Vaals
Encyclopedia
Vaals is a town in the extreme southeastern part of the Dutch province
of Limburg
, which in its turn finds itself in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.
The municipality covers an area of 23.90 km² in the foothills of the Ardennes
–Eifel
range and is located about 23 km east of Maastricht
and 5 km west of the city centre of Aachen
.
It borders on both Belgium and Germany. The three borders meet on the Drielandenpunt
, a few meters from the highest point of the Netherlands, the Vaalserberg
. The Vaalserberg used to be called "Hubertusberg".
Camerig, Cottessen, Harles, Mamelis, Melleschet, Raren, Rott, Wolfhaag
, Kerkrade
and Maastricht
as well as to Aachen
and surroundings. A sixth of the population is classified as poor in the current national poverty monitor of the Netherlands.
About two million years ago, the area surroudning Vaals was relatively flat. The Meuse
river ran past the villages of Eijsden
, Epen
and Vijlen
towards the North-East. This changes when the Bulge arose, geologically. The area surrounding Vaals rose over Maastricht
and the Meuse river was redirected there. The many small rivers feeding the Meuse river eventually formed the landscape that is currently known as the "Heuvelland".
Vaals has been inhabited for a very long time. Near the Vijlener Forest, archeological traces have been found that indicate that the area was inhabited between 5000BC. Vaals is first mentioned in documents in 1041. The village is then calles either Vals or Vallis, meaning valley. In that time, Emperor Henry III donated land to the St. Adalbert Abbey and to distinguish between the city of Aachen
and this land, it is referred to as "in the valley"/in Vallis. In those days, the centre of the municipality was Holset, also home to a high court of justice.
Given the location of the municipality, Vaals observed many armies passing by. Some of them did not idly pass by. During the war against the Spanish occupation, in 1568, the armed forces of William of Orange
passed through Vaals looted St. Pauls Church.
In 1661 Vaals became a part of the Republic of the United Netherlands. Many wealthy citizens moved to Vaals and turned it into a wealthy industrial hub. A prominent industrial family were the Von Clermonts, who moved from Aachen
to Vaals in 1761 and established a large linen factory, with clientele in Prussia
, Belgium, Austria, Poland and even Russia. In 1717, Tsar Peter the Great visited the Von Clermonts.
In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, and his wife Josephine de Beauharnais
visited Vaals and stayed in Bloemendal Castle, one of the outhouses of the Von Clermont family.
Unofficially, Vaals was adopted into the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, by Governor Sack. Vaals had to orient itself more towards Holland and had to correspond in Dutch from then.
During the Conference of Vienna, it was decided that Aachen
was assigned to Prussia
and Vaals to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
. When Belgium declared itself independent in 1830, Vaals was a part of Belgium until 1839. From 1839 onwards Vaals was reassigned to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Near Vaals four national boundaries, those of Prussia, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Neutral Territory of Moresnet, met. While Moresnet had a flag (Black-White-Blue), it did not have a head of state or a government. As a result of the less than nation-state of Moresnet, in those days at Vaals there are a Four-Border-Point, but no Four-Country-Point. The road "Viergrenzenweg" still exists in Vaals, reminding of this era, lasting from 1839 to 1919, after which Moresnet was absorbed into Belgium.
Due to increased competition and the political closure of the German and Belgian regio to Vaals, industrial activity went down after 1840. Vaals turned from a wealthy industrial town into a leisure and holiday destination for the citizens of Aachen, slightly resembling Monte Carlo
because of its casinos. Germans referred to the town as the "Vaalser Paradies". To stimulate industry and tourism, a tram was installed in 1922 from Aachen, via Vaals to Wijlre
, which was expanded to Maastricht in 1924.
Before and during World War II the borders were closed and Vaals grew isolated due to its remote location in the Netherlands. After the war, commerce rose. Germans visited Vaals on a daily basis, a trade exchange still taking place today. Many inhabitants of Vaals found jobs in Aachen and smuggle routes across the border prospered. The smugglers of Vaal were called "The Owls of Vaals", referring to their nightly endeavours. To this day, Vaals is a tourist site, gathering its income mostly from German, Belgian and Dutch tourists, as well as being a shopping centre for especially Germans.
The village of Vaals can be interpreted as a Dutch suburb
to the German city of Aachen
. A quarter of the inhabitants are German and the village is well embedded in the Aachen local transport system.
The dialect
of Vaals is a part of the Middle German Dialects and is the form of Dutch most deviant from Standard Dutch. Together with the dialect of Cologne
, it is a part of the Ripuarian
language family. It sounds more German than Dutch, partially explained because German has been the shared cultural language of the municipality for centuries, and in some ways, it still is.
Provinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
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...
, which in its turn finds itself in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.
The municipality covers an area of 23.90 km² in the foothills of the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
–Eifel
Eifel
The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany and eastern Belgium. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia, northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate and the south of the German-speaking Community of Belgium....
range and is located about 23 km east of 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...
and 5 km west of the city centre of 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, ...
.
It borders on both Belgium and Germany. The three borders meet on the Drielandenpunt
Vaalserberg
The Vaalserberg is a hill 322.7 metres in height and the highest point in the European part of the Netherlands. The Vaalserberg is located in the province of Limburg, at the south-easternmost edge of the country in the municipality of Vaals, near the eponymous town, some three kilometres west of...
, a few meters from the highest point of the Netherlands, the Vaalserberg
Vaalserberg
The Vaalserberg is a hill 322.7 metres in height and the highest point in the European part of the Netherlands. The Vaalserberg is located in the province of Limburg, at the south-easternmost edge of the country in the municipality of Vaals, near the eponymous town, some three kilometres west of...
. The Vaalserberg used to be called "Hubertusberg".
Villages
Number of inhabitants per 1/1/2005:EWLINE
|
Municipalities
Next to these official villages and towns, the Vaals municipality also hosts a number of townships:Camerig, Cottessen, Harles, Mamelis, Melleschet, Raren, Rott, Wolfhaag
Local politics
Vaals is the place in the Netherlands with the highest portion of German inhabitants (26%). With the last local elections on 7 March 2006 Georg Götz, a German citizen with the "Burgerbelang" party, was elected into the local council. A first in the history of the Netherlands. On 3 March 2010 he repeats his success with his own party "Betaalbaar & Duurzaam Vaals" (B&DV, Affordable & Sustainable Vaals). Actually Babette Lemmer from "Vrij & Onafhankelijk" (V&O, Free & Independent), a further German citizen, was elected into the local council (13 seats), too. Since that time Vaals has been administered by a coalition of PvdA (social democrats, 2 seats), B&DV (2 seats), and V&O (3 seats).Economy
Tourism is regarded as the main source of income for Vaals. The neighbouring coal industry and textile industry were to a large extent lost starting from the 1960s. Most inhabitants commute today to the larger neighbouring cities of HeerlenHeerlen
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, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
, Kerkrade
Kerkrade
Kerkrade is a town and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.It is the western half of the divided region and de facto city, taken together with the eastern half, the German town of Herzogenrath...
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...
as well as to 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, ...
and surroundings. A sixth of the population is classified as poor in the current national poverty monitor of the Netherlands.
History
Its occupation in ancient Roman times is recorded by its name itself which comes from Latin 'Vallis' - in the valley. It is one of the few places in the Netherlands with a name deriving from Latin. In Roman times, the south of the Dutch province of Limburg was a densely populated part of the Roman empire, with its regional focus on Cologne (Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium), for a while even capital of the Western Roman Empire.About two million years ago, the area surroudning Vaals was relatively flat. The Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
river ran past the villages of Eijsden
Eijsden
Eijsden is a place situated in the southern part of the Dutch province of Limburg. Until January 1st, 2011 it was the main village in a municipality with the same name. On that date this municipality merged with a neighbouring one, which resulted in the new Eijsden-Margraten municipality.Eijsden...
, Epen
Epen
Epen is a town in the southern part of the Dutch province of Limburg. It is a part of the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem, and lies about 15 km southwest of Kerkrade. The town is known for its timber framed houses and is part of the sightseeing tour the Mergellandroute.In 2005, Epen had 740...
and Vijlen
Vijlen
Vijlen is a village in the South-East part of the Dutch province Limburg. The village is constituted of a number of hamlets, among which Mamelis, Camerig, Harles and Cottessen. Including these hamlets, Vijlen has around 1500 inhabitants and is part of the municipality of Vaals...
towards the North-East. This changes when the Bulge arose, geologically. The area surrounding Vaals rose over 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...
and the Meuse river was redirected there. The many small rivers feeding the Meuse river eventually formed the landscape that is currently known as the "Heuvelland".
Vaals has been inhabited for a very long time. Near the Vijlener Forest, archeological traces have been found that indicate that the area was inhabited between 5000BC. Vaals is first mentioned in documents in 1041. The village is then calles either Vals or Vallis, meaning valley. In that time, Emperor Henry III donated land to the St. Adalbert Abbey and to distinguish between the city of 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, ...
and this land, it is referred to as "in the valley"/in Vallis. In those days, the centre of the municipality was Holset, also home to a high court of justice.
Given the location of the municipality, Vaals observed many armies passing by. Some of them did not idly pass by. During the war against the Spanish occupation, in 1568, the armed forces of William of Orange
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
passed through Vaals looted St. Pauls Church.
In 1661 Vaals became a part of the Republic of the United Netherlands. Many wealthy citizens moved to Vaals and turned it into a wealthy industrial hub. A prominent industrial family were the Von Clermonts, who moved from 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, ...
to Vaals in 1761 and established a large linen factory, with clientele in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, Belgium, Austria, Poland and even Russia. In 1717, Tsar Peter the Great visited the Von Clermonts.
In 1803, Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France, and his wife Josephine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais had been guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she had been imprisoned in the Carmes prison until her release five days after Alexandre's...
visited Vaals and stayed in Bloemendal Castle, one of the outhouses of the Von Clermont family.
Unofficially, Vaals was adopted into the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, by Governor Sack. Vaals had to orient itself more towards Holland and had to correspond in Dutch from then.
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, ...
was assigned to Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Vaals to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
. When Belgium declared itself independent in 1830, Vaals was a part of Belgium until 1839. From 1839 onwards Vaals was reassigned to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Near Vaals four national boundaries, those of Prussia, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Neutral Territory of Moresnet, met. While Moresnet had a flag (Black-White-Blue), it did not have a head of state or a government. As a result of the less than nation-state of Moresnet, in those days at Vaals there are a Four-Border-Point, but no Four-Country-Point. The road "Viergrenzenweg" still exists in Vaals, reminding of this era, lasting from 1839 to 1919, after which Moresnet was absorbed into Belgium.
Due to increased competition and the political closure of the German and Belgian regio to Vaals, industrial activity went down after 1840. Vaals turned from a wealthy industrial town into a leisure and holiday destination for the citizens of Aachen, slightly resembling Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
because of its casinos. Germans referred to the town as the "Vaalser Paradies". To stimulate industry and tourism, a tram was installed in 1922 from Aachen, via Vaals to Wijlre
Wijlre
Wijlre is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.Wijlre was a separate municipality until 1982, when it was merged with Gulpen.-External links: Map of the former municipality, around 1868....
, which was expanded to Maastricht in 1924.
Before and during World War II the borders were closed and Vaals grew isolated due to its remote location in the Netherlands. After the war, commerce rose. Germans visited Vaals on a daily basis, a trade exchange still taking place today. Many inhabitants of Vaals found jobs in Aachen and smuggle routes across the border prospered. The smugglers of Vaal were called "The Owls of Vaals", referring to their nightly endeavours. To this day, Vaals is a tourist site, gathering its income mostly from German, Belgian and Dutch tourists, as well as being a shopping centre for especially Germans.
The village of Vaals can be interpreted as a Dutch suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
to the German city of 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, ...
. A quarter of the inhabitants are German and the village is well embedded in the Aachen local transport system.
The dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of Vaals is a part of the Middle German Dialects and is the form of Dutch most deviant from Standard Dutch. Together with the dialect of 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...
, it is a part of the Ripuarian
Ripuarian
Ripuarian is a German dialect group, part of the West Central German language group....
language family. It sounds more German than Dutch, partially explained because German has been the shared cultural language of the municipality for centuries, and in some ways, it still is.
Notable people
- Ronald WaterreusRonald WaterreusRonald Katarina Martinus Waterreus is a former Dutch football goalkeeper, who most notably played for PSV Eindhoven, before ending his career at New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer.-Club career:...
(from Lemiers), retired football goalkeeper - John Bröcheler (from Vaals), an opera singer with performances all over the world