Tucked away in the southern region of the Netherlands in the Limburg province, Heerlen is a fine city with a current population of approximately 88,000. Close to the larger neighboring city of Maastricht and also the German border, Heerlen forms part of an agglomeration of cities called Parkstad Limburg.
Signs of settlements tracing back thousands of years have been found in and around Heerlen, and its written history starts with the Roman occupation. Heerlen did not develop fully and prosper until the 1200s when the city was acquired by the Brabant dukes and was contested greatly during the 80 years of war. After this period, the city grew slowly and remained a predominantly agricultural establishment until the 1900s.
Today, the city has several government offices and a plethora of historical attractions, public parks, and fun activities to engage in.