Sibbe
Encyclopedia
Sibbe is the official Dutch
name of a village in the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul
in the province of Limburg
in the Southern part of the Netherlands
.
word sippe
, meaning a clan of a limited number of families. Another possibility is that the name derives from the Latin
cippus, meaning young forest. However, both explanations do not fit with the local pronunciation Süp.
It is not known when the first inhabitants settled here. It is assumed that the Plateau of Margraten
, at the edge of which Sibbe is situated, was gradually deforested
and settled after the year 1000. The village was first mentioned ('Cybde') in a document in 1307. Until 1940 Sibbe was part of the municipality of Oud-Valkenburg
.
, caused by population ageing
, low birthrates and negative migration
.
Sibbe is situated at the edge of the Plateau of Margraten, a fertile loess
plain
at 160 meters above NAP
. Until recently, agriculture was the main means of life on the Plateau. Nowadays, most villagers commute to work in nearby towns like Valkenburg
, Maastricht
and Heerlen
. Being close to tourist hotspot Valkenburg, the village offers some bed and breakfast
accommodation, as well as a camping site. The last operating marl
quarry in the Netherlands is situated in Sibbe. Tours on mountain bike
s and quads
are offered in the underground labyrinth in parts of the quarry that are no longer used for mining.
Sibbe has a very active community life with various sports clubs (football, handball
, table tennis
, billiards
), a concert band
, a mixed choir
, a young adults club (Jonkheid), and a carnival
club.
Although church-going has steeply declined in recent years, most of the inhabitants of Sibbe are still, at least nominally, members of the Roman Catholic Church
. The first church was built here in 1840. Before, villagers had to walk the two miles to the parish church of Oud-Valkenburg. Until 1948 the church of Sibbe remained dependent on the church in Oud-Valkenburg.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
name of a village in the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul
Valkenburg aan de Geul
Valkenburg aan de Geul is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.-History:Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each event is withheld, followed by subsequent restorations. This most definitely holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the...
in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
in the Southern part of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
History
It has been proposed that the name of the village derives from the GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
word sippe
Sippe
Sippe is German for "clan, kindred, extended family". It continues a Proto-Germanic term *sibbja, which referred to a band or confederation bound by a treaty or oath, not primarily restricted to blood relations. The original character of sibb as a peace treaty is visible in Old English, e.g. in...
, meaning a clan of a limited number of families. Another possibility is that the name derives from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
cippus, meaning young forest. However, both explanations do not fit with the local pronunciation Süp.
It is not known when the first inhabitants settled here. It is assumed that the Plateau of Margraten
Margraten
-History:In Margraten is the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Europe's third largest war cemetery for unidentified soldiers who died in World War II. 8,301 soldiers are buried there under long rows of white crosses and stars of David. All graves are adopted by locals, who attend the...
, at the edge of which Sibbe is situated, was gradually deforested
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
and settled after the year 1000. The village was first mentioned ('Cybde') in a document in 1307. Until 1940 Sibbe was part of the municipality of Oud-Valkenburg
Oud-Valkenburg
Oud-Valkenburg is a village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul, and has about 130 inhabitants.Oud-Valkenburg was a separate municipality until 1940, when it was merged with Valkenburg...
.
Population: economy, leisure, religion
In spite of some small-scale building projects, population has decreased over the last decades. This is the case for most parts of South LimburgSouth Limburg (Netherlands)
South Limburg is both a COROP region as well as a landstreek of The Netherlands located in the province of Limburg...
, caused by population ageing
Population ageing
Population ageing or population aging occurs when the median age of a country or region rises. This happens because of rising life expectancy or declining birth rates. Excepting 18 countries termed 'demographic outliers' by the UN) this process is taking place in every country and region across...
, low birthrates and negative migration
Human migration
Human migration is physical movement by humans from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in large groups. Historically this movement was nomadic, often causing significant conflict with the indigenous population and their displacement or cultural assimilation. Only a few nomadic...
.
Sibbe is situated at the edge of the Plateau of Margraten, a fertile loess
Loess
Loess is an aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt, typically in the 20–50 micrometre size range, twenty percent or less clay and the balance equal parts sand and silt that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate...
plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
at 160 meters above NAP
Normaal Amsterdams Peil
Normaal Amsterdams Peil or Amsterdam Ordnance Datum is a vertical datum in use in large parts of Western Europe. Originally created for use in the Netherlands, it was adopted by Prussia in 1879 under the name Normalnull, and in 1955 by other European countries.Mayor Johannes Hudde of Amsterdam in...
. Until recently, agriculture was the main means of life on the Plateau. Nowadays, most villagers commute to work in nearby towns like Valkenburg
Valkenburg aan de Geul
Valkenburg aan de Geul is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.-History:Siege and conquest were characteristic of the history of Valkenburg. Each event is withheld, followed by subsequent restorations. This most definitely holds for the castle perched atop of a hill in the middle of the...
, Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
and Heerlen
Heerlen
Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality is the second largest in the province of Limburg. It forms part of Parkstad Limburg, , an agglomeration of about 220,000 inhabitants.After its early Roman beginnings and a rather modest medieval period, Heerlen...
. Being close to tourist hotspot Valkenburg, the village offers some bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
accommodation, as well as a camping site. The last operating marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
quarry in the Netherlands is situated in Sibbe. Tours on mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
s and quads
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
are offered in the underground labyrinth in parts of the quarry that are no longer used for mining.
Sibbe has a very active community life with various sports clubs (football, handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
), a concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, a mixed choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, a young adults club (Jonkheid), and a carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
club.
Although church-going has steeply declined in recent years, most of the inhabitants of Sibbe are still, at least nominally, members of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. The first church was built here in 1840. Before, villagers had to walk the two miles to the parish church of Oud-Valkenburg. Until 1948 the church of Sibbe remained dependent on the church in Oud-Valkenburg.
Sights
- Sibberhüske or Villaertshof. Manor houseManor houseA manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
with a moatMoatA moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
and a defensive tower, first mentioned in 1381. Parts of the tower may be medieval but most of the existing house dates from the 17th century, built in the local Maasland Renaissance architectural style, with alternating layers of brickBrickA brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
and marlstoneMarlMarl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
. The outbuildings are partly 18th century, partly rebuilt after a damaging fire in the 1930s. - Various imposing carré farms (German: Vierkantshof), mainly along Dorpsstraat. The 17th/18th century carré farm Hellinxhof stands at Klein Linde.
- Church of Saint Rose of Lima. Neo-Romanesque parish church, begun in 1840 and enlarged in 1866 and 1927. The nave is original from the 1840s and was designed by the MaastrichtMaastrichtMaastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
architect Matthias Soiron. - The 140 kilometer long underground maze of the Sibberberg, the marlstone quarry, parts of which date from the 15th century.
- French chapel inside the Sibberberg. Probably built during the years of the French First RepublicFrench First RepublicThe French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...
, when Catholic priests that did not swear allegiance to the Republic, were restricted in their religious freedom. Some of the charcoal wall drawings date from around 1865. - Neo-Gothic churchyard chapel.
- Modern glass chapel dedicated to Saint Rose of Lima, containing the processional altar built of thousands of pieces of wood, ceramic and shells by a former mayor of the village.
- Chapel Daalhemerweg and other small road chapels and crosses, dotted around the village.