Thursday 22 March 2012

Heerlen

Heerlen, is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, (formerly known as "Oostelijke Mijnstreek"), an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.
After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen became a centre for the coal mining industry in the Netherlands in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, architect Frits Peutz played a major role in shaping the city as we know it today. His most famous design, and a distinctive building in the city centre, is the so-called Glaspaleis (Glass Palace), listed as one of the world's thousand most architecturally important buildings of the 20th century.


Among the educational institutes in Heerlen is Hogeschool Zuyd, which is a University of Applied Sciences with branches in Heerlen, Sittard and Maastricht. Also based in Heerlen is the administrative office of the Open University of the Netherlands (Open Universiteit or OU in Dutch), which is a university for distance learning with tens of thousands of students throughout the Netherlands. Heerlen was also the location of the now defunct University of Theology and Pastorate (Universiteit van Theologie en Pastoraat or UTP in Dutch), which had to close down due to lack of students. Jokingly it was said that Heerlen was the location of the biggest (OU) and the smallest (UTP) university of the Netherlands.


Health care in Heerlen (and the rest of the Parkstad Limburg) is provided by Stichting Gezondheidszorg Oostelijk Zuid-Limburg (G.O.Z.L.). Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad (Atrium Medical Center Parkstad), is the name of the different hospitals in the Parkstad, and is part of G.O.Z.L. Atrium Medisch Centrum Parkstad location Heerlen was previously known as de Wever ziekenhuis named after Frans de Wever, who in 1904, together with mgr. Joseph Savelberg, founded the first hospital in Heerlen.


Here follows a list of architects who have built important landmarks in Heerlen, and those landmarks.
A van Beers: Huize Op de Berg (1897)
Johan Kayser, (1842, Harlingen – 1917): Chapel Savelberg Convent (1878–1879, style: Neogothic)
Jan Stuyt (1868–1934)): Ambachtsschool (1913, style: Hollands Classicisme[3])
J. Pauw: Former library (1917, style: Amsterdam School)
Dirk Roosenburg (1887–1962): Former office Oranje Nassau mine (1928, style: International style)
Dirk Brouwer (November 3, 1899–1941): Former HEMA building (1939, style: International style)
Frits Peutz (April 7, 1896 - October 24, 1974): Glaspaleis (1933, style: International style), Monseigneur Schrijnen Retreat House (1932), townhall (1940), municipal theatre
Gerrit Rietveld, (Utrecht June 24, 1888- Utrecht June 26, 1964): house on Zandweg (1961–1964)
Jo Coenen (born 1949 in Heerlen-Hoensbroek): Library and entrance Stadsgalerij (1983, 1989)


A chronological list of notable Heerlenaren (inhabitants of Heerlen) 
Lucius Ferenius (around 125 (in, what is now, Dilzen, Belgium) – around 150), Potter
M. Sattonius Iucundus, third century, restores the Thermae
Count Theoderich van Are (1087–1126), ‘owner’ of Heerlen, probably builder of the Schelmentoren (prison tower)
Anna Sophia van Schönborn (around 1696 - November 5, 1760), Countess of Hoensbroek
Baron Jacob Derk Carel van Heeckeren (October 31, 1730, Zutphen - July 11, 1795, Zutphen), last schout of Heerlen
Jan Gerard Kemmerling (February 4, 1776 - January 15, 1818), Mayor of Heerlen (1805 - 1818?)
Jan Michiel Dautzenberg (December 6, 1808, [Heerlen - February 4, 1869, Elsene), is the author of a volume of Volksliederen.
Egidius Slanghen (August 23, 1820 - October 12, 1882)
Joseph Savelberg (February 10, 1827, Heerlen – February 11, 1907), Heerlen, Priest and congregation founder, together with Frans de Wever founded the first Hospital
Arnold Schunck (February 11, 1842, Kettenis – October 15, 1905, Heerlen), Founder of the fashion house and department store Firma Schunck
Henri Sarolea (January 18, 1844, Maastricht - September 12, 1900, Heerlen), responsible for the first railroadtrack in Heerlen (between Herzogenrath, Heerlen, and Sittard)
M.J. de Hesselle (1855–1935), Mayor of Heerlen (1894–1913) and Pharmacist
Frans de Wever (1869 - 1940), General Practitioner, founder of the first hospital (together with Joseph Savelberg)
Peter Schunck (October 31, 1873, Hauset – July 13, 1960, Heerlen), builder of the Glaspaleis
Marcel van Grunsven (December 4, 1896 - July 24, 1969) Mayor of Heerlen (1926–1961)
Thomas Bernhard, February 9, 1931, Heerlen - February 12, 1989, Ohlsdorf was an Austrian playwright and novelist, born in Heerlen
Klaas de Vries, April 28, 1943, Hoensbroek, was a member of the lower house of the Dutch parliament for the PvdA
Margriet Ehlen (1943), composer and poet
Jo Ritzen, October 3, 1945, Heerlen, former Minister of Education, Former Chairman of Universiteit Maastricht
Loek Hermans, April 23, 1951, Heerlen, former Minister of Education, former mayor of Zwolle, Chairman of the Board of Directors to the Stichting Katholieke Universiteit (Board of Directors to both the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen and the UMC St Radboud)
Wiel Arets (1955), Architect
Suzan Erens,11 November 1976, vocalist with the Johan Strauss Orchestra of Andre Rieu
Simone Simons (born on 17 January 1985 in Hoensbroek) is a Dutch mezzo-soprano singer and lead vocalist of symphonic metal band Epica.

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