Heerlen
Encyclopedia
Heerlen is a city
and a municipality
in the southeastern Netherlands
. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg
. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg
, (formerly known as "Oostelijke Mijnstreek"), an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.
After its early Roman beginnings and a rather 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.
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 a lot of 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 swopped 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. Being in the border region, close to the Spanish territories
, it remained quite isolated 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 (the London Conference), 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 coalmining began in the late 19th/early 20th century. In March 1874, coal
had been found at the Valkenburgerweg. However, setting up a mine is 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. 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, the period during which mayor Van Grunsven was mayor of Heerlen. The golden years of coalmining 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 coalmines 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 cityshape of modern-day Heerlen very little reminds us 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 in to lushes green hills during an operation called van zwart naar groen (Dutch for from black to green). Even the tallest mine chimney of Europe, 'Lange Lies' ('Long Lies') and her older brother 'Lange Jan' ('Long John), once major landmarks, were demolished. On of the few remaining mining buildings (shaft 2 of the Oranje Nassau I) now houses the Dutch Mine Museum.
Heerlen is part of the agglomeration
Parkstad Limburg
, formerly known as Oostelijke Mijnstreek.
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.
) is provided by Stichting Gezondheidszorg Oostelijk Zuid-Limburg (G.O.Z.L.). Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad (Atrium Medical Center Parkstad), is the name of the different hospitals in the Parkstad, and is part of G.O.Z.L. Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad 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.
The city's best known architect is without doubt Frits Peutz
. His legacy consist 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 influentious modern buildings (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 more 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, 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)).
A chronological list of notable Heerlenaren (inhabitants of Heerlen)
From Heerlen you can travel to Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Kerkrade and into Germany.
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and a municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the southeastern Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg
Parkstad Limburg
Parkstad Limburg is a collaboration between seven municipalities . They work together to improve public services, transport and housing on a regional level...
, (formerly known as "Oostelijke Mijnstreek"), an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.
After its early Roman beginnings and a rather 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
Frits Peutz
F.P.J. Peutz was a Dutch architect.Peutz was born in a Catholic family in Uithuizen in Groningen, a mostly Protestant province in the north of the Netherlands. In 1910 he was sent to the Rolduc boarding school in Kerkrade in the Catholic province of Limburg for his higher education. In 1914 he...
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
Glaspaleis
The Glaspaleis is a modernist building in Heerlen, Netherlands, built in 1935. Formerly a fashion house and department store, Schunck, it is now the cultural centre of the city...
(Glass Palace), listed as one of the world's thousand most architecturally important buildings of the 20th century.
History
In 1997, a habitation from the Michelsberg culture (4400 - 3500 BC) was excavated at the Schelsberg, near Heerlen. Archeological finds from this period are rare in the Netherlands. The site is unique in the Netherlands, as it is the first excavated site with ditches and earth walls (earthworks).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
Boulogne Sur Mer
Boulogne Sur Mer is a town in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. It is in San Isidro Partido and forms part of the Greater Buenos Aires urban conurbation, 16 km north of Buenos Aires. It has a population of 73,496...
- Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
and Xanten
Xanten
Xanten is a historic town in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located in the district of Wesel.Xanten is known for the Archaeological Park or archaeological open air museum , its medieval picturesque city centre with Xanten Cathedral and many museums, its large man-made lake for...
- Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
- Trier
Trier
Trier, historically called in English Treves is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC....
. In Heerlen and its surroundings a lot of evidence of Roman life has been excavated, especially Roman villas (country estates). The most notable archeological excavation from Roman times is the Thermae
Thermae
In ancient Rome, thermae and balnea were facilities for bathing...
complex in the centre of Heerlen, a Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
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.
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
Voerendaal
- Population centres :Barrier, Colmont, Craubeek, Dolberg, Eyserheide, Fromberg, Heek, Hellebeuk, Klimmen, Koulen, Kunrade, Mingersberg, Opscheumer, Overheek, Ransdaal, Retersbeek, Termaar, Termoors, Ubachsberg, Voerendaal, Weustenrade, Winthagen.-History:...
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
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
, but in 1388, along with Hoensbroek
Hoensbroek
Hoensbroek is a Dutch town in the municipality of Heerlen. It is situated in the southeast of Limburg, a province in the southeast of the Netherlands. Until 1982, Hoensbroek was a separate municipality....
, 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 swopped 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. Being in the border region, close to the Spanish territories
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, it remained quite isolated until 1793, when the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
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
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
. In 1839 however, as a result of an agreement between the main European powers (the London Conference), it became part of the Netherlands again.
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
had been found at the Valkenburgerweg. However, setting up a mine is 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
DSM (company)
DSM is a multinational life sciences and materials sciences-based company. DSM's global end markets include food and dietary supplements, personal care, feed, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automotive, paints, electrical and electronics, life protection, alternative energy and bio-based materials...
. 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. 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, the period during which mayor Van Grunsven was mayor of Heerlen. The golden years of coalmining 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
Groningen (province)
Groningen [] is the northeasternmost province of the Netherlands. In the east it borders the German state of Niedersachsen , in the south Drenthe, in the west Friesland and in the north the Wadden Sea...
. In the period 1965–1975 the coalmines 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.
Heerlen is part of the agglomeration
Agglomeration
In the study of human settlements, an urban agglomeration is an extended city or town area comprising the built-up area of a central place and any suburbs linked by continuous urban area. In France, INSEE the French Statistical Institute, translate it as "Unité urbaine" which means continuous...
Parkstad Limburg
Parkstad Limburg
Parkstad Limburg is a collaboration between seven municipalities . They work together to improve public services, transport and housing on a regional level...
, formerly known as Oostelijke Mijnstreek.
Education
Among the educational institutes in Heerlen is Hogeschool Zuyd, which is a University of Applied Sciences with branches in Heerlen, SittardSittard
Sittard is a city in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is the southernmost province of the Netherlands.On the east Sittard borders on Germany . It has some 48,400 inhabitants . Sittard is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen...
and Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
. 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 LimburgParkstad Limburg
Parkstad Limburg is a collaboration between seven municipalities . They work together to improve public services, transport and housing on a regional level...
) is provided by Stichting Gezondheidszorg Oostelijk Zuid-Limburg (G.O.Z.L.). Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad (Atrium Medical Center Parkstad), is the name of the different hospitals in the Parkstad, and is part of G.O.Z.L. Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad location Heerlen was previously known as de Wever ziekenhuis named after Frans de Wever
Frans de Wever
Frans Marie Joseph de Wever was a Dutch general practitioner, municipal doctor, rail doctor, mining doctor, and hospital founder -Early years in Heerlen:...
, who in 1904, together with mgr. Joseph Savelberg
Joseph Savelberg
Peter Joseph Savelberg was a Roman-Catholic priest and congregation founder ....
, founded the first hospital in Heerlen.
Architecture
Frits Peutz
F.P.J. Peutz was a Dutch architect.Peutz was born in a Catholic family in Uithuizen in Groningen, a mostly Protestant province in the north of the Netherlands. In 1910 he was sent to the Rolduc boarding school in Kerkrade in the Catholic province of Limburg for his higher education. In 1914 he...
. His legacy consist of at least 10 landmark buildings in Heerlen. In 1935 Heerlen's most famous landmark building, the Glaspaleis
Glaspaleis
The Glaspaleis is a modernist building in Heerlen, Netherlands, built in 1935. Formerly a fashion house and department store, Schunck, it is now the cultural centre of the city...
, was built next to the medieval church in the centre of the then modest town. It was commissioned by the merchant Peter Schunck
Schunck
Schunck is the name of former fashion house and department store Firma Schunck in Heerlen, the Netherlands. It is also the name for the collection of buildings the firm has been housed in, one of which is known as the Glaspaleis , which is now a cultural centre and declared one of the 1000 most...
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
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
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 influentious modern buildings (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
Pancratiuskerk
The Pancratiuskerk is a Roman Catholic church in Heerlen in the Netherlands.-History:Although no written sources about the origin of the church are known, a comparative study concludes that building started in the first half of the 12th century...
), and a former prison tower from around the same period (Schelmentoren
Schelmentoren
The Schelmentoren in Heerlen is a Medieval Building that has served as a defendable living tower for the Here van Are and their successors. As part of the Landsfort Herle, it served as a prison tower. It is believed to be built on command of Theoderich van Are...
).
Other buildings worth mentioning are a Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
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 more older buildings can be found, noticeably a couple of watermills (like the Weltermolen
Weltermolen
The Weltermolen is a watermill located in Welten, Heerlen in the Netherlands. It is fed by the Geleenbeek, with some extra force created by a largely man-made pond ....
(14th century), Eikendermolen (15th century), Oliemolen
Oliemolen
The Oliemolen is a 16th-century watermill located at the foot of a steep hill in the Aambos, Heerlen in the Netherlands. The name already tells us much about its function, extracting oil, but this was not always the case, it first function as a volmolen...
(16th century), and Schandelermolen (17th century)), some castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s (for instance Hoensbroek Castle
Hoensbroek Castle
Castle Hoensbroek or Gebrookhoes is one of the largest castles in the Netherlands. It is situated in Hoensbroek, a town in the province of Limburg. This imposing watercastle is known as 'the most lordly stronghold between Rhine and Meuse'...
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
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, HarlingenHarlingen, NetherlandsHarlingen is a municipality and a city in the northern Netherlands, in the province of Friesland at the Wadden Sea. Harlingen is an old town with a long history of fishing and shipping....
– 1917): Chapel Savelberg Convent (1878–1879, style: Neogothic) - Jan StuytJan StuytJan Stuyt was a Dutch architect.Stuyt started his architectural career in 1883 at the office of A.C. Bleys , whose neo-Romanesque style would become of great influence on Stuyt...
(1868–1934)): Ambachtsschool (1913, style: Hollands Classicisme) - J. Pauw: Former library (1917, style: Amsterdam SchoolAmsterdam SchoolThe Amsterdam School is a style of architecture that arose from 1910 through about 1930 in The Netherlands...
) - Dirk Roosenburg (1887–1962): Former office Oranje Nassau mine (1928, style: International styleInternational style (architecture)The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
) - Dirk BrouwerDirk Brouwer (Architect)Dirk Brouwer was a Dutch architect. His father was a concierge at a local technical school....
(November 3, 1899–1941): Former HEMAHema (store)HEMA is a Dutch dimestore chain. It was part of the Maxeda company until June 2007, when it was bought by Lion Capital LLP...
building (1939, style: International style) - Frits PeutzFrits PeutzF.P.J. Peutz was a Dutch architect.Peutz was born in a Catholic family in Uithuizen in Groningen, a mostly Protestant province in the north of the Netherlands. In 1910 he was sent to the Rolduc boarding school in Kerkrade in the Catholic province of Limburg for his higher education. In 1914 he...
(April 7, 1896 - October 24, 1974): GlaspaleisGlaspaleisThe Glaspaleis is a modernist building in Heerlen, Netherlands, built in 1935. Formerly a fashion house and department store, Schunck, it is now the cultural centre of the city...
(1933, style: International style), Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat HouseMonseigneur Schrijnen Retreat HouseThe Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat House was designed by the famed architect Frits Peutz in 1932, and named after the 18th bishop of Roermond Laurentius Josephus Antonius Hubertus Schrijnen...
(1932), townhall (1940), municipal theatre - Gerrit RietveldGerrit RietveldGerrit Thomas Rietveld was a Dutch furniture designer and architect. One of the principal members of the Dutch artistic movement called De Stijl, Rietveld is famous for his Red and Blue Chair and for the Rietveld Schröder House, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-Biography:Rietveld was born in...
, (UtrechtUtrecht (city)Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
June 24, 1888- Utrecht June 26, 1964): house on Zandweg (1961–1964) - Jo CoenenJo CoenenJo Coenen is a Dutch architect and urban planner. He studied architecture at the Eindhoven University of Technology , and later held professorships at TU Karlsruhe, Eindhoven University of Technology and Delft University of Technology.Between 2000 and 2004 Coenen was Chief Government Architect of...
(born 1949 in Heerlen-Hoensbroek): Library and entrance Stadsgalerij (1983, 1989)
People from Heerlen
- See also People from Heerlen
A chronological list of notable Heerlenaren (inhabitants of Heerlen)
- Lucius FereniusLucius FereniusLucius Ferenius, around 125 – around 150 Heerlen, was a Roman potter.In 1971 during an excavation on the Putgraaf in Heerlen, an exploded Roman kiln was discovered. Between the pieces of the kiln some fragments of a jar were found with the life story of the potter written on them...
(around 125 (in, what is now, Dilzen, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) – around 150), Potter - M. Sattonius IucundusM. Sattonius IucundusM. Sattonius Iucundus, third centuryDuring an excavation in the Roman Thermae of Heerlen a whinstone was found, pointing to M. Sattonius Iucundus as restorer of the Thermae in the 3rd century, the stone explains he did this as a debt to Fortuna .At that moment Marcus was decurio in Colonia Ulpia...
, third century, restores the Thermae - Count Theoderich van AreTheoderich van AreCount Theoderich van Are was a nephew of bishop Udo van Toul, has uncle bestowed upon him Heerlen and Steinfeld in 1065 . He was made count of Are by Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV ....
(1087–1126), ‘owner’ of Heerlen, probably builder of the SchelmentorenSchelmentorenThe Schelmentoren in Heerlen is a Medieval Building that has served as a defendable living tower for the Here van Are and their successors. As part of the Landsfort Herle, it served as a prison tower. It is believed to be built on command of Theoderich van Are...
(prison tower) - Anna Sophia van SchönbornAnna Sophia van SchönbornAnna Sophia van Schönborn , Countess of Hoensbroek, was probably the mother with the most children who has lived in Kasteel Hoensbroek ....
(around 1696 - November 5, 1760), Countess of Hoensbroek - Baron Jacob Derk Carel van HeeckerenJacob Derk Carel van HeeckerenBaron Jacob Derk Carel van Heeckeren van Kell was a member of the Dutch noble family van Heeckeren. Van Heeckeren studied law at Leiden University. Before 1752 he was working for prince William IV and later became advisor to prince William V...
(October 31, 1730, Zutphen - July 11, 1795, Zutphen), last schoutSchoutIn Dutch-speaking areas, a schout was a local official appointed to carry out administrative, law enforcement and prosecutorial tasks. The office was abolished with the introduction of administrative reforms during the Napoleonic period.- Functions:...
of Heerlen - Jan Gerard KemmerlingJan Gerard KemmerlingJan Gerard Kemmerling was mayor of Heerlen and Nieuwenhagen.When the French arrived in Heerlen in 1795, Kemmerling sympathized with their ideas of Enlightenment and revolution. He became secretary at age 23 for the newly established French Canton Heerlen...
(February 4, 1776 - January 15, 1818), Mayor of Heerlen (1805 - 1818?) - Jan Michiel Dautzenberg (December 6, 1808, [Heerlen - February 4, 1869, Elsene), is the authorFlemish literatureFlemish literature is literature from Flanders, historically a region comprising parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Until the early 19th century, this literature was regarded as an integral part of Dutch literature...
of a volume of Volksliederen. - Egidius SlanghenEgidius SlanghenEgidius Slanghen was the mayor of Hoensbroek from 11 March 1855 till his death and a historian...
(August 23, 1820 - October 12, 1882) - Joseph SavelbergJoseph SavelbergPeter Joseph Savelberg was a Roman-Catholic priest and congregation founder ....
(February 10, 1827, Heerlen – February 11, 1907), Heerlen, Priest and congregation founder, together with Frans de Wever founded the first Hospital - Arnold Schunck (February 11, 1842, Kettenis – October 15, 1905, Heerlen), Founder of the fashion houseFashion HouseFashion House is an American telenovela that aired at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday on MyNetworkTV stations. The series premiered on September 5, 2006 and concluded on December 5, 2006...
and department storeDepartment storeA department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
Firma SchunckSchunckSchunck is the name of former fashion house and department store Firma Schunck in Heerlen, the Netherlands. It is also the name for the collection of buildings the firm has been housed in, one of which is known as the Glaspaleis , which is now a cultural centre and declared one of the 1000 most... - Henri SaroleaHenri SaroleaHenri Sarolea , was a Dutch railway entrepreneur and contractor who settled in Heerlen after having worked on the railways in the Dutch East Indies ....
(January 18, 1844, MaastrichtMaastrichtMaastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
- September 12, 1900, Heerlen), responsible for the first railroadtrack in Heerlen (between HerzogenrathHerzogenrathHerzogenrath is a municipality in the district of Aachen in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It borders the Dutch town of Kerkrade, the national border in one section running along the middle of a main road.-History:...
, Heerlen, and SittardSittardSittard is a city in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is the southernmost province of the Netherlands.On the east Sittard borders on Germany . It has some 48,400 inhabitants . Sittard is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen...
) - M.J. de Hesselle (1855–1935), Mayor of Heerlen (1894–1913) and PharmacistPharmacistPharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
- Frans de WeverFrans de WeverFrans Marie Joseph de Wever was a Dutch general practitioner, municipal doctor, rail doctor, mining doctor, and hospital founder -Early years in Heerlen:...
(1869 - 1940), General PractitionerGeneral practitionerA general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, founder of the first hospital (together with Joseph Savelberg) - Peter Schunck (October 31, 1873, HausetHausetHauset is a village in the Belgian municipality of Raeren into the German-speaking Community of Belgium with around 1700 inhabitants. The village is around 260m over Mean Sea Level, along the small river Geul and borders the Forest of Aachen. The population is German speaking and is about half of...
– July 13, 1960, Heerlen), builder of the GlaspaleisGlaspaleisThe Glaspaleis is a modernist building in Heerlen, Netherlands, built in 1935. Formerly a fashion house and department store, Schunck, it is now the cultural centre of the city... - Marcel van GrunsvenMarcel van GrunsvenMarcel van Grunsven was mayor of Heerlen from 1926 to 1961. He led Heerlen through the crisis years, the Second World War, and the booming mining years. He didn’t fear personal sacrifice, like salary cuts...
(December 4, 1896 - July 24, 1969) Mayor of Heerlen (1926–1961) - Thomas BernhardThomas BernhardThomas Bernhard was an Austrian novelist, playwright and poet. Bernhard, whose body of work has been called "the most significant literary achievement since World War II," is widely considered to be one of the most important German-speaking authors of the postwar era.- Life :Thomas Bernhard was...
, February 9, 1931, Heerlen - February 12, 1989, OhlsdorfOhlsdorfOhlsdorf is a municipality in the district of Gmunden in Upper Austria, Austria....
was an AustriaAustriaAustria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n playwright and novelist, born in Heerlen - Klaas de VriesKlaas de Vries (politician)Klaas George de Vries is a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the PvdA. De Vries has had a long political career: he has been a member of parliament for more than 15 years, he has been a minister, and was involved in forming both Kok cabinets.-Career before politics:After attending a...
, April 28, 1943, HoensbroekHoensbroekHoensbroek is a Dutch town in the municipality of Heerlen. It is situated in the southeast of Limburg, a province in the southeast of the Netherlands. Until 1982, Hoensbroek was a separate municipality....
, is a member of the lower house of the Dutch parliament for the PvdA - Margriet EhlenMargriet EhlenMargriet Ehlen is a Dutch poet and a composer, conductor and educator of classical music.-Life and career:She has composed for a large variety of instruments, yet is particularly active in composition for voice. These works extend from solo vocalists to choir music. Many of her compositions for...
(1943), composer and poet - Jo Ritzen, October 3, 1945, Heerlen, former Minister of EducationDutch Ministry of Education, Culture and ScienceThe Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is the Dutch Ministry of Education: the position is occupied with the Dutch education policy, science policy, culture policy and the Netherlands Public Broadcasting.The current minister is Marja van Bijsterveldt, she is aided by a state secretary, Halbe...
, Chairman of Universiteit MaastrichtUniversiteit MaastrichtMaastricht University is a public university in Maastricht, the Netherlands. Founded in 1976, the university is the second youngest in the Netherlands. The university's founding name was Rijksuniversiteit Limburg and was changed into Universiteit Maastricht in 1996... - Loek HermansLoek HermansLouis Marie Lucien Henri Alphonse Hermans is a Dutch politician and President of UEAPME.-References:...
, April 23, 1951, Heerlen, former Minister of EducationDutch Ministry of Education, Culture and ScienceThe Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is the Dutch Ministry of Education: the position is occupied with the Dutch education policy, science policy, culture policy and the Netherlands Public Broadcasting.The current minister is Marja van Bijsterveldt, she is aided by a state secretary, Halbe...
, former mayor of ZwolleZwolleZwolle is a municipality and the capital city of the province of Overijssel, Netherlands, 120 kilometers northeast of Amsterdam. Zwolle has about 120,000 citizens.-History:...
, Chairman of the Board of Directors to the Stichting Katholieke Universiteit (Board of Directors to both the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen and the UMC St Radboud) - Wiel AretsWiel AretsWiel Arets is a Dutch architect, architectural theorist, urbanist, industrial designer and 'Professor of Building Planning and Design' at the Berlin University of the Arts , Germany. Arets studied at the Technical University of Eindhoven, graduating in 1983...
(1955), Architect - Suzan ErensSuzan ErensSuzan Erens is a Dutch concert singer. Classically trained, her concert repertoire includes arias from opera and operetta as well as musical theatre and pop songs...
,11 November 1976, vocalist with the Johan Strauss Orchestra of Andre RieuAndré RieuAndré Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.- Early life and studies :... - Simone SimonsSimone SimonsSimone Johanna Maria Simons is a Dutch coloratura mezzo-soprano singer who is the lead vocalist of symphonic metal band Epica.-Biography:...
(born on 17 January 1985 in Hoensbroek) is a Dutch mezzo-soprano singer and lead vocalist of symphonic metal band EpicaEpica (band)Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. They are known for their symphonic sound and the use of female vocals and male growls performed by Simone Simons and Mark Jansen, respectively. All six members write...
.
Mines
List of mines that where located in, what is now, Heerlen- Oranje Nassau IOranje Nassau IThe Oranje Nassau I was a Dutch coal mine located in Heerlen. The mine was in operation from 1899 until 1974.The Oranje Nassau I was the oldest and second largest of the four Oranje Nassau Mijnen-mines, and close to the mine there were several laundries and a large electric power station...
, 1899–1974, now used in the Minewater ProjectMinewater ProjectThe Minewater Project, based in Heerlen and other areas, aims to demonstrate how the geothermal energy stored by mine water can be used as a safe and ecological way to heat buildings.-Aims:The aims of the pilot projects are:... - Oranje Nassau IIIOranje Nassau IIIThe Oranje Nassau III was a Dutch coal mine located in Heerlen. The mine was in operation from 1914 until 1973.-External links:* http://citg.tudelft.nl/?id=18387 Coal Mining in the Netherlands...
, 1917–1973, now used in the Minewater ProjectMinewater ProjectThe Minewater Project, based in Heerlen and other areas, aims to demonstrate how the geothermal energy stored by mine water can be used as a safe and ecological way to heat buildings.-Aims:The aims of the pilot projects are:... - Oranje Nassau IVOranje Nassau IVThe Oranje Nassau IV , the last and smallest mine exploited by the Oranje Nassau Mijnen, started its life as a ventilation shaft for Oranje Nassau III. In 1910 the construction of a mine shaft was started. However the construction was halted and only reassumed in 1919...
, 1927–1966 - Staatsmijn EmmaStaatsmijn EmmaThe Staatsmijn Emma was a Dutch coal mine located in Treebeek and Hoensbroek . The mine was in operation from 1911 till 1973....
, 1911–1973
Transportation
Heerlen has three railway stations- HeerlenHeerlen railway station-History:The station was opened on 1 May 1896 and is located on the Sittard–Herzogenrath railway and the Heerlen–Schin op Geul railway. The station was an important mining station, until the mines closed down. From Heerlen, you can travel to Aachen and some other destinations in Germany, nearer to...
- Heerlen de KisselHeerlen de Kissel railway station-History:The station opened on 9 December 2007 and is on the Sittard–Herzogenrath railway and the Heuvellandlijn . The services are operated by Veolia and Deutsche Bahn.-Major destinations:Major destinations from Heerlen de Kissel include:...
- Heerlen WoonboulevardHeerlen Woonboulevard railway stationHeerlen Woonboulevard is a railway station, in west Heerlen, The Netherlands.-History:The station opened on June 13, 2010. The station lies on the Heuvellandlijn and is located between Voerendaal and Heerlen....
From Heerlen you can travel to Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Kerkrade and into Germany.
Miscellaneous
- The GlaspaleisGlaspaleisThe Glaspaleis is a modernist building in Heerlen, Netherlands, built in 1935. Formerly a fashion house and department store, Schunck, it is now the cultural centre of the city...
is on list of 1000 most important buildings of the 20th century created by the International Union of ArchitectsInternational Union of ArchitectsThe International Union of Architects is an international non-governmental organization that represents over a million architects in 124 countries. The UIA was founded in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1948. The General Secretariat is located in Paris... - Heerlen houses the biggest Furniture strip of Europe, with m² floorspace after the opening of the biggest ( m² IkeaIKEAIKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer...
of the BeneluxBeneluxThe Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe comprising three neighbouring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. These countries are located in northwestern Europe between France and Germany...
on the 27th of August 2008. - On October 1, 2008, the World’s first minewaterMinewater ProjectThe Minewater Project, based in Heerlen and other areas, aims to demonstrate how the geothermal energy stored by mine water can be used as a safe and ecological way to heat buildings.-Aims:The aims of the pilot projects are:...
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
See also
- Mayors of Heerlen
- Heerlen at Wikimedia commons