Editing Sittard-Geleen

{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Sittard-Geleen
| native_name             = {{native name|li|Zittert-Gelaen}}
| settlement_type         = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Markt Sittard.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = Sittard market square
| image_flag              = Sittard-Geleen Vlag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = 
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 1883 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Sittard-Geleen in a municipal map of Limburg
| map_caption             = Location in Limburg
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|0|N|5|52|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]
| established_title       = Established
| established_date        = 1 January 2001<ref>{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.cbs.nl/nl-NL/menu/methoden/classificaties/overzicht/gemeentelijke-indeling/2001/default.htm
 |title = Gemeentelijke indeling op 1 januari 2001
 |trans-title=Municipal divisions on 1 January 2001
 |language = nl
 |website = cbs.nl
 |publisher = [[Statistics Netherlands|CBS]]
 |access-date = 12 October 2013}}</ref>
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="mayor_now">{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sittard-geleen.nl/Bestuur/College/Burgemeester_Hans_Verheijen
 |title       = Burgemeester Hans Verheijen
 |trans-title = Mayor Hans Verheijen
 |language    = nl
 |publisher   = Gemeente Sittard-Geleen
 |access-date  = 22 August 2020
}}</ref>
| governing_body          = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party            = [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]]
| leader_title            = [[Burgemeester|Mayor]]
| leader_name             = [[Hans Verheijen]]
<!-- Geographic information -->
| total_type              = Municipality<!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref>
<!-- square kilometers -->
| area_total_km2          = {{Dutch municipality total area|Sittard-Geleen}}
| area_land_km2           = {{Dutch municipality land area|Sittard-Geleen}}
| area_water_km2          = {{Dutch municipality water area|Sittard-Geleen}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web 
 |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool
 |title = Postcodetool for 6131LB
 |language = nl
 |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> 
 |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland
 |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis
 |access-date = 12 October 2013}}</ref>
| elevation_m             = 47
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_max_m         =100
| elevation_min_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| elevation_min_m         =
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref><ref>{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|dataref}}</ref>
| population_total        = {{Dutch municipality population|Sittard-Geleen}}
| population_as_of        = Municipality, {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population|popbasemonth}}}} {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population|popbaseyear}}}}; Urban and Metro, {{MONTHNAME|{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|popbasemonth}}}} {{YEAR|{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|popbaseyear}}}}
| population_density_km2  = {{Dutch municipality population density|Sittard-Geleen}} <!-- For automatic calculation: auto-->
| population_urban        = {{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|Geleen/Sittard Urban}}
| population_metro        = {{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|Geleen/Sittard Metro}}
| population_demonym      = 
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 6120–6167
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 046
| website                 = {{URL|1=http://www.sittard-geleen.nl}}
| footnotes               =
}}

'''Sittard-Geleen''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈsɪtɑrt xəˈleːn|lang|160 Sittard-Geleen.ogg}}; {{langx|li|Zittert-Gelaen}} {{IPA|li|ˈzɪtəʀt xəˈlɛːn|}}){{fix|text=tone?|date=March 2022}}{{efn|In isolation, ''Geleen'' and ''Gelaen'' are pronounced {{IPA|nl|ɣəˈleːn|}} and {{IPA|li|ʝəˈlɛːn|}},{{fix|text=tone?|date=March 2022}} respectively.}} 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 approximately 92,650 inhabitants (January 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sittard-geleen.incijfers.nl/dashboard/Kerncijfers/|title=Kerncijfers - Gemeente Dashboard|website=sittard-geleen.incijfers.nl|access-date=2019-06-15}}</ref>  and is thus the third most populated municipality in Limburg (after Maastricht with 125,000 and Venlo with 103,000 inhabitants). Since February 2020, the city has been governed by a coalition of [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] (''Christian Democrats''), [[GreenLeft|GroenLinks]] (''Green'') and the local parties GOB and Stadspartij.<ref>[https://www.sittard-geleen.nl/dsresource?objectid=bca7f2aa-cb16-4947-8e17-70ee36f718e7&type=pdf Addendum coalitieakkoord 2020-2022]</ref>

The highway connecting the centres of Sittard and Geleen, the Rijkswegboulevard, has been rebuilt to be a main route for cycling and walking.  The cycling and walking provision is both generous and continuous. Side road junctions, or crossroads, are made 'subordinate'.  The carriageways have been narrowed to one 3m lane in each direction. Parking places have been made, in small groups, at the side of the carriageways.  These are made to be "not easy to use for larger vehicles," so the road centre is marked as a place for delivery vehicles to stop.<ref>Information supplied by the highway engineers: Büro für Stadt und Verkehr (BSV), Aachen, Germany.</ref>

To the west, Sittard-Geleen borders on [[Belgium]], while to the east, it borders on [[Germany]].

==Population centres==

[[Abshoven]], [[Born, Netherlands|Born]], [[Broeksittard]], [[Buchten]], [[Einighausen]], [[Geleen]], [[Graetheide]], [[Grevenbicht]], [[Guttecoven]], [[Holtum]], [[Limbricht]], [[Munstergeleen]], [[Windraak]], [[Obbicht]], [[Papenhoven]], [[Schipperskerk]] and [[Sittard]].

===Topography===
[[File:2013-SittardGeleen.jpg|475px|]]

''Dutch topographic map of the municipality''

== Notable people ==
[[File:Houben.jpg|125px|thumb|Charles Houben, 1851]]
[[File:Laurence Stassen.jpg|125px|thumb|Laurence Stassen, 2009]]
* Saint [[Charles of Mount Argus]] (1821 in Munstergeleen – 1893) a canonized Dutch [[Passionist]] priest
* [[Frederic Adolph Hoefer]] (1850 in Sittard – 1938) a Dutch lieutenant-general, militaria collector and archivist
* [[Godfrid Storms]] (1911 in Sittard – 2003) a Dutch professor of Old and Middle English Literature
* [[Willy Dols]] (1911 in Sittard – 1944) a Dutch linguist, [[dialectologist]] and [[phonologist]]
* [[Toon Hermans]] (1916 in Sittard – 2000) a Dutch comedian, singer and writer <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1051060/  IMDb Database] retrieved 12 October 2019 </ref>
* [[Settela Steinbach]] (1934 in Buchten – 1944) a Dutch girl who was gassed in [[Auschwitz-Birkenau]] 
* [[Thea Fleming]] (born 1942 in Sittard) a Dutch film actress <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0080698/  IMDb Database] retrieved 12 October 2019 </ref>
* [[Rein Willems]] (born 1945 in Geleen) President of [[Royal Dutch Shell]] 2003–2007
* [[Paul Derrez]] (born 1950 in Sittard) a visual artist, a jewelry designer, gallery owner and collector
* [[Jan Cremers]] (born 1952 in Limbricht) a former Dutch politician and sociologist 
* [[Wim Heldens]] (born 1954 in Sittard) a Dutch realist painter
* [[Francine Houben]] (born 1955 in Sittard) a Dutch architect
* [[Mike van Diem]] (born 1959, grew up in Sittard) a Dutch film director <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0226016/  IMDb Database] retrieved 12 October 2019 </ref>
* [[Rineke Dijkstra]] (born 1959 in Sittard) a Dutch portrait photographer
* [[Laurence Stassen]] (born 1971 in Sittard) an independent politician and a former freelance TV presenter
* [[Caspar Poyck]] (born 1973 in Sittard) a Dutch-American actor, public speaker and chef <ref> [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0694702/  IMDb Database] retrieved 12 October 2019 </ref>
* [[Myrthe Hilkens]] (born 1979 in Geleen) a Dutch journalist, non-fiction writer and politician
* [[Mo'Jones]] (formed 2000 in Sittard) is a funk, soul and pop band 
=== Sport ===
[[File:Sparta tegen Blauw-Wit 2-2, scheidrechter Leo Horn, Bestanddeelnr 915-9153.jpg|125px|thumb|Leo Horn, 1964]]
[[File:Maartje Paumen.jpg|125px|thumb|Maartje Paumen, 2009]]
* [[Leo Horn]] (1916 in Sittard – 1995) an international football referee, newspaper columnist, and textile manufacturer
* [[Jan Krekels]] (born 1947 in Sittard) a retired cyclist, [[1968 Olympics|1968 Olympic]] champion in the 100 km team time trial
* [[Huub Stevens]] (born 1953 in Sittard) a football manager and former defender with 397 club caps
* [[Wilbert Suvrijn]] (born 1962 in Sittard) a retired Dutch footballer with 341 club caps
* [[Lambert Schuurs]] (born 1962 in Sittard) a retired handball player and ultra-long-distance runner
* [[Arnold Vanderlyde]] (born 1963 in Sittard) a former Dutch boxer, who participated in three Summer Olympics (1984, 1988 and 1992) and won three bronze medals
* [[Wil Boessen]] (born 1964 in Sittard) a Dutch retired football player with 397 club caps and manager
* [[Ton Caanen]] (born 1966 in Geleen) a Dutch football manager.
* [[Rens Blom]] (born 1977 in Munstergeleen) a Dutch pole vaulter, competed in the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000]] and [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Maartje Paumen]] (born 1985 in Geleen) a former Dutch field hockey player, twice gold medallist at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008]] and [[2012 Summer Olympics]], silver medallist at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Benjamin van den Broek]] (born 1987 in Geleen) a [[New Zealand Football|New Zealand international footballer]] with 275 club caps
* [[Rob Bontje]] (born 1981 in Grevenbicht) a volleyball player, competed at the [[2004 Olympic Games]]
* [[Sjoerd Winkens]] (born 1983 in Geleen) a former professional footballer with over 300 club caps
* [[Dominick Muermans]] (born 1984 in Geleen) a Dutch racing driver
* [[Perr Schuurs]] (born 1999 in Nieuwstadt) a Dutch football player

== Twin and partner cities ==

* {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Hasselt]], Belgium

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.sittard-geleen.nl Official website]

<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Sittard-Geleen
|North     = [[Echt-Susteren]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Selfkant]]&nbsp;([[Germany|DE]]-[[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]])
|Southeast = [[Beekdaelen]]
|South     = [[Beek]]
|Southwest = [[Stein, Limburg|Stein]]
|West      = [[Dilsen-Stokkem]]{{space}}([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Limburg (Belgium)|VLI]]) / ''[[Meuse (river)|Meuse]]''
|Northwest = [[Maaseik]]{{space}}([[Belgium|BE]]-[[Limburg (Belgium)|VLI]]) / ''[[Meuse (river)|Meuse]]''
}}
{{Dutch municipality Sittard-Geleen}}
{{Limburg Province (Netherlands)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sittard-Geleen| ]]
[[Category:South Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands established in 2001]]
[[Category:Belgium–Netherlands border crossings]]
[[Category:Germany–Netherlands border crossings]]