Sint Odiliënberg

Sint Odiliënberg is a small village in southeast Netherlands, It is located in Roerdalen, Limburg, in the Roer River valley.

Sint Odiliënberg
Sint Odiliënberg on the Roer river
Coordinates: 51°08′35″N 6°00′10″E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceLimburg
MunicipalityRoerdalen
Population
 (1 January 2014)
3,214
Dialling code0475
Major roadsN293

History

Romans settled here very early. In 706 missionary monks from Ireland, Saints Wiro, Plechelmus, and Otgerus, built a monastery there, which was important in the Christianisation of the Netherlands. In the time of the Viking invasions the Utrecht clergy found shelter here. At first it was a secular collegiate chapter, which later moved to Roermond in the 14th century. A community of the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre settled on the hill during that period.

After the Eighty Years' War, this area came under Spanish rule; it was ceded to the Dutch Republic in 1715. Until the French municipal reorganisation, St. Odiliënberg belonged to the administrative division known as Ambt Montfort. Around 1810 it became a separate commune/municipality. In 1991 the municipality of Sint Odiliënberg merged into Ambt Montfort, which in January 2007 merged into Roerdalen.

Attractions

Standing on a hill is a Romanesque basilica with two towers dating from the eleventh century. Next to the basilica is a 10th-century chapel, originally the parish church.

  • Sint Odiliënberg, basilica
  • Sint Odiliënberg, windmill: molen van Verbeek

Notable residents
  • Connie Palmen, writer, born in St. Odiliënberg
  • Geert Chatrou, professional whistler, born in St. Odiliënberg
  • Twan de Ruiter, professional woodworker and materials planner, born in St. Odiliënberg
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