Sittard-Geleen (; li, Zittert-Gelaen ) is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

in the southeastern

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. It was formed in 2001 from the former municipalities

Sittard Sittard (; ) is a city in the Netherlands, situated in the southernmost province of Limburg. The town is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen and has almost 37.500 inhabitants in 2016. In its east, Sittard borders the German municipa ...

Geleen Geleen (; li, Gelaen ) is a city in the southern part of the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. With 31,670 inhabitants in 2020, it is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen. Geleen is situated along the river Geleenbeek, a right trib ...

and Born. The combined municipality has approximately 92,518 inhabitants (March 2019) and is thus the second most populated municipality in Limburg (after Maastricht with 125,000 inhabitants). Since February 2020, the city has been governed by a coalition of CDA (''Christian Democrats''),

GroenLinks GroenLinks (, ) is a green political party in the Netherlands. It was formed on 1 March 1989 from the merger of four left-wing parties: the Communist Party of the Netherlands, the Pacifist Socialist Party, the Political Party of Radicals and t ...

(''Green'') and the local parties GOB and Stadspartij. The highway connecting the centres of Sittard and Geleen, the Rijkswegboulevard, has been rebuilt to be a main route for cycling and walking. The cycling and walking provision is both generous and continuous. Side road junctions, or crossroads, are made 'subordinate'. The carriageways have been narrowed to one 3m lane in each direction. Parking places have been made, in small groups, at the side of the carriageways. These are made to be 'not easy to use for larger vehicles' and so the road centre is marked as a place for delivery vehicles to stop. Information supplied by the highway engineers: Büro für Stadt und Verkehr (BSV), Aachen, Germany. To the west, Sittard-Geleen borders on

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...

, while to the east, it borders on

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwee ...

Population centres

Born, Broeksittard, Buchten, Einighausen,

, Graetheide,

Grevenbicht Grevenbicht (; li, Beeg ) is a village in the south-eastern Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Sittard-Geleen, Limburg, about 8 km north-west of Sittard, on the east bank of the Meuse river. In 1982, the municipality of Gr ...

, Guttecoven, Holtum, Limbricht,

Munstergeleen Munstergeleen (; li, Munstergelaen ) is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Sittard-Geleen, and it lies in the Western Mine Region (''Westelijke Mijnstreek'' in Dutch). History No one knows exactly ...

, Windraak, Obbicht, Papenhoven, Schipperskerk and

Topography

''Dutch Topographic map of the municipality''

Notable people

* Saint

Charles of Mount Argus Charles of Mount Argus (11 December 1821 – 5 January 1893), was a Dutch Passionist priest who served in 19th-century Ireland. He gained a reputation for his compassion for the sick and those in need of guidance. His reputation for healings ...

(1821 in Munstergeleen – 1893) a canonized Dutch

Passionist The Passionists, officially named Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (), abbreviated CP, is a Catholic clerical religious congregation of Pontifical Right for men, founded by Paul of the Cross in 1720 with a special emphasis on and d ...

priest *

Frederic Adolph Hoefer Frederic Adolph Hoefer (14 April 1850 – 7 October 1938) was a Dutch lieutenant-general, militaria collector and archivist. He trained at the Koninklijke Militaire Academie and is notable for founding the Legermuseum and restoring Doorwerth Cas ...

(1850 in Sittard – 1938) a Dutch lieutenant-general, militaria collector and archivist * Godfrid Storms (1911 in Sittard – 2003) a Dutch professor of Old and Middle English Literature *

Willy Dols Willy Dols (Sittard, 21 March 1911 – Schwesing, 5 November 1944) was a Dutch linguist, dialectologist and phonologist. He was the first one to make a profound study of the diphthongization which is typical for the Sittard dialect, in his dissert ...

(1911 in Sittard – 1944) a Dutch linguist,

dialectologist Dialectology (from Greek , ''dialektos'', "talk, dialect"; and , '' -logia'') is the scientific study of linguistic dialect, a sub-field of sociolinguistics. It studies variations in language based primarily on geographic distribution and their ass ...

and

phonologist Phonology is the branch of linguistics that studies how languages or dialects systematically organize their sounds or, for sign languages, their constituent parts of signs. The term can also refer specifically to the sound or sign system of a ...

Toon Hermans Antoine Gerard Theodore "Toon" Hermans (17 December 1916 – 22 April 2000) was a noted Dutch comedian, singer and writer. Toon Hermans was born in Sittard. He began performing in the 1930s, achieving local, regional and, eventually, nation ...

(1916 in Sittard – 2000) a Dutch comedian, singer and writer *

Settela Steinbach Anna Maria (Settela) Steinbach (23 December 1934, Buchten – 31 July 1944) was a Dutch girl who was gassed in Nazi Germany's Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp. Initially identified as a Dutch Jew, her personal identity and association ...

(1934 in Buchten – 1944) a Dutch girl who was gassed in

Auschwitz-Birkenau Auschwitz concentration camp ( (); also or ) was a complex of over 40 Nazi concentration camps, concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany, occupied Poland (in a portion annexed int ...

Thea Fleming Thea Fleming (also Flemming; born 1942 in Sittard) is a Dutch film actress who spent much of her career in Italy, sometimes credited as Isabella Biancini. She started her career in 1960 as the Dutch Brigitte Bardot. Besides her career as an actre ...

(born 1942 in Sittard) a Dutch film actress * Rein Willems (born 1945 in Geleen) President of

Royal Dutch Shell Shell plc is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New ...

2003–2007 * Paul Derrez (born 1950 in Sittard) a visual artist, a jewelry designer, gallery owner and collector * Jan Cremers (born 1952 in Limbricht) a former Dutch politician and sociologist * Wim Heldens (born 1954 in Sittard) a Dutch realist painter *

Francine Houben Francine Marie Jeanne Houben (; born 2 July 1955)Francine Houben, Architect/Urbanist ...

(born 1955 in Sittard) a Dutch architect *

Mike van Diem Mike van Diem (born 1959, in Druten, grew up in Sittard) is a Dutch film director. In 1990, his short film ''Alaska'' won a Golden Calf for best short film and the Student Academy Award for best foreign student film in the drama category. In 19 ...

(born 1959, grew up in Sittard) a Dutch film director *

Rineke Dijkstra Rineke Dijkstra HonFRPS (born 2 June 1959) is a Dutch photographer. She lives and works in Amsterdam.Laurence Stassen Laurence Jeanne Arnoldine Joseph Stassen (born 8 February 1971, in Sittard) is an independent Dutch politician and a former freelance television presenter of the regional broadcasting TV Limburg. There she presented the program sponsored ''Limburg ...

(born 1971 in Sittard) an independent politician and a former freelance TV presenter * Caspar Poyck (born 1973 in Sittard) a Dutch-American actor, public speaker and chef IMDb Database
retrieved 12 October 2019 * Myrthe Hilkens (born 1979 in Geleen) a Dutch journalist, non-fiction writer and politician * Mo'Jones (formed 2000 in Sittard) is a funk, soul and pop band

Sport

Leo Horn Leopold Sylvain Horn (29 August 1916 – 16 September 1995) was a Dutch football referee. Horn was born in Sittard, where he was a friend of entertainer Toon Hermans. The family moved to Amsterdam in 1928. Horn became a clerk with the textile f ...

(1916 in Sittard – 1995) an international football referee, newspaper columnist and textile manufacturer *

Jan Krekels Jan Jozef Alfons Franciscus Krekels (born 26 August 1947) is a retired cyclist from the Netherlands. He became Olympic champion in the 100 km team time trial in 1968 with Joop Zoetemelk, René Pijnen and Fedor den Hertog; at the same Gam ...

(born 1947 in Sittard) a retired cyclist, 1968 Olympic champion in the 100 km team time trial *

Huub Stevens Hubertus Jozef Margaretha "Huub" Stevens (; born 29 November 1953) is a Dutch former professional football manager and player. Playing career Stevens was born in Sittard. While active, he played for Fortuna Sittard and PSV. During his time at ...

(born 1953 in Sittard) a football manager and former defender with 397 club caps *

Wilbert Suvrijn Wilbert Suvrijn (born 26 October 1962) is a Dutch former professional footballer. Mainly a central defender, he could also operate as a defensive midfielder. Club career Suvrijn was born in Sittard, Limburg. In his country, he represented home ...

(born 1962 in Sittard) a retired Dutch footballer with 341 club caps * Lambert Schuurs (born 1962 in Sittard) a retired handball player and ultra-long-distance runner *

Arnold Vanderlyde Arnold Petrus Maria Vanderlyde (born 24 January 1963) is a Dutch former amateur boxer, who participated in three Summer Olympics (1984, 1988 and 1992) and won three bronze medals in the heavyweight division (≤91 kg). He started boxing a ...

(born 1963 in Sittard) a former Dutch boxer, who participated in three Summer Olympics (1984, 1988 and 1992) and won three bronze medals * Wil Boessen (born 1964 in Sittard) a Dutch retired football player with 397 club caps and manager * Ton Caanen (born 1966 in Geleen) a Dutch football manager. * Rens Blom (born 1977 in Munstergeleen) a Dutch pole vaulter, competed in the

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from S ...

and

2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

Maartje Paumen Maartje Yvonne Helene Paumen (born 19 September 1985) is a former Dutch field hockey player. She is currently assistant coach for Dutch club MOP. She previously played for Dutch clubs Oranje Zwart and HC Den Bosch and Belgian club Royal Antwerp. ...

(born 1985 in Geleen) a former Dutch field hockey player, twice gold medallist at the

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

and

2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012) was an international multi-sport event held from 27 July to 12 August 2012 in London, England, United Kingdom. The first event, th ...

, silver medallist at the

2016 Summer Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...

* Benjamin van den Broek (born 1987 in Geleen) a New Zealand international footballer with 275 club caps *

Rob Bontje Johannes Cornelius Bontje, known as Rob Bontje (born 12 May 1981) is a Dutch professional volleyball player, a former member of the Netherlands national team, and a participant in the Olympic Games Athens 2004. Honours Clubs * FIVB Club World ...

(born 1981 in Grevenbicht) a volleyball player, competed at the

2004 Olympic Games The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...

Sjoerd Winkens Sjoerd Winkens (born 4 May 1983) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a left back. Winkens started his career with MVV Maastricht. He played two seasons for Helmond Sport Helmond Sport is a professional association football c ...

(born 1983 in Geleen) a former professional footballer with over 300 club caps *

Dominick Muermans Dominick Muermans (born 17 July 1984 in Geleen, Netherlands) is a Dutch racing driver. Dominick raced full-time in the Atlantic Championship in the 2008 season. Since 2008, he has raced in the Superleague Formula, in the 2008 season he raced f ...

(born 1984 in Geleen) a Dutch racing driver *

Perr Schuurs Perr Schuurs (born 26 November 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Serie A club Torino. Club career Schuurs made his senior league debut for Sittard on 14 October 2016 in an Eerste Divisie 2–0 home win agai ...

(born 1999 in Nieuwstadt) a Dutch football player, playing for

Ajax Amsterdam Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (), also known as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam, or simply Ajax, is a Dutch professional football club based in Amsterdam, that plays in the , the top tier in Dutch football. Historically, Ajax (named after the l ...

Notes

References

External links

*
Official website
{{Authority control South Limburg (Netherlands) Municipalities of Limburg (Netherlands) Municipalities of the Netherlands established in 2001 Belgium–Netherlands border crossings Germany–Netherlands border crossings