The Belgian part of this departement was created from the mostly Dutch speaking parts of the Prince-Bishopric of Liege. The Dutch part (the latter Dutch Limburg) was more heterogenous.
Administrative subdivision in 1795
- The departement was created the 1st October 1795, with capital Maastricht, and subdivided in 31 municipal cantons.
- These cantons did register the marriages (on the republican sunday of a republican week of 10 days !). The births and deaths where registered at the municipal level by a deputy-mayor of the canton.
- The following lists the 17 Belgian municipal cantons (situated in the actual Belgium) with their population figures in 1798 (the composing municipalities aren't yet listed):
- Achel (population: 5796)
- As (population: 2209)
- Beringen (population: 9211)
- Bilzen (population: 4609)
- Loon (population: 7059)
- Bree (population: 5234)
- Hasselt (population: 6560)
- Heers (population: 4456)
- Herk-de-Stad (population: 11936)
- Kortessem (population: 7205)
- Maaseik (population: 10542)
with the Dutch municipalities of Thorn, Wessem, Neeritter and Ittervoorts- Maasmechelen (population: 7255)
- Millen (population: 9473)
- Montenaken (population: 3600)
- Peer (population: 6108)
- Sint-Truiden (population: 7775)
- Tongeren (population: 7364)
- Feudal stute of Maastricht
17 February 1800
In 1800 the level "Arrondissement", between the departement and the canton levels was created. The cantonal level did loose his political power. The municipalities could again register the marriages. The arrondissements Hasselt (with the Belgian cantons Hasselt, Kortessem, Sint-Truiden, Heers, Monteaken, Looz, Herk-de-Stad, Beringen and Peer), Maastricht (with the Belgian cantons Tongeren, Bilzen, Maasmechelen, As and Millen) and Roermond (with the Belgian cantons of Maaseik, Bree and Achel) where created.09 january 1802
Suppression of the following cantons:
- Kortessem: integrated in the canton of Loon
- Heers: integrated in the canton of Loon
- Montenaken: integrated in the canton of Sint-Truiden
12 November 1807
- Treeaty of Fontainebleau between France and the Kingdom of Holland.
- The purpose was to make the realisation of Grand Canal du Nord" (link between the rivers Schelde, Meuse and Rhine) possible in France.
- Dutch decrees of 24 and 25 january 1815 have restored the situation as before 1807.
- The municipality Lommel and the southern part of the municipality eersel did pass from Holland to France
- The northern part of the civil parish Luyksgestel (523 inhabtitants) returned to France.
- This part, together with the alreday French southern part of Luyksgestel (165 inhabtitants) and the southern part of Eersel (no inhabitants), have been incorporated in the municipality Lommel.
Contemporary history
French Era (1795-1814)
The county of Loon ("Pays de Looz" in French) was, as a part of the "Principauté de Liège", occupied by the French Republicans, after the battle of Fleurus 26 June 1794. It was suppressed from the 1st Ocober 1795 and integrated in, this new "Département de la Meuse Inférieure" of the French Republic.Dutch Era (1815-1839)
See the Provinces of Belgian Limburg and Dutch Limburg.Belgian Era (1830-now
See the Province of Belgian Limburg .Ancien Régime
See mainly the County of LoonBibliography
- Hervé Hasquin e.a., La vie culturelle dans nos provinces à l'époque Française, Crédit Communal, Brussels, 1989, 152 pages + map (edition in dutch exists); the content of this book was published also in the periodical "Trimesteriëel Bulletin van het Gemeentekrediet", # 160 to 167 (edition in french exists also).
- H. Hardenberg, Inventaris der archieven van het arrondissement Maastricht en van het departement van de Nedermaas (1794-1814), Den Haag, Nederland, 1946
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