Brunssum: NATO Headquarters and Former Mining Town in South Limburg
Brunssum has about 29,300 residents and lies in the eastern part of South Limburg. The town hosted the Hendrik and Julia coal mines until the Dutch mining closures of the 1960s and 1970s. After the mines shut, NATO's Allied Joint Force Command took over part of the former mining infrastructure. The NATO compound, known locally as AFCENT, has been a major employer and brought an international presence to the town since 1967.
The Schutterspark, a large municipal park, provides green space in the centre. The Brunssummerheide, a heathland and forest area shared with neighbouring Heerlen, is one of the better-preserved heathlands in Limburg and has been granted Natura 2000 status. The hilly terrain and loess soils distinguish this area from the flat Netherlands further north.
Heerlen is about 5 kilometres south. Kerkrade lies roughly 5 kilometres east. Maastricht is approximately 25 kilometres southwest.
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Brunssum has about 29,300 residents and lies in the eastern part of South Limburg. The town hosted the Hendrik and Julia coal mines until the Dutch mining closures of the 1960s and 1970s. After the mines shut, NATO's Allied Joint Force Command took over part of the former mining infrastructure. The NATO compound, known locally as AFCENT, has been a major employer and brought an international presence to the town since 1967.
The Schutterspark, a large municipal park, provides green space in the centre. The Brunssummerheide, a heathland and forest area shared with neighbouring Heerlen, is one of the better-preserved heathlands in Limburg and has been granted Natura 2000 status. The hilly terrain and loess soils distinguish this area from the flat Netherlands further north.
Heerlen is about 5 kilometres south. Kerkrade lies roughly 5 kilometres east. Maastricht is approximately 25 kilometres southwest.
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