TWO LIMBURGS JOIN HANDS
[GOV: Stokkem, January 22] The research was divided into three parts: the feeling of being a Limburger; cooperation across the borders; and the need for information. It was striking that young people were less concerned about this topic than older people, but 95% of the Dutch were concerned to work together in the area of healthcare, and 76% of the Belgians too. Then there was the issue of shopping, in which the Belgian contingent came first. One curious thing was that Dutch shoppers in Belgium turned out to be largely men — possibly this may have to do with loading the car up with cigarettes or booze which is cheaper in Belgium. The last part of the research involved cross-border information. Sixty percent of Dutch Limburgers wanted to know more about what was going on in the Belgium side, and 66% of the Belgians had the same feeling. Interesting results were that the Dutch have great confidence in Belgian healthcare and education.
The two Limburg newspapers Het Belang van Limburg (on the Belgian side) and Dagblad de Limburger (on the Dutch side), and the provincial governments of Belgium and Netherlands Limburg have been getting together to do some research. This research has demonstrated that a great majority of Belgian and Dutch Limburgers are proud to be Limburgers and see a lot of opportunities in working together. The research document was presented at a meeting organized by the two papers where both governors and other leading politicians, including Herman Vrehen and Sylvain Slijpen, were present. 6,200 Limburgers took part in the research.
http://www.limburg.nl/