- Grimbergen
Infobox Belgium Municipality
name=Grimbergen
picture=
picture-
map-
arms=Blason Grimbergen.svg
region=BE-REG-FLE
community=BE-NL
province=BE-PROV-VB
arrondissement=Halle-Vilvoorde
nis=23025
pyramid-date=
0-19=
20-64=
65=
foreigners=
foreigners-date=
mayor=Eddy Willems (CD&V)
majority=CD&V,VLD
postal-codes=1850-1853
telephone-area=02
web= [http://www.grimbergen.be/ www.grimbergen.be]
lat_deg=50
lat_min=56
lon_deg=04
lon_min=23Grimbergen is a municipality in the province of
Flemish Brabant , inFlanders , one of the three regions ofBelgium . The municipality comprises the towns ofBeigem , Grimbergen,Humbeek andStrombeek-Bever . OnJanuary 1 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is 38.61 km² which gives apopulation density of 880 inhabitants per km². Grimbergen is located in the Dutch language area of Belgium. The French speaking minority represented by 4 members on the 30-seat local council. Grimbergen is mostly known for its Norbertine abbey and the beer first brewed there.History
Roman Empire and Middle Ages
In Roman times, several important roads passed near the territory of present Grimbergen. A fort was built in the
8th century at the strategic point where the road crossed the riverZenne . The local lord soon acquired a large piece of territory in this area, extending to the riversScheldt ,Rupel , andDender .In the
12th century the name of the hamlet was "Grentberghis, " which came from theOld Dutch "Grientbergen," meaning mounds of coarse sand. A community ofAugustinian monks had already tried to settle here a century earlier during the reign ofGodfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine , but it is only in the early 1100s that their religious community prospered. Under the leadership ofNorbert of Xanten , the Norbertine monks built theGrimbergen Abbey here in1128 . A few years later, the animosity between the powerful Grimbergen family and their then infant overlordGodfrey III of Leuven precipitated the Wars of Grimbergen. The unrest caused the destruction of the local castle by theDuke of Brabant , the move of the ruling Grimbergen lord to nearbyNinove , and the parceling of his territory. The city's coat of arms dates from that period.At the beginning of the
14th century , half of the territory became part of the estate of theHouse of Nassau . Like everywhere else in Flanders, theWars of Religion of the end of the16th century caused widespread destruction. In1752 ,Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange , who had received the land from her consortWilliam IV, Prince of Orange -Nassau, ceded the barony to the Prince of Berghes, who owned the other half, thereby reuniting the original land of Grimbergen as a single, but short-lived, princedom.After the French Revolution
The feudal regime and the power of the lords came to an abrupt end under the French Regime in
1794 . The clerical powers of the abbey were abrogated a couple of year later until a few years after theBelgian Revolution of1830 .Up until then, the town's character was mostly rural and agricultural. In the middle of the
19th century , the new road linkingVilvoorde toAalst and the Brussels-Willebroek canal started attracting industrial concerns. Thevicinal tramway arrived in 1887 and a local airfield was built afterWorld War I . Today, Grimbergen's proximity to Brussels makes it an ideal residential town for commuting.ights
*The majestic church of the
Grimbergen Abbey , dedicated toSaint Servatius ,patron saint of the city, was rebuilt several times since its foundation in 1128. The current construction dates from1660 and ranks among the most harmoniousBaroque buildings in Belgium. The tower houses a 49-bellcarillon . The houses lining the central square in front of the church have also been rebuilt in the original style of the18th century .
*The Grimbergen beer museum is located next door and gives its visitors an opportunity to taste the famous local brew.
*The oldest astronomical public observatory in the country [http://www.mira.be] is located in the former farm dependencies of the abbey.
*Grimbergen is particularly rich incastle s, counting four of them on its territory, including the beautiful17th century Renaissance-style "Guldendal", and the ruins of the lords of Grimbergen's oldkeep now named the "Prinsenkasteel". It also counts several farms dating from the17th century as well as two medieval water mills.Events and sports
*The main annual event is the "Sint-Servaasommegang", loosely translated as
procession of Saint Servatius. It dates from 1280 and takes place on the Saint's birthday, May 13, or on the first following Sunday.
*A well-attended kermesse takes place on the first Sunday of September.
*Anativity scene is organized in the abbey church around Christmas.
*The mainfootball club used to be K.F.C. Strombeek, but is now namedF.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek and located in neighboringSint-Jans-Molenbeek .Famous Inhabitants
*
August De Winter ,politician (1925-2005)
*Hugo Broos , former football player and coach (b. 1952)External links
* [http://www.grimbergen.be Official Website] (in Dutch, with some tourist information in English)
* [http://www.mot.be Official Website of the Museum for Old Techniques] (in Dutch/french/English)
* [http://www.werbeka.com/schloss/prinske.htm The Prince's Fort in Grimbergen - Werbeka Netshop] (in English)
* [http://www.grimbergs.net Alternate website] (in Dutch)
* [http://beiaard.grimbergs.net Carillon] (mostly in Dutch)
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