Dear Euregio

Maastricht-LAB is proud to present the Temporal itinerary to – and The accompanying complete incomplete atlas of – Cross-border marvels or astonishments of A(n) un/defined border region: Euregio Meuse-Rhine. It combines the insights and resulting analyses of a research project called Dear Euregio, initiated by Dear Hunter and executed within the Euregio Meuse-Rhine between 2015 and 2019.

By applying cartopology*, Dear Hunter has mapped fifteen locations across the Euregio Meuse-Rhine. On all of these fifteen locations, specific research questions were considered. These led to fifteen maps and/or atlases, revealing insights and tailored recommendations on the various (spatial) topics. The specificity and timebound character of the maps automatically means that the atlas as a whole can never be complete as such. It rather should be regarded as a document that fosters a dialogue and that, more so than any other atlas, offers an in-depth and detailed insight into a region that’s constantly in motion. This binder thus can be filled with a personal selection of maps out of a collection that ideally will change constantly, adapting to the situation in the field.

The Complete Incomplete Atlas takes the insights gathered on fifteen locations as a basis and elaborates on themes that are to a greater or lesser extent present on all of them. By comparing the locally gathered empirical knowledge from various locations, it reveals valuable insights. Similarities and differences on (the dealing with) specific themes appear and sometimes touch upon the very core of the cultural differences that make a cross border region such as the Euregio Meuse-Rhine such a rich ecosystem: often not despite, but because of the presence of borders.

About Dear Hunter

Dear Hunter is a cartopological research practice and produces alternative maps and atlases through qualitative fieldwork. Being a ‘Dear Hunter’, referring to the behaviour and methods of hunters, means that we thoroughly immerse in situations in order to understand them completely, mostly by living and working on-site for relatively long periods of time. Our maps contain local, specific, symbolic and ‘intimate’ knowledge. They offer a complementary perspective on an existing situation and lead to insights applicable within spatial, economic and cultural development.

*Aiming at combining the use of anthropological methods with cartographic ways to translate experiences and insights into maps, Dear Hunter develops the discipline of cartopology.

Colophon

This atlas is developed by Dear Hunter in the framework of the project Dear Euregio en route. It is funded by the People to People program of Interreg V-A Euregio Meuse-Rhine, with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the framework of the Interreg V A program EMR. Additional funding and assistance were generously provided by the following project partners:

Stadsregio Parkstad Limburg (lead partner), Provincie Limburg, Charlemagne Grenzregion, Gemeente Heerlen, Gemeente Maastricht, Neimed, Z33.