History of Heerlen

Romans

More than 2,000 years ago, the Romans founded a settlement, which they named Coriovallum. Coriovallum means 'excellently situated fortification' or 'army camp'. In 1940, a Roman bathhouse was discovered by chance; unique in the Netherlands and on display in the Roman museum in Heerlen.

Village character

From the tenth century onwards, when agriculture flourished throughout Europe, Heerlen developed into a village with farmsteads and mills along the valleys of the Caumer, Schandeler, and Geleenbeek streams. Around 1900, Heerlen was still a small town with a certain central function: it had a doctor, a veterinarian, a magistrate's court, a post office, and shops.

My city

Thanks to mining, Heerlen experienced explosive growth in the twentieth century: from 7,000 inhabitants in 1900 to almost 100,000 inhabitants in 2000. In 1965, the government decided to close the mines. Since Heerlen had focused entirely on mining, this destabilized the economy. Heerlen faced the challenge of attracting and providing work in other sectors. The black slag heaps were transformed into green residential areas or parks.

History still visible 

The history of Heerlen is still visible in several places in the city, such as in the typical miners' neighborhoods, Castle Hoensbroek, the Dutch Mining Museum or the Roman Museum. But you can also find it on the streets in the Roman Quarter. This is an area of Heerlen-Centrum, where you experience the city of the past in the present. 

More information

For more information, visit the websites of:

• The Roman Museum
• Limburg Historical Center
• Hoensbroek Castle
• Dutch Mining Museum