Sittard

Sittard
Sittard; Zitterd
	The Markt (market square) of Sittard
; Flag	; Coat of arms
Country	Netherlands
Province	Limburg
COROP	South Limburg
Municipality	Sittard-Geleen
Population (1 January 2011)	37.730
Transport
Major roads	N276, N294, N297

St Michael's church on Sittard market square.

Sittard (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsɪtɑrt]; Limburgish: Zitterd) is a city in the Dutch province of Limburg, which is the southernmost province of the Netherlands. On the east Sittard borders on Germany (municipality Selfkant, in North Rhine-Westphalia). It has some 48,400 inhabitants (including those of neighbouring villages Munstergeleen, Limbricht, Einighausen and Guttecoven). Sittard is part of the municipality of Sittard-Geleen. The city centre is located at 45 m above sea level.

St Peter's church, Sittard.

History [edit]

Archaeological discoveries have dated the first settlement in the Sittard area around 5000 B.C. Present day Sittard is assumed to be founded around 850 A.D. being build around a motte. Sittard was first mentioned in 1157. It was granted city rights by the Duke of Limburg in 1243. In 1400 it was sold to the Duchy of Jülich, and remained in its possession until 1794. The city was destroyed and rebuild multiple times by fires and in various conflicts during the 15th-17th century. It was a stronghold until a great part was destroyed in 1677 during the Franco-Dutch War. Under French occupation (1794-1814), Sittard was part of the Roer department. Since 1814, it has been part of the Netherlands, except for the years 1830-1839, when it joined the Belgian Revolution. During the Second World War it was occupied by the Germans who dissolved 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 build. The coal mines in the region were the driving force of a booming economy until they were closed in the 1960s and 70s. Nowadays it has a large industrial terrain and several large office buildings.

Main sights [edit]

Sittard has a small historic city centre with numerous architectural monuments, including several old churches (St Peter's, St Michael's, Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) monasteries and a few half-timbered houses. The central market square has many restaurants and bars. The city has retained part of its city wall. 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 archeology. There is also a Commonwealth War Cemetery where 239 soldiers of the Commonwealth Nations lie buried. Among them Dennis Donnini, the youngest person to receive the Victoria Cross in World War II.

Economy [edit]

The SABIC European head office and a large DSM office are based in Sittard. Both companies have large chemical production facilities in nearby Geleen.

Education [edit]

There are several schools for professional education (hbo) in the city, including faculties of the Hogeschool Zuyd and Fontys Hogescholen. Large schools for secondary education in Sittard are 'Trevianum' (havo and vwo) and 'Da Capo' (vmbo).