Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Zuid Limburg

Sittard - assumed to have been founded around the year of 850 - is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands. The Duke of Limburg is said to have granted the city its “city rights” in 1243. In 1400 Sittard became part of the Duchy of Jülich, which it remained until 1794. During the 15th - 17th centuries the city saw much conflicts and it was destroyed by multiple fires and rebuild a number of times. From 1798 to 1814 Sittard belonged to France as a part of the so called the Roer department, with Aachen as its capital. In 1814 it became part of the Netherlands, except for the years 1830 - 1839. During World War II the historic centre of Sittard was mostly spared destruction, although over 4.000 shells and rockets struck the city. Although the city of Sittard has continued to grow after the war, it has maintained its connection with its history. Many of the buildings in existence still today are indicative of the 16th and 17th centuries. Even the original city walls, built in the 13th century, are still visible in many places throughout the city. The city centre 0f Sittard has been officially designated as a protected national monument.

The Sint-Gerlachuskerk is one of the most famous Dutch places of pilgrimage. And even in these days there are about 30.000 pilgrims a year visiting the church and especially the tomb of Gerlachus van Houthem . Saint Gerlachus was a knight who became a hermit and settled in 1164 or 1165. His grave attracts many pilgrims. In 1201 a cloister was founded near the grave. At first the cloister housed both men and women, but in 1225 it became a convent for noblewomen only. Between 1720 and 1727 a new church was built, an aisle less building in German baroque style. The name of the architect is unknown. In 1751 the interior was painted by Johan Adam Schöpf, who made 15 frescos about the life of Saint Gerlachus. The frescos were repainted with oil paints in 1872. In 1971 the oil paint layers were removed and the original paintings restored. In the middle of the church is the saint's tomb. In the open space under the tomb lies a heap of 'blessed sand' (actually limestone powder). Believers can put some ‘sand’ in a bag and take it home. The Sint-Gerlachuskerk nowadays is the parish church of Houthem and is a Dutch national monument.

The Molen van Otten (Mill of Otten) is located on a branch of the river Geul in the village of Wijlre. It is one of the few water mills in the Netherlands with a double water wheel. The history of the mill dates back to 1275, when it was built as a banmolen (mill soke) of the heerlijkheid (a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in the Dutch-speaking Low Countries before 1800) Wijlre. The first written mention, however, is from a clergy in the year 1420. A bill for the restoration of the mill by the then Lord of Wijlre, “Gerard Scheiffart van Merode”, indicates the year 1485. Traditionally this watermill was a flour and oil mill. The current mill building and the accompanying house date from 1776, as the wall anchors indicate. In that year, the existing buildings were completely rebuilt and a farm and a brewery were added. At that time, the owners of the complex were the Lords of Wijlre. They leased the house with mill, farm and brewery. When the Ancien Regime was abolished at the end of the 18th century, Kasteel Wijlre , the mill, the farm and the brewery came into the hands of “Guillaume Eugene de Massen”. In 1871, the brewery was sold separately to the brewer “Frederik Edmond Brand”; this was the beginning of Brand's brewery, which grew into one of the best-known breweries in Limburg. In the thirties of the 20th century the miller’s house was badly damaged by extremely high water of the river Geul. The mill fell into disrepair and restoration started after the mill was bought by the Otten family. Since then the mill has been called Molen van Otten . Since 1981 the mill is also used for small scale electricity production. Nowadays some holiday apartments have been created in the buildings. The Molen van Otten is a National Heritage Site.

The history of Kasteel Wittem (Wittem Castle) is dating back to the early 12ht century, when it was mentioned as Witheim (meaning “house near the oak”). In those days it was probably just a simple tower house. The next century the castle was owned by the knights of Julémont. They started to call themselves Lords of Wittem; a title that was assumed by later owners. In the early 15th century the castle was considerably enlarged until it consisted of a powerful stronghold with seven towers and two moats spanned by bridges. In 1520 Emperor Charles V elevated Wittem to a barony, after he spent the night there on the way to his coronation in Aachen. At the beginning of the Eighty Years’ War Kasteel Wittem was confiscated by the Spanish under the Duke of Alva. His troops were expelled in 1568 by the troops of “Willem van Oranje. In 1569 the Spanish returned and destroyed the castle. After it was restored and enlarged in 1611, the ownership transferred to the Counts of Waldeck Pyrmont. In 1714 Count Ferdinand von Plettenberg became the last noble owner of the castle, which already was in a dilapidated state. In 1794, after the French Revolution, the ruinous castle was taken from the count and sold to Simon Merckenbach. His family restored the castle to its present state and made it habitable again. The present building forms just a small part of the medieval castle. It consists of a round corner tower with two wings In 1958 Kasteel Wittem was bought, refurbished and a hotel-restaurant was established. It became a couple of owners, but nowadays it still is a hotel.

Kasteel Schaloen (Castle Schaloen) - also named Chaloen - was first mentioned in 1375. It was owned by the knights Johan Struver van Hoelsbergh (or Hulsberg) and Geraerdt Mulaerdt. The first one became the full owner and the castle stayed within his family for the next one and a half century. During the Eighty Years' War (1568 - 1648) Schaloen was occupied by Lodewijk van Nassau, but a year later it was destroyed by Spanish troops. The ruined castle came in the hands of Johan Reinier Hoen van Cartiels, who rebuilt it in 1656, using local marl. Through marriage the castle came in possession of the De Villers Masbourg-family. Famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers was in charge of the restoration (1894) of the castle in a neo-Gothic style. The last owner of noble descent, a countess, left the castle in 1934. The castle has been used as a school, but nowadays it is a private house. The stables and outbuildings are now used as a hotel and restaurant. The castle is surrounded by a moat, which is fed with water from the Molenbeek, a branch of the river Geul.

Kasteel Wijlre (Wijlre Castle) was first officially mentioned when Holy Roman Emperor Henry III donated it to his niece. After that the castle was mentioned in 1389 as a fortified house and seat of the imperial immediacy of the Holy Roman Empire and was part of the Lower Rhenish-Westphalian Circle. The German eagle can be found in the coat of arms of Wijlre, which is the coat of arms of the “Van Wachtendonck” family, who resided in the castle in the 17th and 18th centuries as the lords of Wijlre until 1794. The present castle - an elongated rectangular building - was built by “Johan Arnold Van Wachtendonck” around 1652. The side facade of the main building has an eye-catching large sundial (PiP2). The last aristocratic inhabitant of Wijlre Castle was the baroness and lady of Wijlre, “Christina de Bounam”. After her Kasteel Wijlre had several owners, until it was bought for habitation in 1981 by art collectors “Jo and Marlies van Eyck”. In the garden and in a pavilion (Hedge House) built in 2001, a large collection of modern art is exhibited. In 2014, the garden won the “European Garden Award”, making it one of the continent's most renowned nice outdoor spaces.

The Bovenste Molen (Upper Mill) - formerly also known as Wolfsmolen - is located at the river Geul in the hamlet of Höfke near the village of Mechelen. It is a centre mill. Downstream in the same town there is another mill, which is logically referred to as the Onderste Molen (Lower Mill). The location at the Geul seems to be very suitable, as a water mill has been standing here for 750 years. The oldest building tracks in the present building date from the 15th century. In French times the mill was confiscated and sold publicly. Throughout the centuries the mill has served as a paper mill, flour mill and artificial wool mill. Artificial wool was made from disintegrated rags mixed with sheep's wool. The Bovenste Molen was a banmolen (mill soke). The inhabitants of the lord's territory were only allowed to have their grain ground in this mill. This in turn, of course, provided additional income for the landlord, who could levy tax on the grain. Since 1979 the mill is owned by the Vereniging tot Behoud van Natuurmonumenten (Society for Preservation of Nature Monuments in the Netherlands). Nowadays the mill is no longer in operation.

Castle Schaloen - also named Chaloen - was first mentioned in 1375. It was owned by the knights Johan Struver van Hoelsbergh (or Hulsberg) and Geraerdt Mulaerdt. The last one became the full owner and the castle stayed within his family for the next one and a half century. During the Eighty Years' War (late 16th century) Schaloen was occupied by Lodewijk van Nassau, but a year later it was destroyed by Spanish troops. The ruined castle came in the hands of Johan Reinier Hoen van Cartiels, who rebuilt it in 1656, using local marl. Through marriage the castle came in possession of the De Villers Masbourg-family. Famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers was in charge of the restoration (1894) of the castle in a neo-Gothic style. The last owner of noble descent, a countess, left the castle in 1934. The castle has been used as a school, but nowadays it is a private house. The bailey and gate house are housing a restaurant and hotel. The buildings are surrounded by a moat.