Kerkrade: Former Coal Town on the German Border in South Limburg
Kerkrade has about 49,800 inhabitants and lies in the southeast of Limburg, directly against the German border. For decades the town depended on coal mining: the Domaniale Mijn, operating from 1113 under abbey control, holds a claim to being the oldest coal mine in the Netherlands. The last mines closed in the 1960s and 1970s, triggering a painful economic transition that reshaped the region.
GaiaZoo, a large zoological park that opened in 2005, has become the main visitor attraction. The Abdij Rolduc, a Romanesque former abbey complex from the 12th century, now functions as a conference centre and seminary. The Rodahal, a large events venue, hosts the annual Internationale Vastelaovend carnival celebration and other cultural events.
Heerlen borders to the west. Aachen in Germany is only 5 kilometres east, and the Herzogenrath district practically merges with Kerkrade at the border. The hilly terrain of South Limburg, with its loess soils and sunken lanes, is distinct from the rest of the Netherlands.
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Kerkrade has about 49,800 inhabitants and lies in the southeast of Limburg, directly against the German border. For decades the town depended on coal mining: the Domaniale Mijn, operating from 1113 under abbey control, holds a claim to being the oldest coal mine in the Netherlands. The last mines closed in the 1960s and 1970s, triggering a painful economic transition that reshaped the region.
GaiaZoo, a large zoological park that opened in 2005, has become the main visitor attraction. The Abdij Rolduc, a Romanesque former abbey complex from the 12th century, now functions as a conference centre and seminary. The Rodahal, a large events venue, hosts the annual Internationale Vastelaovend carnival celebration and other cultural events.
Heerlen borders to the west. Aachen in Germany is only 5 kilometres east, and the Herzogenrath district practically merges with Kerkrade at the border. The hilly terrain of South Limburg, with its loess soils and sunken lanes, is distinct from the rest of the Netherlands.
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