Kessenich

This article is about Kessenich in Belgium. For the district of Bonn, seeKessenich (Bonn).

Kessenich
Village
Kessenich Location in Belgium
Coordinates:51°09′N5°49′E
Country	Belgium
Region	Flanders
Province	Limburg
Arrondissement	Maaseik
Municipality	Kinrooi
Area
• Total	10.23 km2(3.95 sq mi)
Population (2021)
• Total	1,946
• Density	190/km2(490/sq mi)
Time zone	CET

The division of Kessenich and surroundings before the 18th century.

Kessenich(German pronunciation:[ˈkɛsənɪç]) is a village in theBelgianprovinceLimburg.It is asectionof the municipality ofKinrooi,lying in the eastern end of the municipality.

Geography

Kessenich is the end of theGrensmaas,the part of theMeusewho forms a natural border with theDutchprovinceLimburg.This river separates Kessenich fromStevensweert.In the north lie the Dutch villages ofThorn,IttervoortandNeeritter.In the south liesMaaseik.The region of Kessenich is dissected by several rivers: the Abeek, the Itterbeek and Witbeek on their way to the Meuse.

East of Kessenich is an area with several ponds, theMaasplassen.They were created by large-scale exploitation ofgravelfrom 1949. The gravel layer with a thickness of up to 10 m, was deposited by the Meuse, which repeatedly moved to the east. In May 2008 ended the gravel mining and began the partial attenuation of the lakes. Now, some Maasplassen are equipped for recreation or nature.

Name

Its name is derived from theGallo-RomanCassiniacum.Kessenich is also named asKesnic(1102),Kasnech(1132),CasselinorCassenic(1155),Kessenich(1219) andCessenic(1224). Later, it's also identified on maps as Kessingen (1573)and Kesnick (1754).InLimburgishit's still called 'Kesing'.

History

Kessenich is the oldest of the five villages of Kinrooi. It was founded as aCelticsettlement, then close to the Meuse. That has been shifted to the east and left north of the village a bogged arm behind. This marsh, theVijverbroek,made in theMiddle ageasredoubt.According to a legend had between Kessenich and Thorn drowned the villageVijvere.Now it is a unique area overgrown with alder and other tree and plant species.

Remains of a prehistoric settlement have been found on theBoterakker,southern of the village. Other prehistoric finds have been made on theHezerheide,western of the village. There were also found Romancatacombs(Molenwegske) and aRoman road(near the limit). This Roman road connectedMaastrichtandNijmegenand had here a width of 12 m.

After the destruction of the Western Roman Empire there has been formed ashire,extending Kessnich,Thorn,Aldeneikand some other villages.Ansfried of Utrechtmight have been the last count of this area, because in that period the shire suddenly fall apart. Finally, the area was divided into three parts; Thorn, Aldeneik and Kessenich. Thorn and Aldeneik became important abbeys, Kessenich was lying between both. So there was a major influence of those abbeys. Kessenich became animperial free city,since the 14th century united with the county Bronshorn (Hunsel).

The county of Kessenich was governed out of aMotte-and-bailey,built as protection against the pillagingVikings,who evenMaastricht,TongerenandAachenhave reached via the Meuse, and the many floods of the Meuse. From the tower on the 10 meters high artificial hill are ruins remaining. The new castle has been built in the 17th century, by the family Van Waes. The hamlet where the castle is, lies nearbyNeeritter,so it's calledBorgitter.

In the 18th century was Kessenich like whole Limburg the battlefield of the various wars. When the Dutch-British troops withdrew from the region under the leadership of theDuke of Malboroughduring theSpanish Succession War,Kessenich was plundered in 1714, besieged the castle and the countess captured. In the whole region it is still the annual tradition to burn a straw doll, which the Duke of Marlborough should propose.

In 1795, the French annexed also Kessenich and divided it into the departmentMeuse-Inférieure.The estates of the counts Van Waes were sold by the Frenchmen to the family Michiels. One of their descendants was Willem Michiels of Kessenich, who was mayor ofMaastrichtfrom 1937 till 1967. AfterNapoleon's defeat with theBattle of Waterloo,all countries of theBeneluxwere united into theUnited Kingdom of the Netherlandsand the department became theProvince of Limburg.The anthem of this province is written in Neeritter. In 1839, the province is divided with de Meuse as limit into a Belgian and a Dutch part.