Valkenburg aan de Geul

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Valkenburg aan de Geul

---

mapsize = 280px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Netherlands
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Limburg
area_footnotes = (2006)
area_total_km2 = 36.91
area_land_km2 = 36.73
area_water_km2 = 0.17
population_as_of = 1 January, 2007
population_note = Source: CBS, [http://statline.cbs.nl/ Statline] .
settlement_type = Municipality
population_total = 17180
population_density_km2 = 468
timezone = CET
utc_offset = +1
timezone_DST = CEST
utc_offset_DST = +2

Valkenburg aan de Geul (Pronunciation|165 Valkenburg aan de Geul.ogg) is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.

History

Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each event is withheld, followed by subsequent restorations. This most definitely holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the city, of which now only a ruin remains. In December 1672 it was destroyed, not to be rebuilt. Only two city gates (the Berkelpoort and the Grendelpoort) and a part of the citywalls survived destruction. Valkenburg is no longer a fortified city but retained its importance nevertheless.

For an impression of resistance activities during the Second World War in Valkenburg see Valkenburg resistance.

The present touristic Valkenburg

Nowadays Valkenburg is especially known for its touristic character. There are several attractions within walking distance of the city centre. To mention a few:
* the Valkenburg [http://www.hollandcasino.nl/nl/vestigingen/valkenburg/?ie=0 Holland Casino] ,
* the [http://www.steenkolenmijn.nl/ Steenkolenmijn] ,
* the [http://www.thermae.nl/ Thermae 2000] ,
* the former marl quarries (with charcoal drawings which sometimes even date back to the time of the Romans).
* the [http://www.st-gerlach.nl/ Sint-Gerlachus church] in Houthem Sint-Gerlach. (The only religious building with fresco's (paintings on marl) in the Netherlands).

The present aim of Valkenburg is to move from mass-tourism for which it was famous during the seventies and eighties (with camping sites full of youths building their own constructions of beer crates) towards the attraction of the more elaborated tourist, who exhibits a more quiet and relaxed behaviour.

Valkenburg is situated in a beautiful part of the Netherlands which is perfectly suited for walks or (mountain) bike tours through the hilly terrain. Although the municipality Valkenburg aan de Geul only has about 18.000 inhabitants, it hosts about 1 million nights a year.

Valkenburg has the oldest still existing railway station building in the Netherlands.

Cycling

Valkenburg aan de Geul is famous for its Cycling events. The city was four times host to the UCI Road Cycling World Championship, in 1938, 1948, 1979 and 1998. This is a record. Since 2003, the city's Cauberg hill is also the finish of the Amstel Gold Race. The Tour the France had a stage finish in Valkenburg in 1992 and in 2006.

Population centres

Berg en Terblijt, Geulhem, Houthem, IJzeren, Oud-Valkenburg, Schin op Geul, Sibbe, Valkenburg, Vilt, Walem.

Well-known persons

* Camiel Eurlings (1973) - politician

* Marc Lotz (1973) - Former cyclist
* Martin Eurlings - father of Camiel Eurlings- also politician

External links

* [http://www.valkenburg.nl/ Official website (in Dutch)]