Parkstad Limburg, Regional coalition in South Limburg, Netherlands
Parkstad Limburg is a coalition of eight municipalities in southeastern Netherlands, including Heerlen, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, and five others spread across about 211 square kilometers. The area combines urban centers with rural and agricultural spaces, functioning as an integrated regional system.
This area was once the heart of Dutch coal mining, with pits that employed generations of workers throughout the 20th century. When the mines closed in the 1970s, the communities joined together in 1999 to create new economic opportunities through regional cooperation.
The area sits at the Dutch-German border, where daily routines blend across the boundary through shopping, work, and social visits. Residents naturally move between countries, and this cross-border character shapes how the communities feel connected to one another.
Heerlen functions as the main economic hub where shopping and services are concentrated, making it a natural starting point for exploring the region. The municipalities are easily connected, and you can move between urban areas and open countryside within short distances.
Despite being an economic center, more than half of the region remains open countryside with forests, fields, and natural areas rather than built-up space. This balance between urban development and green landscape is uncommon for an industrial area.
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