limburg

Limburg is a geographic name used for several places in western Europe, most notably a Dutch province, a Belgian province, and a German town. The term traces to the historic Duchy of Limburg, a medieval territory that was reorganized in the 19th century into different states.

Limburg (Netherlands): Located in the southeastern part of the Netherlands, it borders Belgium and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its capital is Maastricht. The region features the rolling hills of South Limburg, the Meuse (Maas) river valley, and a distinctive Limburgish dialect. Its economy includes services, logistics, and a chemical industry cluster around Geleen and the Limburg-Problemgebied in the far south.

Limburg (Belgium): A province in the Flemish Region in northeastern Belgium. Its capital is Hasselt. It borders the Netherlands and Germany and contains areas such as the Hoge Kempen National Park. Dutch is the official language, and the province has cultural and economic ties with neighboring Dutch and German regions in the Meuse-Rhine area.

Limburg an der Lahn (Germany): A town in Hesse on the Lahn river, northeast of Koblenz and south of Marburg. It is known for Limburg Cathedral, a well-preserved medieval town center, and the hilltop Limburg Castle, which overlooks the town and river.

Historically, Limburg referred to a medieval duchy within the Holy Roman Empire. In the 19th century, successor entities formed: the Dutch Limburg province and the Belgian Limburg province, while a German Limburg region lies mainly in Hesse and surrounding areas. The name remains associated with cross-border cultural and economic links in the Meuse-R Rhine region.