Roermond, situated at the confluence of the Roer and the Maas, is an important cultural center as well as the economic center of the Dutch frontier area sandwiched between Belgium and Germany. It is the see of a bishop (established 1569), with an episcopal seminary. Other cultural institutions include colleges of agriculture and several museums
and libraries. There are an important Chamber of Industry and Commerce and a large market for the sale of agricultural produce. Roermond also has a diversified range of industry. The most important branches are metalworking, electrical engineering and chemicals, followed by textiles, papermaking and foodstuffs (mushroom canning). The leading Dutch architect Petrus (Pierre) Josephus Hubertus Cuypers (1827-1921) was born in Roermond; his birthplace now houses the Municipal Museum. Among the buildings he designed were the Central Station and Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and numerous churches (mostly restorations of medieval churches).
The town first appears in the records in the middle of the 12th century under the name of Ruregemunde. It received its municipal charter in 1230, soon afterwards became the chief town of the Overkwartier of Gelderland and in 1441 joined the Hanseatic League. From 1543 to 1794 it was held by the Habsburgs, and in 1839 became part of the Netherlands.
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