| Parkstad Limburg | |
| Coordinates: | 50.9°N 64°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Limburg |
| Area Total Km2: | 211.10 |
| Area Land Km2: | 210.11 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.99 |
| Population Total: | 252332 |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
Parkstad Limburg (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈpɑr(ə)kstɑt ˈlɪmbʏr(ə)x/; Ripuarian and Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Parksjtad Limburg in Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish pronounced as /ˈpɑʀ(ə)kʃtɑt ˈlɪmbʏʀ(ə)x/) is a conurbation of seven municipalities in the southern part of the province of Limburg in the Netherlands. Consisting of Heerlen, Kerkrade, Landgraaf, Brunssum, Simpelveld, Voerendaal and Beekdaelen, the municipalities work together to improve public services, transport and housing on a regional level. This collaboration started in 1999. Within Parkstad, the city of Heerlen functions as the centre of economic and social activity, and to a lesser extent the cities Kerkrade and Landgraaf function in the same regard as regional hubs.
The name Parkstad, Dutch for "Park City", is derived from the relative greenness of the towns, 94,17 km2 (53%) of its area used for non-urban purposes. However, only 10% of the area (roughly 17.8 km2) is forest and nature, 42% (roughly 74.96 km2) is used for agriculture. Previously, the area had been known as Oostelijke Mijnstreek or Eastern Mining District, as it was the primary coal mining area of the Netherlands.
In 2012 Parkstad became the site of the first Internationale Bauausstellung (IBA) in the Netherlands, running until 2020.[1] The International Architecture Exhibition is a German concept in which new social, cultural and technological ideas are implemented within eight to ten years. Parkstad is one of the first regions in the Netherlands to face negative demographic growth. It is hoped that the IBA helps to find new strategies to deal with this phenomenon.