Welten
Welten | |
|---|---|
Village | |
.jpg) A house overlooking the Weltervijver in Welten | |
  Welten Location in Limburg | |
| Coordinates: 50°52′26″N 5°57′54″E / 50.87389°N 5.96500°E | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Limburg |
| Municipality | Heerlen |
Welten is a village in the municipality of Heerlen, located in the province of Limburg, the Netherlands. It is situated southwest of the Heerlen city centre.
History
[edit]The earliest historical record of the area relates to a chapel dedicated to St Martin. A deed from 1061 by Udo of Toul mentions the chapel, indicating it existed as early as 1049. During its early history, the Welten chapel belonged to the parish of Voerendaal.[1] The chapel fell into disrepair over the centuries and was restored by the States General of the Netherlands in 1661.[1]
Welten remained dependent on other parishes until 1921, when it became an independent parish.[1]
Landmarks
[edit]Sint-Martinuskerk
[edit]The Sint-Martinuskerk (St Martin's Church) is a composite structure built over several decades. In 1875, a neo-Romanesque choir and transept designed by architect L. Oostwegel were added to the old chapel. Architect Joseph Seelen designed a neo-Gothic tower in 1897 to replace the original western tower. Between 1925 and 1927, Seelen constructed a new three-aisled basilica intersecting the older nave. This created a hybrid architectural layout built from local Kunradersteen, a regional variant of chalk.[1][2]
Weltermolen and Weltervijver
[edit]The Weltermolen is a watermill situated on the Weltervijver, a local pond fed by the Geleenbeek stream. Historical documents first mention the mill in 1381 as the property of Huis Strijthagen, a local estate also known as Huis te Welten.[3][4] The earliest recorded miller was Alexander van der Bruggen, who leased the facility in 1443.[4]
The watermill features a 17th-century tower constructed from marl and brick, alongside a cast-iron water wheel installed in 1898.[3] Following a period of decay after the Second World War, the municipality of Heerlen purchased and restored the complex. It was officially reopened in September 1982.[3]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 "Over ons". Parochie St. Martinus Welten-Benzenrade. Retrieved 2026-09-18.
- ↑ "Welten, Martinuskerk". Kerkramen in de Mijnstreek. Retrieved 2026-09-18.
- 1 2 3 "De Weltermolen". Heerlen Totaal. Retrieved 2026-09-18.
- 1 2 "Weltermolen". Open Monumentendag Heerlen. Retrieved 2026-09-18.