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Lanaken
Lanaken
; Flag	; Coat of arms
Location of Lanaken in Limburg
	; Lanaken Location in Belgium
Sovereign state	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	Limburg
Arrondissement	Tongeren
Coordinates	50°53′0″N 05°39′0″E / 50.883333°N 5.65°ECoordinates: 50°53′0″N 05°39′0″E / 50.883333°N 5.65°E
Area	59.00 km²
Population; – Males; – Females; – Density	24,485 (2006-01-01); 50.56%; 49.44%; 415 inhab./km²
Unemployment rate	10.67% (1 January 2006)
Mean annual income	€12,434/pers. (2003)
Mayor	Guido Willen (Open VLD)
Governing parties	Open VLD, sp.a
Postal codes	3620-3621
Area codes	089
Website	www.lanaken.be

Lanaken is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2007 Lanaken had a total population of 24,724. The total area is 59.00 km² which gives a population density of 415 inhabitants per km².

It is located on the Dutch border, less than 10 kilometers from Maastricht. A number of neighbourhoods in Lanaken are characterized by their numerous villas and exclusive landhouses. In the 2006 census, around 20 percent of the inhabitants were Dutch nationals.

Lanaken consists of the following villages: Lanaken, Rekem, Neerharen, Gellik, Veldwezelt, Smeermaas and Kesselt.

The South African pulp and paper company Sappi operates a large mill on the outskirts of the town.

In 2006, four 100 m high windturbines were built to provide electricity to the Celanese factory. In the near future 8 more windturbines will be built to support the demand for electricity.

The reactivation of the railway Maastricht-Lanaken will be completed mid 2008. There are plans for the reactivation of the railway Maastricht-Hasselt for light-rail in 2012.

[edit] Born in Lanaken

Eric Gerets (1954) Former professional football (soccer) player for Belgium, born in Rekem

[edit] External links

Official website - Available only in Dutch

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