Grimbergen
Encyclopedia
Grimbergen is a municipality in the province
of Flemish Brabant
, in Flanders
, one of the three regions of Belgium
. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever
. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is 38.61 km² which gives a population density
of 880 inhabitants per km². Grimbergen is located in the Dutch language area of Belgium. The French speaking minority is represented by 4 members on the 30-seat local council. Grimbergen is mostly known for its Norbertine abbey
and the beer
first brewed there.
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 river Zenne
. The local lord soon acquired a large piece of territory in this area, extending to the rivers Scheldt
, Rupel
, and Dender
.
In the 12th century the name of the hamlet was Grentberghis, which came from the Old Dutch
Grientbergen, meaning mounds of coarse sand. A community of Augustinian monks had already tried to settle here a century earlier during the reign of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine
, but it is only in the early 12th century that their religious community prospered. Under the leadership of Norbert of Xanten
, the Norbertine
monks built the Grimbergen Abbey
here in 1128. A few years later, the animosity between the powerful Grimbergen family and their then infant overlord Godfrey III of Leuven
precipitated the Wars of Grimbergen. The unrest caused the destruction of the local castle by the Duke of Brabant
, the move of the ruling Grimbergen lord to nearby Ninove
, 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 the House of Nassau
. Like everywhere else in Flanders, the Wars of Religion
of the end of the 16th century caused widespread destruction. In 1752, Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
, who had received the land from her consort William 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.
of 1830.
Up until then, the town's character was mostly rural and agricultural. In the middle of the 19th century, the new road linking Vilvoorde
to Aalst
and the Brussels-Willebroek canal
started attracting industrial concerns. The vicinal tramway
arrived in 1887 and a local airfield was built after World War I
. Today, Grimbergen's proximity to Brussels makes it an ideal residential town for commuting.
Provinces of Belgium
Belgium is divided into three regions, two of them are subdivided into five provinces each.The division into provinces is fixed by Article 5 of the Belgian Constitution...
of Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
, in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, one of the three regions of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever
Strombeek-Bever
Strombeek-Bever is an urbanised town with about 11,500 inhabitants in the municipality of Grimbergen, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. A suburb on the north side of Brussels, it is separated from Grimbergen proper by the R0 ring road around the city...
. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is 38.61 km² which gives a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 880 inhabitants per km². Grimbergen is located in the Dutch language area of Belgium. The French speaking minority is represented by 4 members on the 30-seat local council. Grimbergen is mostly known for its Norbertine abbey
Grimbergen Abbey
Grimbergen Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastery in Grimbergen, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, established in 1128 in the place of an earlier foundation of Augustinian Canons....
and the beer
Grimbergen (beer)
Grimbergen is a group of Belgian abbey beers first brewed in 1128 at the abbey that Saint Norbert of Xanten built for the Premonstratensian canons regular in Grimbergen. They became famous for providing hospitality and their home-brewed beer to visitors, and handed down the recipe over the...
first brewed there.
Roman Empire and Middle Ages
In RomanAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
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 river Zenne
Zenne
The Zenne or Senne is a small river that flows through Brussels, left tributary of the Dijle/Dyle. Its source is in the municipality of Soignies. It is an indirect tributary of the Scheldt, through the Dijle and the Rupel...
. The local lord soon acquired a large piece of territory in this area, extending to the rivers Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
, Rupel
Rupel
The Rupel is a tidal river in northern Belgium, right tributary of the Scheldt. It is about 12 km long. It flows through the Belgian province Antwerp. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Dijle and Nete, in Rumst. It flows into the Scheldt at Rupelmonde. Towns along the Rupel are...
, and Dender
Dender
The Dendre or Dender is a 65 km long river in Belgium, right tributary of the river Scheldt. The confluence of both rivers is in the Belgian town Dendermonde....
.
Old Dutch
In linguistics, Old Dutch denotes the forms of West Franconian spoken and written in the Netherlands and present-day northern Belgium during the Early Middle Ages. It is regarded as the primary stage in the development of a separate Dutch language...
Grientbergen, meaning mounds of coarse sand. A community of Augustinian monks had already tried to settle here a century earlier during the reign of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Godfrey III , called the Bearded, was the eldest son of Gothelo I, duke of Upper and Lower Lorraine. By inheritance, he was count of Verdun and he became margrave of Antwerp as a vassal of the duke of Lower Lorraine...
, but it is only in the early 12th century that their religious community prospered. Under the leadership of Norbert of Xanten
Norbert of Xanten
Saint Norbert of Xanten was a Christian saint and founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular.- Life and work :...
, the Norbertine
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
monks built the Grimbergen Abbey
Grimbergen Abbey
Grimbergen Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastery in Grimbergen, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, established in 1128 in the place of an earlier foundation of Augustinian Canons....
here in 1128. A few years later, the animosity between the powerful Grimbergen family and their then infant overlord Godfrey III of Leuven
Godfrey III of Leuven
Godfrey III was count of Leuven , landgrave of Brabant, margrave of Antwerp, and duke of Lower Lorraine from 1142 to his death.He was the son of Godfrey II and Lutgarde of Sulzbach...
precipitated the Wars of Grimbergen. The unrest caused the destruction of the local castle by the Duke of Brabant
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
, the move of the ruling Grimbergen lord to nearby Ninove
Ninove
Ninove is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. It is situated on the river Dender...
, 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 the House of Nassau
House of Nassau
The House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
. Like everywhere else in Flanders, the Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
of the end of the 16th century caused widespread destruction. In 1752, Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange was the second child and eldest daughter of King George II of Great Britain and his consort, Caroline of Ansbach. She was the spouse of William IV, Prince of Orange, the first hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands...
, who had received the land from her consort William IV, Prince of Orange
William IV, Prince of Orange
William IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau , born Willem Karel Hendrik Friso, was the first hereditary stadtholder of the Netherlands.-Early life:...
-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 the Belgian RevolutionBelgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
of 1830.
Up until then, the town's character was mostly rural and agricultural. In the middle of the 19th century, the new road linking Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
to Aalst
Aalst, Belgium
Aalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
and the Brussels-Willebroek canal
Brussels-Scheldt Maritime Canal
The Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal, also named the Willebroek Canal, is a canal in Belgium linking Brussels with the river Scheldt. The canal was known as the Brussels-Rupel Maritime Canal, prior to the establishment of a direct link with the Scheldt in 1997.The canal is one of the oldest...
started attracting industrial concerns. The vicinal tramway
Vicinal tramway
The Tramways vicinaux or Buurtspoorwegen were a system of narrow gauge tramways or local railways in Belgium, which covered the whole country and had a greater route length than the mainline railway system...
arrived in 1887 and a local airfield was built after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Today, Grimbergen's proximity to Brussels makes it an ideal residential town for commuting.
Sights
- The majestic church of the Grimbergen AbbeyGrimbergen AbbeyGrimbergen Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastery in Grimbergen, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, established in 1128 in the place of an earlier foundation of Augustinian Canons....
, dedicated to Saint ServatiusSaint ServatiusSaint Servatius was bishop of Tongeren—Roman Atuatuca Tungrorum the capital of the Tungri—one of the earliest dioceses in the Low Countries. Later in his life he fled to Maastricht, Roman Mosae Trajectum, where he became the first bishop of this city...
, patron saintPatron saintA patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the city, was rebuilt several times since its foundation in 1128. The current construction dates from 1660 and ranks among the most harmonious BaroqueBaroqueThe Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
buildings in Belgium. The tower houses a 49-bell carillonCarillonA carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in a free-standing bell tower, or the belfry of a church or other municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to play a melody, or sounded together to play a chord...
. The houses lining the central square in front of the church have also been rebuilt in the original style of the 18th 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 in castleCastleA castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s, counting four of them on its territory, including the beautiful 17th century Renaissance-styleRenaissance architectureRenaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
Guldendal, and the ruins of the lords of Grimbergen's old keepKeepA keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
now named the Prinsenkasteel. It also counts several farms dating from the 17th century as well as two medieval water mills.
Events and sports
- The main annual event is the Sint-Servaasommegang, loosely translated as processionProcessionA procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
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.
- A nativity sceneNativity sceneA nativity scene, manger scene, krippe, crèche, or crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke...
is organized in the abbey church around Christmas. - The main football club used to be K.F.C. Strombeek, but is now named F.C. Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek and located in neighboring Sint-Jans-Molenbeek.
Notable people
- August De WinterAugust De WinterAugust Maria Christiaan De Winter was a liberal Belgian politician of the PVV. Between 1965 and 1971, he was burgomaster of Grimbergen...
(1925–2005), politician - Hugo Broos (born 1952), former football player and coach
External links
- Official Website (in DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, with some tourist information in EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) - Official Website of the Museum for Old Techniques (in Dutch/french/English)
- The Prince's Fort in Grimbergen - Werbeka Netshop (in English)
- Alternate website (in Dutch)
- Carillon (mostly in Dutch)