Hageland
Encyclopedia
The Hageland is a landscape in the Flemish Region
of Belgium
, situated in the eastern part of the Province of Flemish Brabant
and extending into a western tip of the Province of Limburg
. It is mainly comprised between the cities of Aarschot
, Leuven
, Tienen and Diest
, and largely coincides with the historical County of Leuven. The French
Government that controlled the area that later became Belgium in the last years of the 18th and early 19th century, had extended Limburg, which since then comprises the minor part of the Hageland at the city of Halen
.
The name refers to land with dense (low) forest and/or undergrowth. Its earliest attestation (spelled as Hagelant) dates from 1528.
forms the southern border of the Hageland, and the Velp
, a tributary of the Demer
, limits its southeast.
) and wetlands (Zoutleeuw
) of Hesbaye
(in Dutch Haspengouw); this led to distincting South Hageland from North Hageland. Another tributary, the Gete
, is the eastern and the river Demer
itself the northern border of Hageland.
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
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...
, situated in the eastern part of the Province 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...
and extending into a western tip of the Province of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
. It is mainly comprised between the cities of Aarschot
Aarschot
Aarschot is a city and municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the city of Aarschot proper and the towns of Gelrode, Langdorp and Rillaar. On January 1, 2006 Aarschot had a total population of 27,864...
, Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Tienen and Diest
Diest
Diest is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around 60km from Brussels. The municipality comprises the city of...
, and largely coincides with the historical County of Leuven. The French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Government that controlled the area that later became Belgium in the last years of the 18th and early 19th century, had extended Limburg, which since then comprises the minor part of the Hageland at the city of Halen
Halen
Halen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg, to the east of Hasselt. On January 1, 2006 Halen had a total population of 8,624. The total area is 36.29 km² which gives a population density of 238 inhabitants per km²....
.
The name refers to land with dense (low) forest and/or undergrowth. Its earliest attestation (spelled as Hagelant) dates from 1528.
Geography
The area is a series of east-west directed ridges of ironstone hills. The ridge that includes the 106 metres high Molenberg hill at the village of PellenbergLubbeek
Lubbeek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Binkom, Linden, Lubbeek proper and Pellenberg. On January 1, 2006 Lubbeek had a total population of 13,660. The total area is 46.13 km² which gives a population density of 296...
forms the southern border of the Hageland, and the Velp
Velp
Velp may also refer to either:* Velp, Gelderland - a town in the Netherlands part of Rheden* Velp, North Brabant - a town in the Netherlands part of Grave * The Velp or Velpe, a tributuary of the River Demer, in the Flemish Region of Belgium...
, a tributary of the Demer
Demer
The Demer is an 85 km long river in eastern Belgium, right tributary of the Dijle. It flows through the Belgian provinces Limburg and Flemish Brabant. Its source is near Tongeren. It flows into the river Dijle in Werchter, Rotselaar municipality....
, limits its southeast.
Landen
Landen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Landen proper and the towns of Attenhoven, Eliksem, Ezemaal, Laar, Neerlanden, Neerwinden, Overwinden, Rumsdorp, Waasmont, Walsbets, Walshoutem, Wange and Wezeren. On January 1, 2006...
) and wetlands (Zoutleeuw
Zoutleeuw
Zoutleeuw is a municipality and city in the Hageland, in the extreme east of the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. On 1 January 2006 the municipality had 7,947 inhabitants...
) of Hesbaye
Hesbaye
Hesbaye or Haspengouw , is a region spanning the south of the Belgian province of Limburg, the east of the Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, and the northwestern part of the province of Liège.The Limburgish portion contains the cities of Tongeren, Sint-Truiden, Bilzen and...
(in Dutch Haspengouw); this led to distincting South Hageland from North Hageland. Another tributary, the Gete
Gete
The Gete is a river in Belgium which flows south to north. It is a left tributary of the Demer.The Gete is formed by the confluence of the rivers Grote Gete and Kleine Gete near Budingen. From Budingen the river continues for 12 km to the city of Halen, where it flows into the Demer...
, is the eastern and the river Demer
Demer
The Demer is an 85 km long river in eastern Belgium, right tributary of the Dijle. It flows through the Belgian provinces Limburg and Flemish Brabant. Its source is near Tongeren. It flows into the river Dijle in Werchter, Rotselaar municipality....
itself the northern border of Hageland.