What is "maasgouw"

Maasgouw is a municipality in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located on both banks of the river Meuse southwest of the city of Roermond. It was formed in a merger of the former municipalities of Heel, Maasbracht and Thorn on 1 January 2007.

The municipality contains a number of towns and villages: Beegden, Brachterbeek, Heel, Linne, Maasbracht, Ohé en Laak, Panheel, Stevensweert, Thorn, and Wessem.