Limburg (Belgium)

Limburg, also known as Belgian Limburg, is a province in Belgium. It is the easternmost of the five Dutch-speaking provinces that make up the Region of Flanders. As of January 2024, about 0.9 million people lived there.

The province sits west of the Meuse river, which separates it from the Dutch province of Limburg. To the south, it borders the French-speaking province of Liège, and to the north and west are areas that were once part of the old Duchy of Brabant. Today, these areas are part of Flemish Brabant, Antwerp, and North Brabant in the Netherlands.

Limburg covers an area of 2,427 km² and includes three areas made up of 44 towns and cities. The main city is Hasselt, with other important places such as Sint-Truiden, Genk, and Tongeren. Tongeren is special because it is the only Roman city in the province and is considered Belgium's oldest city. There is also a small area called Voeren that is part of Limburg but separated from the rest, surrounded by the Netherlands and the province of Liège.

Name

The name Limburg was first used for this area in the 1800s. Before that, the land was part of an old region called the County of Loon, which belonged to the Prince-bishopric of Liège.

During the late 1700s, after the French Revolution and French control of the area, it became part of a French department called the Lower Meuse.

After France was defeated, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 made it part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, calling it the Province of Limburg. The name came from an old and important Duchy of Limburg.

When Belgium became independent in 1830, the province was split in 1839 by the Treaty of London. The western part became part of Belgium, and the eastern part stayed with the Netherlands, but both kept the name Limburg.

History

Main article: History of Belgian Limburg

The history of Belgian Limburg began thousands of years ago. Early farmers from the Middle East brought new ways of growing food and making pottery to the area around 5000 BC. These first groups eventually disappeared, but later farmers continued their work.

During the time of the Romans, the area was known as the home of a group called the Tungri. They lived near a place called Aduatuca, which later became the town of Tongeren. After the Romans left, new groups of people called the Salian Franks moved into the area.

In the Middle Ages, Limburg was part of a larger area known as Lotharingia. The region was influenced by nearby powerful places like the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. Churches and important towns grew during this time.

Later, Limburg was affected by many wars between nearby countries. Even after Belgium became its own country, Limburg was split between Belgium and the Netherlands in 1839. In 1962, Belgian Limburg became officially part of the Flemish-speaking area of Belgium.

Geography

See also: Campine and Hesbaye

The center of Belgian Limburg is crossed by the river Demer and the Albert Canal. They flow in similar directions. The Demer river covers most of central and southern Limburg, except for a small southeastern area where the Jeker river flows by Tongeren and joins the Maas river at Maastricht.

The eastern edge of Limburg lies along the western side of the Maas river, which starts in France. The area drained by the Maas includes the Jeker river and most of northern Limburg.

The southern part of Limburg is part of the Hesbaye region, known for its rich soil, farming, and fruit growing. It has been more crowded in the past. The land becomes hillier toward the southeast, including the separate area of Voeren.

North of the Demer river and the Albert Canal lies the Campine region. This area has sandy soil, heathlands, and forests. It had fewer people until coal mining began in the 1800s, bringing new residents from many places, including countries around the Mediterranean.

Language

Main article: Limburgish language

In this part of Belgium, the main language is Dutch. However, two small towns, Herstappe and Voeren, are allowed to use French sometimes when talking to their people. These towns are special because they have rules that let them use French.

People in this area also speak different versions of Limburgish, which is a special group of dialects. These dialects share some features with both German and Dutch. There is a song called Limburg mijn Vaderland, which is the official anthem for both Belgian and Dutch Limburg, and it comes in many dialect versions.

Because Limburg is close to Germany and Wallonia, many people there know French and German as second languages. Today, English is also widely understood and used, especially in business and cultural activities.

Economy

The economy of Limburg has many different parts. In 2018, the total value of goods and services made in the area was 28.7 billion €. For each person, this was about 29,000 €, which is close to the average for Europe.

Tourism is very important here. Limburg calls itself a “Bicycle Paradise” and has beautiful places to walk, like the High Kempen National Park. The southern part of Limburg, called Haspengouw, grows a lot of fruit—more than half of all the fruit in Belgium comes from here.

In the past, Limburg had many coal mines, but they are no longer open. Even so, this helped the area grow in other ways. Big companies like Ford and Philips used to have big factories here. Today, old factory sites have become places for new ideas and learning, like research campuses and science parks.

Limburg now wants to be a busy trading place in the middle of Europe. It works together with nearby areas in Germany, the Netherlands, and Wallonia.

Culture

Limburg has a rich culture with many traditions. Music is important here, with many towns having their own brass bands. There are also famous music festivals, like Pukkelpop in Hasselt.

The people of Limburg are mainly Roman Catholic. There are also fun traditions like Carnival and folklore events. Sports are very popular, especially bicycle racing and soccer. Motocross is also a big deal here. Outdoor activities like walking and biking through nature are enjoyed by many.

Sports

In Belgium, soccer and cycling are very popular sports, and tennis is also becoming more important. In Limburg, there is a top basketball team called Limburg United. They play their home games at a place called Sporthal Alverberg.

Sights

Limburg in Belgium has many interesting places to visit. Near the town of Genk, you can find Bokrijk, an open-air museum that shows how people lived in the past. Another popular spot is the High Kempen National Park, a beautiful natural area to explore.

You can also visit exciting places like the Terlaemen racing circuit in Zolder, where famous car races and bicycle races have taken place. The area is also home to many old castles and historic buildings, such as the Abbey of Hocht in Lanaken and Duras castle in Sint-Truiden.

Administrative divisions

Limburg in Belgium has different ways it is divided for managing things.

There are special areas called arrondissements, and Limburg has 38 places called municipalities.

There are also judicial cantons, and some of them are Hasselt and Tongeren.

Governors since the Second World War

Main article: List of governors of Limburg, Belgium

Since the end of the Second World War, several people have served as leaders of Limburg in Belgium. Here are the governors of Limburg from recent times:

• Herman Reynders, who started in 2009 and is still serving today.
• Steve Stevaert, who served from 2005 to 2009.
• Hilde Houben-Bertrand, who served from 1995 to 2005.
• Harry Vandermeulen, who served from 1978 to 1995.
• Louis Roppe, who served from 1950 to 1978.

Towns in Limburg

• Bilzen
• Borgloon
• Genk
• Hamont-Achel
• Hasselt
• Maaseik
• Sint-Truiden
• Tongeren
• Zonhoven
• Maastricht
• Diepenbeek
• Alken
• Lummen
• Oudsbergen

Notable Limburgians

Limburg, a province in Belgium, has been home to many famous people throughout history. Ambiorix was a leader of the Gaulish Eburones who fought against Julius Caesar in the 1st century B.C. More recently, Robert Cailliau co-invented the World Wide Web with Tim Berners-Lee.

The region has also produced notable politicians, scientists, artists, and athletes. Jan van Eyck was a famous Flemish painter, while Ingrid Berghmans became a world champion in judo. Kim Clijsters is a well-known tennis player, and Max Verstappen is a successful racing driver. Many other accomplished individuals come from this area, contributing to various fields such as politics, science, sports, and the arts.