Geraardsbergen
Geraardsbergen | |
|---|---|
 Montage of Geraardsbergen | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of Geraardsbergen  | |
  Geraardsbergen Location in Belgium
Location of Geraardsbergen in East Flanders  | |
| Coordinates:50°46′N03°52′E/ 50.767°N 3.867°E | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | East Flanders |
| Arrondissement | Aalst |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ann Panis(Open VLD) |
| • Governing party/ies | CD&V,Open VLD |
| Area | |
| • Total | 80.05 km2(30.91 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
| • Total | 33,403 |
| • Density | 420/km2(1,100/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 9500, 9506 |
| NIS code | 41018 |
| Area codes | 054 |
| Website | www |
Geraardsbergen(Dutch pronunciation:[ˈɣeːraːrdzbɛrɣə(n)];French:Grammont,French pronunciation:[ɡʁamɔ̃]) is acityandmunicipalitylocated in theDenderstreekand in theFlemish Ardennes,the hilly southern part of theBelgianprovince ofEast Flanders.The municipality comprises the city of Geraardsbergen proper and the following towns:
- Goeferdinge,Grimminge,Idegem,Moerbeke,Nederboelare,Nieuwenhove,Onkerzele,Ophasselt,Overboelare,Schendelbeke,Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem,Viane,Waarbeke,ZandbergenandZarlardinge.
In 2021, Geraardsbergen had a total population of 33,970. The total area is 79.71 km2.[2]
The current mayor of Geraardsbergen isAnn Panis,from the (liberal) partyOpen VLD.
History[edit]
Geraardsbergen is one of the oldest cities in Belgium. It came into existence close to the settlement of Hunnegem and in 1068 was one of the first communities in Western Europe to be grantedcity status.[3]
The city was destroyed in 1381 byWalter IV of Enghienand his troops. According to legend, during the siege local people threw some of their left over food over the city wall to show that they had sufficient food to survive a long siege. This bravado notwithstanding, the city was still captured by Enghien's troops. Every year the city organizes thekrakelingenworpcarnival on top of the hill at Oudenberg (111 metres (364 ft)) to celebrate this historical event.[4]
On 29May 1815, shortly before theBattle of Waterloo,WellingtonandBlücherreviewed the Allied cavalry here. Some 6,000 troops were paraded in meadows on the banks of theDenderbetween Geraardsbergen and Jedeghem.[5]
Places of interest[edit]
- Manneken Pis, the oldest such statue, older than themore famous one in Brussels.[dubious–discuss]
- Thewall,a steep street paved with cobblestones, climbed every year by cyclists during theTour of Flanders.
- Boelare Castle,seat of the former feudal domain Land (Barony) of Boelare.
- Overboelare Airfield,small glider airfield with a Douglas C-54A Skymaster (DC-4) as gate guard.
-
Manneke Pisis the most famous statue of Geraardsbergen -
De Muur van Geraardsbergen(the Wall of Geraarsbergen) -
Priory of Hunnegem, 2005 -
Chapel of Our Lady of the Oudenberg (1724)
Mattentaart[edit]
Geraardsbergen is known for themattentaart,a type of sweet pastry. This is made withmattenpaste or cheese curd.[6]
Themattentaartwas grantedProtected Geographical Indicationstatus by the European Union in 2006, indicating they can only be made in Geraardsbergen or in the nearby municipality ofLierde.[6][7]
Notable individuals[edit]
- Daniël van Geraardsbergen(1116–1196)
- William of Moerbeke(1215–1286), first translator ofAristotle's works intoLatin
- Guillebert de Mets(1415–1460), scrivenist and scribe
- Gabriël Grupello(1644-1730), Flemish Baroque sculptor
- Frans Rens(1805-1874), Flemish scholar, active in the Flemish Movement
- Robert de Foy(1893–1960), Belgian magistrate, and head of the Belgian State Security Service
- Frans Van Coetsem(1919-2002), Belgian-born linguist and university teacher (Leuven,LeidenandCornell)
- Cyriel Delannoit(1926-1998), boxer, European champion 1948
- Paul Van den Berghe(born 1933), Belgium Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church
- Ferdi Van Den Haute(born 1952), cyclist
- Guido De Padt(born 1954), politician
- Jan Callebaut(born 1955), communication and marketing advisor and entrepreneur
- Marie-Christine Deurbroeck(born 1957), long-distance runner
- Michaël Borremans(born 1963), painter and filmmaker
- Alain Van Den Bossche(born 1965), cyclist
- Dean Delannoit(born 1989), singer
- Jan De Cooman(1893–1949), painter
References[edit]
- ^"Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018".Statbel.Retrieved9 March2019.
- ^"Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 41018".Statistics Belgium.Retrieved9 May2022.
- ^"Stad Geraardsbergen - Geschiedenis van de stad Geraardsbergen".Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2011.Retrieved22 March2010.
- ^"Stad Geraardsbergen - Krakelingen & Tonnekensbrand (Eng)".Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2011.Retrieved22 March2010.
- ^Cavalié Mercer,Journal of theWaterloo CampaignKept throughout the Campaign of 1815, Da Capo Press, 1995
- ^ab"Summary, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 'Geraardsbergse Mattentaart'".Official Journal of the European Union. 6 January 2006.Retrieved4 March2009.
- ^"Mattentaart".Archived fromthe originalon 24 July 2011.Retrieved4 March2009.
External links[edit]
- .Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 12 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 332.
Media related toGeraardsbergenat Wikimedia Commons
- Official website(in Dutch)
- Sightseeing in Geraardsbergen(in Dutch)
- The historical city Geraardsbergen(in English)
Places adjacent to Geraardsbergen | |
|---|---|
| Aalst |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Dendermonde | ||
| Eeklo | ||
| Ghent | ||
| Oudenaarde | ||
| Sint-Niklaas | ||
| ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
