JANUARY 10, 2026 — The Dutch municipality of Sittard-Geleen, established 25 years ago through the amalgamation of the former municipalities of Sittard, Geleen, and Born, has finally adopted an official municipal coat of arms and flag, reports L1 Nieuws.
For a quarter century, Sittard-Geleen was reportedly the only municipality in the Netherlands lacking these civic symbols, a situation that has now been rectified following a formal presentation.
The new coat of arms was officially presented on January 6 at the Toon Hermans Theater in Sittard, where Mayor Hans Verheijen was handed the official wapendiploma (coat of arms diploma), according to the municipality website.
According to the municipality, the design of the new arms was a careful process, intentionally avoiding the use of any single historic emblem as a starting point. This approach was taken to achieve the broadest possible acceptance, particularly given the historical rivalry between Sittard and Geleen. The design incorporates heraldically appropriate elements from the eight original village and town cores that make up the present municipality.
The composition integrates colours from the former arms, red, blue, silver, and gold, alongside symbols such as the slangenkoppenkruis (serpent-headed cross) and the tower of the castle in Born. The municipality asserts that the design resulted from “research and expert advice from a heraldist, and consultation with the council working group.” The arms were specifically designed by heraldist René Vroomen of Echt.
The municipal flag is directly derived from the colours and forms of the newly established coat of arms.
The municipality views the new arms and flag as a “visible sign of connection and pride,” serving as a common symbol for the future of the 25-year-old entity. The coat of arms will be reserved for official municipal documents, such as marriage certificates and mayoral papers, and is also applied to the mayor’s chain of office, while the flag is intended for use by the public during official or festive occasions.
Image: Sittard-Geleen
