ABSTRACT
Heerlen is located in the south of The Netherlands, close to the borders with Germany and Belgium. Together with the cities of Brunssum, Kerkrade, and Landgraaf, it forms a strongly urbanized area with approximately 250,000 inhabitants. In 2004, the city of Heerlen had almost 95,000 inhabitants. Unlike many other Dutch cities, Heerlen has a declining population number: over the past decade, the city has lost almost 3 per cent of its population. This population decline is caused by both a natural decline and a net out-migration of people. The City Council is directly elected by the residents and has 37 members. They determine the main lines of the municipal policy plan and decide on important issues such as the budget. The urban government of Heerlen operates in a so-called ‘service model’ which is strongly focused on the geographical level of districts and neighbourhoods.
