KERKRADE

gemeente (commune), Limburg provincie, southeastern Netherlands, east of Maastricht on the German border. One of Europe's oldest coal-mining towns, Kerkrade served as an important coal-mining centre from 1113 until the early 1970s, when the mines were closed. The former abbey of Rolduc (1104) has a notable Romanesque church; its courtyard buildings now serve as a boys' school. A natural history and mining museum is housed in Oud Ehrenstein Castle. International music contests are held periodically in the Europaplein Park. Kerkrade metropolitan area is contiguous with Heerlen (q.v.). Pop. (1983 est.) 53,353.