Beek (; li, Baek ) is a town and

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

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 ...

, in the province of Limburg. As of 2012, Beek has a population of about 16,400, of which about 8,800 live in the town of Beek. The municipality of Beek makes part of the region of South Limburg and lies between the city of

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 tributa ...

in the north and

Maastricht Maastricht ( , , ; li, Mestreech ; french: Maestricht ; es, Mastrique ) is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Limburg. Maastricht is located on both sides of the ...

in the south, and lies furthermore southeast of interchange Kerensheide and the chemical industries of Chemelot. It has a slightly hilly landscape with altitudes differing between above

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardise ...

, and has two small forests: Kelmonderbos between Beek and Kelmond, and Spaubekerbos near Spaubeek. The Keutelbeek flows through and has its source in the municipality of Beek.

Population centres

Settlements in the municipality of Beek (population within brackets on 1 January 2005). Town: * Beek (8,770)

History

In 1982, Spaubeek merged with Beek and the municipality got his current size. In 2005, an

archaeological site An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology an ...

was found between Beek and Neerbeek, consisting of the remainings of a settlement from 5,000 BC. Because of this, Beek is considered the eldest village in the Netherlands.

Buildings

Noteworthy buildings: * Sint-Hubertusmolen, (Mill of

Saint Hubertus Hubertus or Hubert ( 656 – 30 May 727 A.D.) was a Christian saint who became the first bishop of Liège in 708 A.D. He is the patron saint of hunters, mathematicians, opticians and metalworkers. Known as the "Apostle of the Ardennes", he was ...

) in Klein Genhout, dated 1801-1802 * Sint-Hubertuskerk, (Church of Saint Hubertus) in Groot Genhout, by architect Alphons Boosten * Kasteel Genbroek, a castle near Geverik

Transportation

The municipality of Beek is surrounded by

A2 motorway This is a list of roads designated A2. Roads entries are sorted alphabetically by country. * A2 motorway (Albania), a road connecting Vlore with Fier * A002 road (Argentina), a road connecting Avenida General Paz and Ministro Pistarini Internat ...

(Amsterdam-Belgian border) in the west and A76 motorway (Belgian border-German border) in the north. The municipality has two railway stations: * Beek-Elsloo railway station in the west * Spaubeek railway station in the east Beek also contains an airport: *

Maastricht Aachen Airport Maastricht Aachen Airport is a regional airport in Beek in Limburg, Netherlands, located northeast of Maastricht and northwest of Aachen, Germany. It is the second-largest hub for cargo flights in the Netherlands. As of 2016, the airport h ...

in the south

Economy

When KLM exel operated, its head office was on the grounds of

in Beek. When V Bird operated, its head office was on the grounds of the airport.Contact
" V Bird. 24 June 2004. Retrieved on 18 July 2010.

Politics

The

municipal council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural coun ...

of Beek has 17 seats. The executive board (2018-Current) consists of five persons:

Mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as ...

: * Christine van Basten - Boddin, ( D66) 2015 - Current

Aldermen An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members th ...

: * Thijs van Es (BBB-NDB) * Hub Schoenmakers (BBB-NDB) * Ralph Diederen (CDA) * Hub Hodzelmans (CDA) Esther de Lange

Notable people

* Pyke Koch (1901–1991), a Dutch artist who painted in a magic realist manner *

Léon Frissen Leonardus Johannes Petrus Maria (Léon) Frissen (Beek, 24 June 1950) was Queen's Commissioner or Queen's Governor of the province of Limburg, Netherlands. In the Dutch province of Limburg, the Queen's Commissioner is usually called "Gouverneur" ...

(born 1950), a Dutch politician, Queen's Commissioner of the province of Limburg * Marc Borghans (born 1960), a Dutch runner *

Frans Weekers Frans Hubertus Henricus Weekers (born 17 October 1967) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and lawyer. Early life and education Weekers was born in Weert, in the province Limburg. His father was an accou ...

(born 1967), a Dutch politician and lawyer, Mayor of Beek 2015 to 2016 * Ralf Krewinkel (born 1974), a Dutch politician, Mayor of Beek 2011 to 2015 *

Esther de Lange Esther M. R. de Lange (; born 19 February 1975) is a Dutch politician serving as a Member of the European Parliament since 2007. A member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), part of the European People's Party (EPP), she was elected as del ...

(born 1975 in Spaubeek), a Dutch politician,

Member of the European Parliament A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Commu ...

since 2007 *

Maud Welzen Maud Welzen (born 13 November 1993) is a Dutch model and former Victoria Secret model. She currently resides in New York, and has been married to Bram Aarts since 31 August 2019. Career Welzen was discovered in Paris while on a school trip at th ...

(born 1993), a Dutch model

Gallery

File:Beek (Limburg)-Sint-Martinuskerk (4).JPG, Beek, Sint-Martinuskerk File:Genbroek-oostvleugel-001.JPG, Kasteel Genbroek-oostvleugel File:Hubertusmolen-10.jpg, St. Hubertus molen te Genhout File:Spaubeek-Groeve Spaubeek (13).jpg, Spaubeek-Groeve Quarry, Spaubeek

References

;Notes ;Bibliography * Nederland Dichterbij: Limburg, ''

Reader's Digest ''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his w ...

'', 1995

External links

* * {{Authority control Municipalities of Limburg (Netherlands) Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands) South Limburg (Netherlands)