Lier, Belgium

Lier(Dutch:[liːr];French:Lierre[ljɛʁ]) is amunicipalitylocated in theBelgianprovince ofAntwerp.It is composed of the city of Lier proper and the village ofKoningshooikt.The city centre is surrounded by the riverNete,around which it grew. In 2018, Lier had a total population of 35,712. The total area is 49.70 km²making apopulation density(PD) of 720 per km².Lier is known for its beers (which includeCaves), its patron saintSt. GummarusandLierse vlaaikescake. It is also home to the world headquarters ofVan Hool,a global bus and coach manufacturer. Lier's two principalfootball clubsareK. Lyra-LierseandLierse Kempenzonen(formerly known as KFC Oosterzonen, which moved to Lier in 2018).

Lier
Municipality
Hoogbrug over the Nete in Lier
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Lier
Lier Location in Belgium Location of Lier in Antwerp Province
Coordinates:51°8′N4°34′E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Mechelen
Government
• Mayor	Rik Verwaest (N-VA)
• Governing party/ies	N-VA,Open Vld
Area
• Total	49.85 km2(19.25 sq mi)
Population (2020-01-01)
• Total	36,646
• Density	740/km2(1,900/sq mi)
Postal codes	2500
NIS code	12021
Area codes	03, 015
Website	www.lier.be

Etymology

The etymology of the nameLieris still under debate. It most likely refers to the riverNeteand the muddy soils that surround it. The Latin name of Lier isLyra,the suffix of which (-ara) is probably derived from the Germanic or Celtic reference toriver.Alternatively, the origin might be the Germanic wordsLedoorLedi,which both refer to a location near the confluence of rivers (in this case theMinor and MajorNete). Other explanations include the old Dutch wordlaar(clearance in the woods) or the wordliere(parapet). There is also a resemblance to the Swedish wordleira,which meansmuddy shore,or the Icelandic wordleir,which meansclay.An all together different explanation is the Germanic wordhieura,which refers to a hillock type of country.

History

Lier on theFerraris map(around 1775)

There is scant record of Lier predating the 7th century.Saint Gummarushimself was born in the 7th century and died on 11 October 714. He was canonised in 754.In 1194 Lier was givenoppidumstatus and in 1212 granted municipal rights.The Lierbeguinagewas founded in 1258 and in 1998 was inscribed on theUNESCOWorld Heritage Listas part of theFlemish Béguinagessite.The last surviving beguine died in 1994.

Beguinage,aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site

In the 14th century, DukeJan IIwished to reward the City of Lier for joining his fight against theCity of Mechelen.He offered the city the choice of either hosting a university or a livestock market. The city notoriously selected the livestock market option, upon which the Duke is reported to have sighed: "Oh, those wretchedsheep heads".Today, a herd of bronze sheep near theZimmer towerserves as a reminder to this fateful decision. Theuniversitywas eventually seeded in the city ofLeuven,in 1425, as one of Europe's first and today most prominent universities. The nicknameSchapekoppen(which translates toSheep Heads) is still used in Flanders to refer to inhabitants of Lier.

In 1496, Lier was the scene of the marriage betweenPhilip the Handsome,son ofMaximilian of Austria,andJoanna of Castile.This marriage was pivotal to the history of Europe, forCharles V,who was born to this marriage (Ghent,1500), would go on to rule both theHoly Roman Empireand theSpanish Empire.

KingChristian II of Denmark,accompanied by his spouseIsabella(sister to Charles V and known asQueen Elisabeth), lived in Lier until 1523, after having been expelled from Denmark by the local nobility while waiting in vain for military support from his brother in law.He attempted again to regain the Danish and Norwegian throne, but was taken prisoner and spent the rest of his life detained in the Danish castles of Sønderborg and Kalundborg. Isabella died in 1526 at the Castle ofZwijnaarde.

"Witches stone" on the marketplace

A conspicuous feature of the market square is a headstone (witches-stone, placed in 1974) that marks the spot where Lier's last witchcraft-related execution is traditionally believed to have taken place.

In 1860, askeleton of a mammothwas unearthed at the site of the current city hall buildings.It was the first mammoth skeleton to be discovered in western Europe.

At the start of the WWI,King Albertand his Chiefs of Staff were temporarily headquartered in Lier, before retreating toTemseas German lines advanced. Being part of theredoubt of Antwerp,the city suffered heavily under German artillery fire, leaving much of its medieval structures damaged beyond repair. Most medieval-style structures that exist today (including the town hall and its belfry) are therefore replicas, built shortly after the War.

Lier is routinely referred to with the rhymeLierke Plezierke(which roughly translates as "fun in Lier" ). This expression originates from a bookletFelix Timmermanswrote in 1928, in celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of a neighbouring couple.

The strong ties Lier had developed with the Belgian military ever since in 1888 artillery barracks were built, continued after the World Wars. From 1955 to 1997 the barracks housed the Royal School of Cadets (cadet school for the Belgian army).A prominent alumnus of this school is Belgian astronautFrank De Winne.The site was vacated by the army in 1998, acquired by the city, and now houses city hall and the police department. Two artillery pieces are on display on the city hall's patio, as a reminder of the building's past.The city of Lier is also patron city to the Belgian Army'sSecond Artillery Regiment(now termed theArtillery Battalion).

Geography

Some might argue that Lier is a part of the Antwerp suburban area, making it a district on itself, but generally, Lier is divided into five main districts: Leuvensepoort, Mechelpoort, Lisp, the city centre andKoningshooikt.The last is a historic village that was administratively joined to the town as asub-municipalityin 1977.

Name	Surface area (km2)	Inhabitants (01/01/2012)
Lier - Centre -Koningshooikt	49.7	34,244 30,042 4,202
Source:KEMPEN | MECHELEN

Demographics

Historical population of Lier, Belgium

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1806 9,816 — 1816 11,397 +1.50% 1830 13,153 +1.03% 1846 13,849 +0.32% 1856 14,608 +0.53% 1866 15,128 +0.35% 1876 16,103 +0.63% 1880 17,133 +1.56% 1890 20,135 +1.63% 1900 22,656 +1.19% 1910 25,869 +1.34% 1920 25,380 −0.19% 1930 27,350 +0.75% 1947 28,982 +0.34% 1961 28,755 −0.06%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 28,416 −0.13% 1976 27,834 −0.34% 1977 § — 1977 31,409 — 1980 31,319 −0.10% 1985 31,115 −0.13% 1990 30,918 −0.13% 1995 31,704 +0.50% 2000 32,191 +0.31% 2005 32,947 +0.47% 2010 33,930 +0.59% 2015 34,652 +0.42% 2017 35,244 +0.85% 2020 36,918 +1.56%
§1977: addition of Koningshooikt to Lier NIS– from 1806 till 1976 census on 31 December; from 1977 = inhabitants at 1 January Source:Statbel

Local government

Former mayors

	Era	Mayor
	1831 - 1848	Charles Mast-De Vries	independent
	1848 - 1853	Jan Baptist Peeters	Liberal
	1853 - 1872	George Bergmann	Liberal
	1872 - 1911	Florent Van Cauwenbergh	Catholic
	1911 - 1927	Jozef Schellekens	Catholic
	1927	Jules Van Hoof	Catholic
	1928 - 1941	Joseph Van Cauwenbergh	Catholic
	1941	Frans Raatsacting mayor	Catholic
	1941 - 1944	Alfred Van der Hallenoorlogsburgemeester	VNV
	1944 - 1954	Joseph Van Cauwenbergh	CVP
	1954 - 1959	Jules Van Hoof	CVP
	1959 - 1976	Frans Breugelmans	CVP
	1977 - 1982	Raymond Callaerts	CVP
	1983 - 1984	Herman Vanderpoorten	PVV
	1984 - 1994	Maurice Vanhoutte	PVV /VLD
	1995 - 2012	Marleen Vanderpoorten	VLD /Open Vld
	2013 - heden	Frank Boogaerts	N-VA

Notable people

• Anton Bergmann,lawyer and writer
• Cornelis de Bie,lawyer and writer
• Jan Ceulemans,football player
• Raymond Ceulemans,billiards player
• Jean-Baptist David,canon and founder of theDavidsfonds
• Patrick Dewael,politician, formerMinister-President of Flanders
• Pieter Dox,Missionary killed during theSimba rebellion
• Wim Henderickx(b. Lier, 1962), composer
• Frans Wouters,painter
• Isidoor Opsomer,painter
• Bob Peeters,former football player, now a manager
• Felix Timmermans,writer and painter
• Triggerfinger,rock band
• Lodewijck Van Boeckel,ornamental smith
• Herman Van Breda,founder of the Husserl archive
• Wim Vandekeybus(b. Lier, 1963) choreographer, director, film maker
• Herman Vanderpoorten,politician (1922–1984)
• Yanina Wickmayer,tennis player
• Marc Zabeau(b. Lier, 1949), scientist and businessman

Points of interest

• TheBeguinage(UNESCOWorld Heritage Site) andSt Margarita church,17th century.
• TheSt. Gummarus Church,Gothic architecture,14th century; under high altar is grave ofOlav Engelbrektsson,last Roman CatholicArchbishop of Nidaros.
• TheTimmermans - Opsomerhuismuseum.
• TheStedelijk Museum Wuyts-Van Campen en Baron Caroly,a fine arts museum.
• TheTown hall,rococoarchitecture, 18th century.
  • The adjoining 14th centurybelfry,listed in the UNESCO World Heritage SiteBelfries of Belgium and France.
• TheZimmer Towerhouses a unique astronomical clock built in the 1930s, by Louis Zimmer.

In popular culture

In 2004, Lier was the host for the third episode ofFata Morgana,the TV show in which Belgian celebrities gave a city or town several challenges. The theme was "Lier 2020" and the inhabitants succeeded in completing all challenges.

Gallery

• 
  A street in the beguinage
• 
  St. Gummarus Church (as seen from the fish market)
• 
  Main square
• 
  Zimmer Tower
• 
  Town Hall and Belfry
• 
  Annual Procession of Saint-Gummarus
• 
• 
  Town houses on Begijnhofstraat, built 1763 – 1778

See also

• Lier mammoth

External links

• Official website(Flemish only)