Limburg is the name of two different adjoining provinces, one in the
Netherlands (Limburg (Netherlands)) and one in Flanders, one of three regions of Belgium (Limburg (Belgium)).
Once, what is now Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands were one country, the Netherlands, meaning 'the lowlands'. When the Belgians split away from the Northern Netherlands (in 1830) the province of Limburg was first under Belgian rule. In 1839 Limburg was split in two along the borders we know today.
Historically, Limburg was also a county south of current Dutch-Limburg, partly overlapping with its southern municipalities, en partly in what is now the 'Pays d'Herve'.
The region around Kleve (Dutch: Kleef) in Germany is sometimes also added to the region, since the dialect is very similar.
Anthem
In 't Bronsgroen Eikenhout is the 'official' anthem of the region of Limburg, both in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Language
Since Limburg is located in Flanders and The Netherlands, the official language in Limburg is Dutch, but Limburgish language, which knows a series of dialects, is spoken throughout the region. The status of Limburgish has been upgraded thanks to European legislation, whereas the Belgium national authorities refrain from being supportive. In the Netherlands the Limburgish language receives moderate protection under chapter 2 of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In German sources, the Limburgish language is often called "Bergisch".
See also