SITTARD

gemeente (commune), Limburg provincie, southeastern Netherlands. Chartered in 1243, it was a domain of the dukes of Jlich from 1400 to 1794. It was then controlled by the French until 1814 and by the Belgians from 1830 to 1839. The commune's industries include quarrying and the manufacture of fertilizer, chemicals, electronic components, and textiles, and there are coal mines (now closed) in the area. Churches from the 14th, 15th, and 17th centuries remain, and there is a regional museum. Pop. (1988 est.) 44,251; Sittard-Geleen metropolitan area, 177,432.