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Buchten is a village in the Limburg municipality of Sittard-Geleen, part of the municipality of Born until 2001. In martial arts, it is home to Karate & Muay Thai School Alken, which, according to its own website, trains at the Honbu Dojo in Buchten and traces its roots back to a karate school founded in Geleen in 1971.

At a glance

Country NETHERLANDS  Netherlands Region Limburg
Gyms - Fighters - Trainers - Events - Venues - Organizations -

Introduction

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About this city

Buchten is a village in the municipality of Sittard-Geleen in Limburg. In 2026, the town had 1,982 inhabitants and covered approximately 100 hectares. Until the municipal reorganization of 2001, Buchten was part of the municipality of Born, along with, among others, Holtum, Grevenbicht, and Obbicht.
In martial arts, Buchten is associated with Karate & Muay Thai School Alken. According to the school’s website, training sessions take place at the Honbu Dojo in Buchten. The school dates back to 1971, when Shihan Hub Alken began teaching in Geleen; he was regarded as the person who introduced karate to Limburg and was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for pioneers. Hub Alken died on November 1, 2018.

His son Roger Alken, 7th dan, leads the school. He became Dutch junior champion in 1988 and 1989, Dutch Open heavyweight champion (KBN) in 1994, and won bronze at the 1993 World Games. Since 2007, muay thai/K1 kickboxing has also been part of the program.

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Overview

Village in Sittard-Geleen

Buchten is a village with 1,982 inhabitants (2026) in the municipality of Sittard-Geleen. Until 2001, it belonged to the municipality of Born.

Karate school with Limburg roots

In martial arts, Buchten is home to Karate & Muay Thai School Alken. According to its own website, the school trains at the Honbu Dojo in Buchten and traces its history back to 1971.

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Geography and character

Small village

Buchten covers approximately 100 hectares and had 935 households in 2025. The population declined slightly, from 2,030 in 2013 to 1,982 in 2026. Sittard-Geleen borders Belgium and Germany.

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History

From Born to Sittard-Geleen

Until 2001, Born was an independent municipality of approximately 15,000 inhabitants, comprising the villages of Born, Buchten, Holtum, Grevenbicht, Papenhoven and Obbicht. On January 1, 2001, Born merged with Sittard and Geleen to form Sittard-Geleen. In Buchten, on Dorpstraat, there is a 19th-century wayside cross that has been a national monument since 1969.

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Martial arts landscape

Karate & Muay Thai School Alken

Karate & Muay Thai School Alken offers Shotokan karate, Muay Thai/K1 kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The school was founded in Geleen in 1971 by Shihan Hub Alken, who, according to the website, introduced karate to Limburg and was inducted into the National Hall of Fame for pioneers. He died on 1 November 2018.

Roger Alken

His son Roger Alken (7th dan) leads the school. He became Dutch junior champion in 1988 and 1989, Open Dutch heavyweight champion (KBN) in 1994, and won bronze in the open class at the 1993 World Games.

Martial arts facts

Martial arts gym
Karate & Muay Thai School Alken
training sessions at the Honbu Dojo in Buchten Karate & Muay Thai School Alken
Founded
1971, by Shihan Hub Alken in Geleen
Hub Alken gold as the importer of karate equipment in Limburg Karate & Muay Thai School Alken
Head instructor
Shihan Roger Alken, 7th dan karate
incl. bronze, World Games 1993, open class Karate & Muay Thai School Alken
Disciplines
Shotokan karate, Muay Thai/K1 kickboxing and BJJ
Muay Thai since 2007 Karate & Muay Thai School Alken
The bottom
Dutch Karate-Do Federation (KBN) and FOG
according to the school website Karate & Muay Thai School Alken

Data last checked on 8 October 2026

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