Limbourg

Province of northeast Belgium, part of the Dutch-speaking Flemish community and region, bordered to the north and east by the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Flemish and Walloon Brabant, Namur, and Luxembourg; area 2,422 sq km/935 sq mi; population (1997 est) 780,000. The capital is Hasselt, and other major towns include Genk and Tongeren.

Physical The River Meuse marks the frontier. The province includes the River Demer, Kempen heathland in the north, and sandy loams in the south.

Economy The Kempen heath area contains rich coalfields that produce about half of the nation's output. Sugar refining, food processing, chemicals, electronics, engineering, glass, and metallurgy are other important industries. Agriculture includes dairy farming and market gardening. The construction of the Albert Canal stimulated the region's economic growth.

History The province was formerly part of the feudal duchy of Limburg, which was divided in 1839 into today's Belgian and Dutch provinces.