassau mine 1

List of mines which were located in what is now Heerlen:

Education

[edit]

Among the educational institutes in Heerlen is Zuyd Hogeschool, which is a University of Applied Sciences with branches in Heerlen, Sittard and Maastricht. Also based in Heerlen is the administrative office of the Open University of the Netherlands (Open Universiteit or OU in Dutch), which is a university for distance learning with tens of thousands of students throughout the Netherlands. Heerlen was also the location of the now-defunct University of Theology and Pastorate (Universiteit van Theologie en Pastoraat or UTP in Dutch), which had to close down due to lack of students. Jokingly it was said that Heerlen was the location of the biggest (OU) and the smallest (UTP) university of the Netherlands.

Health care

[edit]

Health care in Heerlen (and the rest of the Parkstad Limburg) is provided by Stichting Gezondheidszorg Oostelijk Zuid-Limburg (G.O.Z.L.). Zuyderland Medisch Centrum Parkstad (Zuyderland Medical Center Parkstad), is the name of the different hospitals in the Parkstad, and is part of G.O.Z.L. Until 2015 these hospitals were called Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad. Zuyderland location Heerlen was previously known as De Wever ziekenhuis named after Frans de Wever, who in 1904, together with mgr. Joseph Savelberg, founded the first hospital in Heerlen (at its foundation in 1904 called Maria Hilfspital, and after a few years renamed St. Joseph hospital until the De Wever was opened in 1968).

Architecture

[edit]
Glaspaleis

The city's best-known architect is Frits Peutz. His legacy consists of at least 10 landmark buildings in Heerlen. In 1935 Heerlen's most famous landmark building, the Glaspaleis, was built next to the medieval church in the centre of the then modest town. It was commissioned by the merchant Peter Schunck and it was quite an extraordinary step for this conservative businessman to ask the young Heerlen-based architect Peutz to design the new Schunck department store. It is one of the most outstanding examples of early Modernism in The Netherlands but it was only recognized as such at a fairly late stage (after it had been badly maimed). In the 1990s it was added to a prestigious list of the world's 1000 most important buildings of the 20th century created by the International Union of Architects (only 13 buildings in the Netherlands are on that list). It encouraged the city administrators to buy the dilapidated building and make plans for its renovation. The renovation has now been completed and it now houses several of the city's cultural institutions, including a museum of modern art. The renovated Glaspaleis has become a symbol of the revived Heerlen after the closing of the coalmines.

Although many interesting buildings were demolished around 1900, some older buildings still exist in the centre of Heerlen, for instance, a Romanesque style 12th-century church (Pancratiuskerk), and a former prison tower from around the same period (Schelmentoren).

Other buildings worth mentioning are a Neoclassical chapel (Grafkapel de Loë built in 1848, the only remaining Neoclassical building in Heerlen), and a former mansion annex pharmacy, left in almost the same state as after its 1801–1828 expansion (Huis de Luijff).

In other parts of Heerlen, especially near the numerous small rivers around Heerlen, many older buildings can be found, noticeably a couple of watermills (like the Weltermolen (14th century), Eikendermolen (15th century), Oliemolen (16th century), and Schandelermolen (17th century)), some castles (for instance Hoensbroek Castle oldest part 1380, Kasteel Terworm 15th century) and old farms (Geleenhof (dating back to Roman days), Benzeraderhof (13th century), Hoeve Den Driesch (14th century), Overste Douvenrade (largely destroyed and rebuilt in 1779) and Hoeve de Bek (1796)).

Architects with significant work

[edit]

Here follows a list of architects who have built important landmarks in Heerlen, and those landmarks.

Transport

[edit]

Heerlen has three railway stations:

From Heerlen one can travel to Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Maastricht/Liège, Kerkrade and towards Aachen/Köln in Germany.

Sports

[edit]

The GP Heerlen is a February cyclo-cross race held in Heerlen.

People from Heerlen

[edit]
Main article: List of people from Heerlen
See also: Category:People from Heerlen

A chronological list of notable Heerlenaren (inhabitants of Heerlen):[9]

bust of Frans de Wever, 2011
Klaas de Vries, 2008
Gijs Tuinman, 2014

Public service & public thinking

[edit]

Arts

[edit]
Agnes Giebel, 1953

Sports

[edit]
Tinus Osendarp, 1936

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Burgemeester Paul Depla" [Mayor Paul Depla] (in Dutch). Gemeente Heerlen. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 6411HP". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; Regionale kerncijfers Nederland" [Regional core figures Netherlands]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  6. ^ Heerlen Archived 20 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ Groei van dorp naar stad Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ a b Beschrijving route Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Dorpsfiguren en notabelen Archived 2004-10-21 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Gemeente Heerlen". Archived from the original on 28 November 2004. Retrieved 27 May 2006.
  11. ^ L1 - nieuws en sport uit Limburg Archived 17 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Gietmann, Gerhard (1912). "Wilhelm of Herle" . Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15.
  13. ^ IMDb Database retrieved 26 February 2020
  14. ^ IMDb Database retrieved 26 February 2020
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