South Limburg Attractions
Limburg is the most southerly of the Dutch provinces. In South Limburg (Zuid-Limburg), at Vaals, is the Drielandenpunt ("Three Countries Point") where the frontiers of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet. South Limburg is a plateau ranging in height between 50m/165ft and 300m/1,000ft which is built up from Cretaceous limestone, Tertiary sands and massive layers of gravel, overlaid by a fertile layer of loess laid down during the Ice Age. The various tributaries of the Maas dissect the region into a number of different parts. The chalky soil has produced a landscape of great beauty, popularly known as "Little Switzerland".
The economic structure of the South Limburg industrial region, around the towns of Maastricht, Sittard, Geleen, Heerlen and Kerkrade, was almost exclusively based on coal and lignite mining, but the last of its 12 pits - one of them the largest in Europe - was closed down in 1975. Annual output declined rapidly from some 10million tons in 1966 to 4.3million tons in 1970; and now coal must be imported into the region.
The closing of the pits was accompanied by a planned restructuring of the coal-related industries of the region. One of the best known examples was the establishment of a branch factory of the Dutch car manufacturing firm DAF (now Volvo), which provided employment for much of the work force of the Maurits pit (opened 1924) at Geleen. At Geleen, too, the huge chemical firm DSM became one of the largest employers in South Limburg. Other branches of industry are textiles, paper-making, ceramics, leather goods and glass-making. Maastricht Airport, near Beek, is now an important center of air freight traffic.
The economic structure of the South Limburg industrial region, around the towns of Maastricht, Sittard, Geleen, Heerlen and Kerkrade, was almost exclusively based on coal and lignite mining, but the last of its 12 pits - one of them the largest in Europe - was closed down in 1975. Annual output declined rapidly from some 10million tons in 1966 to 4.3million tons in 1970; and now coal must be imported into the region.
The closing of the pits was accompanied by a planned restructuring of the coal-related industries of the region. One of the best known examples was the establishment of a branch factory of the Dutch car manufacturing firm DAF (now Volvo), which provided employment for much of the work force of the Maurits pit (opened 1924) at Geleen. At Geleen, too, the huge chemical firm DSM became one of the largest employers in South Limburg. Other branches of industry are textiles, paper-making, ceramics, leather goods and glass-making. Maastricht Airport, near Beek, is now an important center of air freight traffic.
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River Maas (Meuse)
The Maas (in French Meuse) rises on the Langres plateau in France at a height of 456m/1,496ft above sea level and flows through French territory for 450km/280mi and through Belgium for 192km/119mi before reaching the Netherlands. For part of its course between Liège and Maastricht it forms the frontier between Belgium and the Netherlands. South of Nijmegen it turns west and flows parallel with the Waal, the southern arm of the Rhine - sometimes linking up with it - for 260km/160mi before reaching the Biesbosch in the delta area and flowing into the Hollands Diep.
Plans were developed from an early stage for improving the navigability of the Maas throughout the year. In 1904 it was diverted from Woudrichem to Geertruidenberg, where the water level at ebb tide was lower. Various bends were straightened and considerable stretches of the river were canalized. The Julianakanaal, a lateral canal between Maastricht and Maasbracht opened in 1935, has been of great benefit to the Limburg industrial region; it lies higher than the surrounding country and gives the impression that ships on the canal are sailing on land.
Plans were developed from an early stage for improving the navigability of the Maas throughout the year. In 1904 it was diverted from Woudrichem to Geertruidenberg, where the water level at ebb tide was lower. Various bends were straightened and considerable stretches of the river were canalized. The Julianakanaal, a lateral canal between Maastricht and Maasbracht opened in 1935, has been of great benefit to the Limburg industrial region; it lies higher than the surrounding country and gives the impression that ships on the canal are sailing on land.
