- Hoensbroek
Hoensbroek, a town belonging to the municipality of
Heerlen , is situated in the southeast ofThe Netherlands ' most southern province - Limburg. Until 1982, Hoensbroek was a separate municipality.In medieval times, the town was known under the name of Gebrook, meaning as much as "Swampy Landscape", and belonged to the Family Hoen. Their family name eventually mingled with the original one, resulting in the name Hoensbroek. The dialect that the people of Hoensbroek speak refers to the ancient name of Gebrook and is known as Gebrooker Plat.
Hoensbroek is especially known for its medieval castle, Kasteel Hoensbroek, named after Knight Hoen, a member of the Hoen Family. It dates from around 1250 and is one of the most beautiful ancient castles of the country. [http://www.kasteelhoensbroek.nl/resource/images/Kasteel-2.jpg]
The population of Hoensbroek is estimated to be around 23,000.
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