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Sittard (; ) is a city in the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, situated in the southernmost province of Limburg. The town is part of the municipality of
Sittard-Geleen Sittard-Geleen (; ) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. It was formed in 2001 from the former municipalities Sittard, Geleen and Born (Netherlands), Born. The combined municipality has approximat ...
and has almost 37,500 inhabitants in 2016. In its east, Sittard borders the
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...
municipality of
Selfkant Selfkant (; or ''Zelfkant'' ; Limburgish: ) is a municipality in the Heinsberg district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the most westerly municipality in Germany. Geography Isenbruch in Selfkant is the most westerly point in German ...
(in the
state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly referred to as a country **Nation state, a ...
of
North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia or North-Rhine/Westphalia, commonly shortened to NRW, is a States of Germany, state () in Old states of Germany, Western Germany. With more than 18 million inhabitants, it is the List of German states by population, most ...
). The city centre is located at 45 m above sea level.


History

Archaeological discoveries have dated the first settlement in the Sittard area around 5000 B.C. Present day Sittard is assumed to have been founded around 850 A.D. and to have been built around a
motte A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortificati ...
. Sittard was first mentioned in 1157. It was granted
city rights Town privileges or borough rights were important features of European towns during most of the second millennium. The city law customary in Central Europe probably dates back to Italian models, which in turn were oriented towards the tradition ...
by the Duke of Limburg in 1243. In 1400 it was sold to the
Duchy of Jülich The Duchy of Jülich (; ; ) comprised a state within the Holy Roman Empire from the 11th to the 18th centuries. The duchy lay west of the Rhine river and was bordered by the Electorate of Cologne to the east and the Duchy of Limburg to the wes ...
, and remained in its possession until 1794. The city was destroyed and rebuilt repeatedly, due to fires and various conflicts during the 15th-17th century. It was a stronghold until it was largely destroyed in 1677, during the
Franco-Dutch War The Franco-Dutch War, 1672 to 1678, was primarily fought by Kingdom of France, France and the Dutch Republic, with both sides backed at different times by a variety of allies. Related conflicts include the 1672 to 1674 Third Anglo-Dutch War and ...
. Under French occupation (1794-1814), Sittard was part of the
Roer The Roer (, ) or Rur (; ) is a major river that flows through portions of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. It is a right (eastern) tributary to the Meuse (). About 90 percent of the river's course is in Germany. It is not to be conf ...
department. Since 1814, it has been part of the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
, except for the years 1830–1839, when it joined the
Belgian Revolution The Belgian Revolution (, ) was a conflict which led to the secession of the southern provinces (mainly the former Southern Netherlands) from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and the establishment of an independent Kingdom of Belgium. The ...
. During the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, it was occupied by the Germans, who incorporated several small municipalities, like Broeksittard, into Sittard. The city was liberated September 18–19, 1944 by the 2nd Armored Division. The historic town was mostly spared destruction, despite lying in the frontline for over four months, in which over 4000 shells and rockets struck the city. After World War II, Sittard expanded rapidly and many new neighbourhoods were built. The coal mines in the region were the driving force of a booming economy, until closed in the 1960s and 70s. It now has large industrial zones and office premises.


Main sights

Sittard has a small historic city centre with numerous architectural monuments, including several old churches, monasteries and a few half-timbered houses. The city centre is a protected area (''beschermd stadsbezicht''). The most important monuments are: *St Peter's Church, 14th-16th century, Gothic style. The 16th-century tower received its current steeple in 1875. * Dominican monastery, 17th century, with the
Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...
St Michael's Church *Dominican nunnery St.-Agnetenberg, 17th century *
Reformed Reform is beneficial change. Reform, reformed or reforming may also refer to: Media * ''Reform'' (album), a 2011 album by Jane Zhang * Reform (band), a Swedish jazz fusion group * ''Reform'' (magazine), a Christian magazine Places * Reform, Al ...
Church, 17th century *
Ursulines The Ursulines, also known as the Order of Saint Ursula (post-nominals: OSU), is an enclosed religious order of women that in 1572 branched off from the Angelines, also known as the Company of Saint Ursula. The Ursulines trace their origins to th ...
nunnery and boarding school, 16th-19th century *Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (1875–77) and Mariapark (1891), pilgrimage sites *The medieval
city wall A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or Earthworks (military), earthworks to extensive military fortifications such as ...
*
Half-timbered Timber framing () and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy Beam (structure), timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and Woodworking joints, joined timbers with joints secure ...
houses, 16th-17th century *The Jacob Kritzraedt house, 17th century,
Mannerist Mannerism is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, when the Baroque style largely replaced it ...
style *
Watermill A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as mill (grinding), milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in ...
s, 16th-17th century *City park, 1921–27 The central market square has many restaurants and bars. The city has retained part of its
city wall A defensive wall is a fortification usually used to protect a city, town or other settlement from potential aggressors. The walls can range from simple palisades or Earthworks (military), earthworks to extensive military fortifications such as ...
. On the south-eastern side of the city centre, the St Rosa chapel crowns the Kollenberg hill. Museum "Het Domein" is situated in a converted nineteenth century school building in the city centre. It focuses on contemporary art, urban history and archaeology. There is also a Commonwealth War Cemetery, where 239 soldiers of the
Commonwealth Nations The Commonwealth of Nations, often referred to as the British Commonwealth or simply the Commonwealth, is an International organization, international association of member states of the Commonwealth of Nations, 56 member states, the vast majo ...
lie buried. Among them Dennis Donnini, the youngest to have received the
Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
in World War II.


Economy

Sittard houses the
SABIC Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (), known as SABIC (), is a Saudi chemical manufacturing company. 70% of SABIC's shares are owned by Saudi Aramco. It is active in petrochemicals, chemicals, industrial polymers and fertilizers. It is the second ...
European head office and a large DSM office; both companies having large chemical production facilities in nearby
Geleen Geleen (; ) is a city in the southern part of the province of Limburg (Netherlands), 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 ri ...
. The head office of the
plant hire Equipment rental, or plant hire, is a service industry providing machinery, equipment and tools for a limited period of time to final users, mainly to general contractors but also to industry and individual consumers. Renting can be defined a ...
company
Boels Rental Boels Rental () is an equipment rental company based in Sittard, Netherlands. According to its annual financial report and own website, as of 2024, the company has over 8,500 employees and over 830 branches in 27 European countries. Boels has ove ...
is also located in Sittard.


Education

There are several schools for higher vocational education and training (
hbo Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...
) in the city, including faculties of the
Hogeschool Zuyd Zuyd University of Applied Sciences () is a Vocational university#Netherlands, University of Applied Sciences with campuses in Heerlen, Sittard and Maastricht in the southeastern Netherlands. The main focus of Zuyd University is on Bachelor's ...
and Fontys Hogescholen. Large schools for
secondary education Secondary education is the education level following primary education and preceding tertiary education. Level 2 or ''lower secondary education'' (less commonly ''junior secondary education'') is considered the second and final phase of basic e ...
in Sittard are 'Trevianum Scholengroep' ( havo and vwo) and 'Da Capo College' ( vmbo).


Sports

Sittard is the home of the professional
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
club
Fortuna Sittard Fortuna Sittard (; ) is a professional football club from the municipality of Sittard-Geleen, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Fortuna Sittard Stadion and features in the Eredivisie. The club was establi ...
and of the handball club Sittardia. The biggest Kennedy march of the Netherlands starts and ends in Sittard.


Notable people

* Charles Beltjens, poet * Eddy Beugels, cyclist *
Rens Blom Rens Blom (; born 1 March 1977) is a Dutch retired track and field athlete who competed in the pole vault. He is the 2005 world champion and former Dutch record holder with personal bests of 5.81 m outdoor and 5.75 m indoor. Life Bl ...
, athlete competing in pole vault * Mike van Diem, film director * Willy Dullens, professional football player * Toon Hermans, comedian * Frederic Adolph Hoefer, lieutenant-general *
Wim Hof Wim Hof (; born 20 April 1959), also known as The Iceman, is a Dutch motivational speaker and extreme athlete noted for his ability to withstand low temperatures. He previously held a Guinness World Record for swimming under ice and prolonged ...
, ''The Iceman'', motivational speaker and extreme athlete * Leo Horn, football referee *
Francine Houben Francine Marie Jeanne Houben (; born 2 July 1955)Francine Houben, Architect/Urbanist ...
, architect, director of
Mecanoo Mecanoo is an architecture firm based in Delft, Netherlands. Mecanoo was founded in 1984 by Francine Houben, Henk Döll, Roelf Steenhuis, Erick van Egeraat and Chris de Weijer. Foundation Houben, Döll and Steenhuis won a competition to de ...
* Jan Krekels, cyclist, Olympic champion * Danny Nelissen, cyclist * Jan Nolten, cyclist * Jan Notermans, professional football player *
Rineke Dijkstra Rineke Dijkstra Royal Photographic Society#Distinctions and qualifications, HonFRPS (born 2 June 1959) is a Dutch photographer. She lives and works in Amsterdam.Huub Stevens Hubertus Jozef Margaretha "Huub" Stevens (; born 29 November 1953) is a Dutch former professional Manager (association football), football manager and player. Playing career Stevens was born in Sittard. While active, he played for Fortuna Sittar ...
, professional football player and manager *
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 hom ...
, professional football player * Arnold Vanderlyde, boxer * Joost Zweegers, singer and pianist of
Novastar Novastar is a Belgian rock band led by Dutch-born singer-songwriter and guitarist/pianist Joost Zweegers. They are known for their emotional ballads, and the high pitch of Zweegers's voice. Zweegers has also released solo material under the n ...
* Laurence Stassen, VNL politician


Dialect

The
Sittard dialect Sittard (; ) is a city in the Netherlands, situated in the southernmost province of Limburg (Netherlands), Limburg. The town is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen and has almost 37,500 inhabitants in 2016. In its east, Sittard border ...
is a particular variant of
Limburgish Limburgish ( or ; ; also Limburgian, Limburgic or Limburgan) refers to a group of South Low Franconian Variety (linguistics), varieties spoken in Belgium and the Netherlands, characterized by their distance to, and limited participation ...
.


Sister cities

*
Valjevo Valjevo (Serbian Cyrillic: Ваљево, ) is a List of cities in Serbia, city and the administrative center of the Kolubara District in western Serbia. According to the 2022 census, the city itself has a population of 56,145 while the city admini ...
, . *
Hasselt Hasselt (, , ) is the capital and largest City status in Belgium, city of the Provinces of Belgium, province of Limburg (Belgium), Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. As of 1 August 2023, Hasselt had a total population of 80,846. The old ...
,


See also

* Vansittart, surname derived from the city.


References


External links

{{Authority control Cities in the Netherlands Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2001 Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands) Former municipalities of Limburg (Netherlands) Sittard-Geleen