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Valkenburg aan de Geul

Valkenburg aan de Geul
Valkeberg aan de Geul
Municipality
Valkenburg city centre
Valkenburg city centre
Flag of Valkenburg aan de Geul
Flag
Coat of arms of Valkenburg aan de Geul
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Valkenburg aan de Geul in a municipal map of Limburg
Location in Limburg
Coordinates: 50°52′N 5°50′E / 50.867°N 5.833°E / 50.867; 5.833Coordinates: 50°52′N 5°50′E / 50.867°N 5.833°E / 50.867; 5.833
Country Netherlands
Province Limburg
Government
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Martin Eurlings (CDA)
Area
 • Total 36.92 km2 (14.25 sq mi)
 • Land 36.73 km2 (14.18 sq mi)
 • Water 0.19 km2 (0.07 sq mi)
Elevation 73 m (240 ft)
Population (May 2014)
 • Total 16,650
 • Density 453/km2 (1,170/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Valkenburger
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postcode 6300–6305, 6325, 6340–6342
Area code 043
Website www.valkenburg.nl

Valkenburg aan de Geul (About this sound pronunciation ) (Limburgish: Valkeberg) is a municipality situated in the southeastern Dutch province of Limburg. The name refers to the central town in the municipality, Valkenburg, and the small river Geul.

Sieges and conquests have been the recurrent theme in the history of Valkenburg, especially in connection with Valkenburg castle, seat of the counts of Valkenburg (or Falkenburg). It was here that Beatrice of Falkenburg grew up, who, in 1269 at the age of 15, married 60-year-old Richard of Cornwall, king of the Holy Roman Empire. In December 1672 the castle was once again destroyed by Dutch troops led by William III, trying to prevent the armies of Louis XIV of France from capturing it, this time not to be rebuilt.

In the 19th century, because of the natural beauty of the area, Valkenburg became a sought-after holiday destination for the well-to-do in the Netherlands. Tourism developed, especially after in 1853 the railway from Maastricht to Heerlen and Aachen opened. Valkenburg railway station is the oldest surviving station in the Netherlands. In the beginning of the 20th century, well-known Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers lived in Valkenburg for several years. He helped develop tourism by designing a hotel, an open-air theater and a copy of the catacombs of Rome. Furthermore, he restored the medieval church and designed several tombs and a chapel in Gothic Revival style in a graveyard situated on Cauberg, a steep hill outside the town center.


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