Dutch South Limburg: Great prospects for businesses and investors

The top technology region of Dutch South Limburg is situated between the Amsterdam-Rotterdam, Rhine-Ruhr and the Flemish Diamond conurbations. It serves as a major gateway to Germany, the Benelux countries and France. The top technology region around Maastricht provides a good balance between quality of life and European culture, between high-tech industry and production know-how and between an international outlook and tradition.

Top technology, research and logistics make the  region what it is

Starting with the mining industry, South Limburg was one of the first industrialised regions in mainland Europe from the 19th century onwards. The dramatic structural changes created a region that specialises in basic chemistry and fine chemicals, with multinational companies. The evolution of the region was symbolised by the development of the Dutch State Mines (DSM) from coal mining to a high-tech site with a worldwide reputation: Chemelot and Chemelot Campus.

Top quality universities

Maastricht University and Zuyd University College have been seeking to cooperate with the neighbouring region of Aachen, which is home to RWTH Aachen, the leading university of technology designated a ‘University of Excellence’. The University Hospital in Maastricht and the University Hospital in Aachen are also joining forces to set up research projects. The Maastricht Health Campus works along the lines of open innovation, also creating spin-offs to the med-tech sector and bio-based industries.

Employment and showpieces

University campuses provide a lot of employment:

• in innovative businesses
• indirectly with suppliers
• over 2,000 new jobs for knowledge workers
• development of showpieces in South Limburg’s top technology region and neighbouring regions in Germany and Belgium.

There is an ample supply of well educated and often multilingual workers.

Life and work in balance

In addition to an international reputation, Dutch South Limburg has a very attractive living environment, with culture, nature and hospitality. South Limburg means quality of life. For many years now, more people have therefore been moving into the region than leaving it.

European Capital of Culture 2018

It’s no coincidence that Maastricht, together with the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, was a candidate for European Capital of Culture 2018. It is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of the Latin and Germanic cultures and features a wide variety of artistic and cultural venues and programmes.

The wealth of culture on offer includes:

• a variety of museums and galleries
• performing arts venues and theatres
• art house cinemas and many small film venues
• art galleries and collections

Recreational value improves quality of life

Being the longest continuously inhabited region of the Netherlands, Dutch South Limburg has a unique character:

• glorious landscapes with steep hills
• winding paths and plateaux
• the rolling Limburg Downs countryside (the ‘Heuvelland’ area) and its beauty
• surrounded by the vibrant city circle of Maastricht – Sittard-Geleen – Heerlen-Parkstad
• a rare combination of nature, man-made landscape and urban development
• its cultural and historical heritage is exceptionally intact and varied and includes half-timbered farmhouses, road-side chapels and crucifixes
• because of silex (flint) and löss, a fertile type of soil.