| Official Name: | Eijsden |
| Image Alt: | Buildings at the "Vroenhof" central square |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands#Netherlands Limburg |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Netherlands##Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Limburg (Netherlands) |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Eijsden-Margraten |
| Elevation Footnotes: | [1] |
| Elevation M: | 56 |
| Area Total Km2: | 3.69 |
| Population Footnotes: | [2] |
| Population Total: | 4,255 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 6245 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 043 |
| Coordinates: | 50.7778°N 5.7083°W |
Eijsden (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈɛizdə(n)/; Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Èèsjde in Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish pronounced as /ˈɛːʒdə/) is a village situated in the very south of the European country the Netherlands. It is located in the southwestern part of the province of Limburg.
Until 1 January 2011, Eijsden was the main village in a municipality with the same name. On that date this municipality merged with the neighbouring one of Margraten, resulting in nowadays Eijsden-Margraten municipality, in which Eijsden again is the biggest place.
This village is one of the most southerly places in the Netherlands, for in its south it is extending up to the most southerly part of the border between the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Meuse river, coming from France and Belgium, here enters its third and final flowing country, the Netherlands. From here on its name in Dutch is Maas. Running northward to Eijsden's west it locally forms the westerly frontier of the last mentioned country with Belgium. Its Belgian border across the Meuse is Lanaye, a village of Liège Province in Wallonia, whereas its border to the south is the Voerstreek exclave of Limburg province in Flanders.
A smaller stream, the Voer, coming from Belgium, drains into the Meuse river in this place.
Eijsden is one of the older places in the country. Its name is supposed to be derived of the Germanic word for aspen forest. Excavations have revealed a Roman settlement. In the Middle Ages, this settlement developed to a village. After the (feudal) Middle Ages, in the seventeenth century Eijsden gained in economic strength because of its position near the Dutch-Belgian frontier on the Meuse river. Its function as a trading and shipping centre attracted settlement of well-to-do merchants from Holland. This period of prosperity ended in the Napoleonic era when, for a time, the area ceased to be a frontier.
The former Eijsden municipality was composed of several population centres, of which the one named Eijsden was the largest, with 7000 inhabitants.The other population centres (now all part of "Eijsden-Margraten") were:
Nowadays the administrative population centre of Eijsden in the municipality of Eijsden-Margraten is formed by several neighbourhoods of which most are more or less separately situated and have their own history:
Apart from trading and shipping, the Eijsden economy traditionally has had an agricultural character, with a focus on fruit growing. At one time, in Eijsden the Netherlands' largest local fruit tree area was situated.In the second half of the 20th century, many orchards were replaced by housing, dairy farming and industry.
In 1870, a zinc white factory brought industrial activity to the municipality, along with jobs and air pollution. The number of jobs originally was about 700; by now some 300 are left.
As a result of the relatively vast housing projects in the northern part, Eijsden nowadays is largely residential.
In the municipality of Eijsden two military bands are based, 'the blue' and 'the red', of which the former in competition contests competes in the second highest international division and the latter in the highest.
In 2009 and 2013, the 'red', the Koninklijke Harmonie Sainte Cécile, was the winner in the World Concert Division of the four-yearly World Music Contest, a competition for professional, amateur and military bands, held in Kerkrade.
The 'blue', the "Koninklijke Oude Harmonie Sainte Cécile", finished second in the First Concert Division.[3]