becoming one of the impoverished regions of Europe. On August 1, 1977, Dr. Kremers was appointed as Queen's Commissioner of the Dutch province of Limburg. As Queen's Commissioner, Dr. Kremers conducted an active economic policy to reduce the effects of the mine closures and to push back unemployment. The economic restructuring policy for the province of Limburg was aimed at: the creation of alternative employment within the already existing chemical factories of the mines. the stimulation of new industries. the relocation of a number of large government services from the seat of the government in The Hague to the province of Limburg. In 1975, the provincial government commissioned an independent company, the Industriebank LIOF to support existing employment and attract alternative employment. Since 1975, this organization has brought over 100 companies to the province of Limburg. In 1982, the provincial government drew up a plan to stimulate tourism in South Limburg. The plan was aimed at four specific fields: conference tourism, holiday tourism, water sports and recreational facilities for a day trip. Conference tourism was given a considerable boost with the building of the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC). One of the offspring of the mining industry that survives till today is the chemical company DSM - a multinational active in various branches of the chemical industry. It still has a large industrial complex in Geleen. References Jan Derix, Limburg, Eisma Publishers, Leeuwarden/Mechelen. Coal mining regions in the Netherlands Limburg History of Limburg (Netherlands) South Limburg (Netherlands) Heerlen nl:Mijnbouw#Mijnbouw_in_Nederland