Limburg (Netherlands)

Limburg is the southern-most of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands, located in the south-east of the country. It is bordered by Belgium in the west, Germany in the east, and the province of North Brabant in the north.

History

Limburg got its name from the fortified castle known as Limbourg, situated on the small river Vesdre in the Ardennes, nowadays in the Belgian province of Liège. It was the seat of a medieval princedom which extended into the Meuse region north of Liège. After the Napoleonic era, the great powers (United Kindom, Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Russia and France) united the region with the new Kingdom of the Netherlands, of which Belgium was also part. The first King, William I, gave the region the name of Limburg. After Belgium gained its independence in 1830, Limburg was split and divided between the two countries in 1839.

Related Topics:
Limburg - Limbourg - Vesdre - Ardennes - Belgian - Province - Liège - Meuse - Napoleonic - United Kindom - Prussia - Austria - Hungary - Russia - France - Kingdom of the Netherlands - Belgium - William I - 1830 - 1839

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For centuries, Limburg's strategic location made it a much-coveted region among Europe's major powers. Romans, Spaniards, Prussians, Austrians and French have all ruled Limburg although Limburgians were always defiant. In 1673, Louis XIV, the Sun King, personally commanded the siege of Maastricht by French troops. During the siege, one of his brigadiers, Count Charles d'Artagnan, one of the three musketeers, perished; he subsequently became known as one of the musketeers in the novel of the same name by Alexander Dumas (1802–1870). Limburg was also the scene of many a bloody battle during the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), in which the Netherlands threw off Spanish rule. At the battle of Mookerhei (14 April 1574), two brothers of Prince William of Orange-Nassau and thousands of "Dutch" mercenaries lost their lives. Most Limburgians fought on the Spanish side, being Catholics and hating the Dutch.

Related Topics:
Limburg - Europe - Romans - Spaniards - Prussians - Austrians - French - Limburgians - 1673 - Louis XIV - Sun King - Maastricht - French troops - Count Charles d'Artagnan - Alexander Dumas - 1802 - 1870 - Eighty Years' War - 1568 - 1648 - Netherlands - Spanish - Mookerhei - 14 April 1574 - Prince William of Orange-Nassau - Catholics

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The Second World War cost the lives of many civilians in Limburg, and a large number of towns and villages were destroyed by bombings and artillery battles. Various cemeteries, too, bear witness to this dark chapter in Limburg's history. Almost eight and a half thousand U.S. soldiers who perished during the liberation of the Netherlands lie buried at the American Military Cemetery in Margraten. Other big war cemeteries are to be found at Overloon (British soldiers) and a cemetery was also constructed in Ysselsteyn in the Municipality of Venray for the 31 thousand German soldiers who lost their lives.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Limburg - American Military Cemetery - Margraten - Overloon - British - Ysselsteyn - Venray - German

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Politically, Limburg used to look like a patch quilt with many counties and other sorts of properties carving up the land. A result that can still be noticed today is that the inhabitants of each municipality speak their own, distinct language.

Related Topics:
Limburg - Counties - Language

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In 1814–1815, with the formation of the new Kingdom of the Netherlands, one of the new provinces was to receive the name Maastricht, after its capital. King William, who did not want the name Limburg to be lost, insisted that the name be changed to Limburg. As such, the name of the new province derived from the old duchy of Limburg that had existed until 1648 within the triangle Maastricht – Liège – Aachen.

Related Topics:
1815 - Kingdom of the Netherlands - Maastricht - King William - Limburg - Duchy of Limburg - 1648 - Liège - Aachen

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When the Netherlands and Belgium separated in 1830, there was support for adding Limburg to Belgium, but in the end (1839) the province was divided in two, with the eastern part going to the Netherlands and the western part to Belgium. Dutch Limburg was from that moment on, as the Duchy Limburg, also part of the German Confederation.

Related Topics:
Belgium - 1830 - 1839 - German Confederation

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The province used the title 'duchy' until 1906. Another idiosyncrasy survives today: the head of the province, referred to as the "Queen's Commissioner" in other provinces, is addressed as "Governor" in Limburg.

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In December 1991 the European Community (nowadays European Union) held a summit in Maastricht. At that summit, the so-called Maastricht treaty was signed by the European Community member states. The original name for that treaty was "Treaty of the European Union". With that treaty, the European Union came into existence.

Related Topics:
European Community - European Union - Maastricht - Maastricht treaty - Treaty of the European Union

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In 't Bronsgroen Eikenhout is the 'official' anthem of the region of Limburg, both in Belgium and the Netherlands.

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