Maasmechelen
Encyclopedia
Maasmechelen is a municipality located on the Meuse river
in the Belgian
province
of Limburg
. The Maasmechelen municipality comprises the former communes of Mechelen-aan-de-Maas, Vucht, Leut, Meeswijk, Uikhoven, Eisden, Opgrimbie, Boorsem, and Kotem. Maasmechelen’s border location and flourishing mining history have attracted inhabitants from neighbouring Netherlands and Germany, and from as far as Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland) and the Mediterranean (e.g., Italy and Turkey).
of Campine
was built up during the ice age
with deposits of sand and other material that the Meuse river had eroded in the upstream Ardennes
region. The higher elevation and the proximity of fertile river clay made this location an attractive one for the prehistoric tribes who established themselves here in the 2nd millennium BC
and for the Celt
ic peoples who moved in the area in the 1st millennium BC
.
In Roman
times, this region was at the border between the provinces of Gallia Belgica
and Germania Inferior
. The main Roman road crossed the river near Maastricht
, to the south. Settlements were built where Maasmechelen lies today to service the garrison that was maintained to protect the bridge in Maastricht.
were now the new masters of the land. International commercial activities resumed on the river around the 7th century. This was also a time when the river progressively moved eastward. The Roman colonies that were originally built on the right bank of the river now found themselves on the left bank. The abundance of streams and wetlands favoured stockbreeding over agriculture. The feudal system and the practice of paying civil servants with land resulted in endless territory subdivisions. Some parcels, including Mechelen-aan-de-Maas and parts of Opgrimbie, were given to the abbey of Saint Servatius
in Maastricht. Other parcels came into the hands of local lords, who pledged allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor
. Yet other parts of the territory came into the possession of local religious communities. Churches and cloisters were built and enlarged to accommodate a growing population.
brought a series of dramatic changes that include the dismantlement of most religious organizations, the closing of churches, and the reorganization of the territory into new administrative entities. During the 19th century, the area had still an unmistakable rural character.
On May 20, 1901, André Dumont found commercial-grade coal in neighbouring As
. This led to the exploitation of coal mines in Eisden from 1923 to 1987. A garden city
and a new church dedicated to Saint Barbara
, also known as the mining cathedral, were built there. The industrial development attracted workers from all over Europe, which accounts for the numerous international restaurants still found today in Eisden.
: Stein
: Ostuni
: Triandria
: Rueifang Township
: Tshwane
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
in the Belgian
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...
province
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 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...
. The Maasmechelen municipality comprises the former communes of Mechelen-aan-de-Maas, Vucht, Leut, Meeswijk, Uikhoven, Eisden, Opgrimbie, Boorsem, and Kotem. Maasmechelen’s border location and flourishing mining history have attracted inhabitants from neighbouring Netherlands and Germany, and from as far as Eastern Europe (e.g., Poland) and the Mediterranean (e.g., Italy and Turkey).
Prehistoric and Roman times
The plateauPlateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
was built up during the ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
with deposits of sand and other material that the Meuse river had eroded in the upstream Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
region. The higher elevation and the proximity of fertile river clay made this location an attractive one for the prehistoric tribes who established themselves here in the 2nd millennium BC
2nd millennium BC
The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age.Its first half is dominated by the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and Babylonia. The alphabet develops. Indo-Iranian migration onto the Iranian plateau and onto the Indian subcontinent propagates the use of the chariot...
and for the Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic peoples who moved in the area in the 1st millennium BC
1st millennium BC
The 1st millennium BC encompasses the Iron Age and sees the rise of many successive empires, and spanned from 1000 BC to 1 BC.The Neo-Assyrian Empire, followed by the Achaemenids. In Greece, Classical Antiquity begins with the colonization of Magna Graecia and peaks with the rise of Hellenism. The...
.
In Roman
Ancient 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, this region was at the border between the provinces of Gallia Belgica
Gallia Belgica
Gallia Belgica was a Roman province located in what is now the southern part of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, northeastern France, and western Germany. The indigenous population of Gallia Belgica, the Belgae, consisted of a mixture of Celtic and Germanic tribes...
and Germania Inferior
Germania Inferior
Germania Inferior was a Roman province located on the left bank of the Rhine, in today's Luxembourg, southern Netherlands, parts of Belgium, and North Rhine-Westphalia left of the Rhine....
. The main Roman road crossed the river near Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
, to the south. Settlements were built where Maasmechelen lies today to service the garrison that was maintained to protect the bridge in Maastricht.
Middle Ages
The few centuries that followed the fall of the Roman Empire were marked by a sharp decline in travel and trade. The FranksFranks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
were now the new masters of the land. International commercial activities resumed on the river around the 7th century. This was also a time when the river progressively moved eastward. The Roman colonies that were originally built on the right bank of the river now found themselves on the left bank. The abundance of streams and wetlands favoured stockbreeding over agriculture. The feudal system and the practice of paying civil servants with land resulted in endless territory subdivisions. Some parcels, including Mechelen-aan-de-Maas and parts of Opgrimbie, were given to the abbey of Saint Servatius
Saint Servatius
Saint 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...
in Maastricht. Other parcels came into the hands of local lords, who pledged allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
. Yet other parts of the territory came into the possession of local religious communities. Churches and cloisters were built and enlarged to accommodate a growing population.
19th and 20th century
The aftermath of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
brought a series of dramatic changes that include the dismantlement of most religious organizations, the closing of churches, and the reorganization of the territory into new administrative entities. During the 19th century, the area had still an unmistakable rural character.
On May 20, 1901, André Dumont found commercial-grade coal in neighbouring As
As (municipality)
As is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 As had a total population of 7,497. The total area is 22.07 km² which gives a population density of 340 inhabitants per km².-History:...
. This led to the exploitation of coal mines in Eisden from 1923 to 1987. A garden city
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
and a new church dedicated to Saint Barbara
Saint Barbara
Saint Barbara, , Feast Day December 4, known in the Eastern Orthodox Church as the Great Martyr Barbara, was an early Christian saint and martyr....
, also known as the mining cathedral, were built there. The industrial development attracted workers from all over Europe, which accounts for the numerous international restaurants still found today in Eisden.
Sights
- The largest part of the natural reservation Nationaal Park Hoge Kempen is located on Maasmechelen’s territory. It was established to protect the unique fauna and flora of the plateau of Campine.
- The Eisdense cité, a 20th-century garden city with typical cottage-like houses in a park setting, still bear witness to the city’s mining history. One of the houses has been converted into a museum.
- Maasmechelen Village, an outlet shopping center was built near the old mining district. In 2010, 2.5 million visitors were counted.
- A functional windmillWindmillA windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
dating from 1801 was recently restored and is open to the public every other Sunday. - A small carnivalCarnivalCarnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
museum can also be visited right next to the city’s main square.
Cultural events
- The carnivalCarnivalCarnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
and parade, where masked people entertain numerous visitors, occur every year on November 11, starting at 11:11 am. - A comic-book festival takes place on the second Sunday of February with the participation of famous comic-book authors.
Famous inhabitants
- Katerine AvgoustakisKaterine AvgoustakisKaterine Avgoustakis is a Flemish solo singer and winner of the 2005 Star Academy show in Belgium.-Early life:...
, singer and winner of “Star Academy” in 2005 (b. 1983) - Heidi RakelsHeidi RakelsHeidi Rakels is a retired female judoka from Belgium.Rakels claimed the bronze medal in the Women's Middleweight division at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the bronze medal match she defeated Germany's Alexandra Schreiber...
, judoka - Patrick StevensPatrick StevensPatrick Stevens is a retired sprinter from Belgium, best known for winning the bronze medal in the 200 metres at the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki, Finland...
, sprinter
Sports
- The region around Maasmechelen has produced quite a few sports personalities:
- Patrick StevensPatrick StevensPatrick Stevens is a retired sprinter from Belgium, best known for winning the bronze medal in the 200 metres at the 1994 European Championships in Helsinki, Finland...
from Maasmechelen is a sprinterSprint (race)Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
(olympic finalist on 200 meters in 1996); - Heidi RakelsHeidi RakelsHeidi Rakels is a retired female judoka from Belgium.Rakels claimed the bronze medal in the Women's Middleweight division at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the bronze medal match she defeated Germany's Alexandra Schreiber...
from Maasmechelen is a famous BelgianDemographics of BelgiumThis article is about the demographic features of the population of Belgium, including ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population...
judoka;
- Patrick Stevens
- Maasmechelen hosts the footballFootball (soccer)Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club named K. Patro Maasmechelen. - The town is also the home of the Duivelsbergcircuit (Devils Hill Circuit) at Opgrimbie, a well attended international RallycrossRallycrossRallycross is a form of sprint style automobile racing, held on a closed mixed-surface racing circuit, with modified production or specially built road cars, similar to the World Rally Cars, although usually with about stronger engines, due to e.g. their 45 mm turbo restrictor plates. It is...
venue.
Twin cities and partner cities
: Skofja LokaŠkofja Loka
-Art colony:Before the civil war in the former Yugoslavia the Serbian town of Smederevska Palanka and the town of Škofja Loka held art colonies Groharijeva kolonija run by an art teacher from elementary school Olga Milošević in Smederevska Palanka. Now, after the split of SFR Yugoslavia, the two...
: Stein
Stein, Limburg
Stein is a municipality and a city in the southeastern Netherlands. The municipality has 25660 inhabitants and covers an area of 22.77 square km ....
: Ostuni
Ostuni
Ostuni is a city and comune in the province of Brindisi , with a population of about 32,000 located about 8 km from the coast. Its main economic activities include tourism, attracted by its nearby pristine beaches, as well as a vibrant olive and grape agribusiness.- History :The region around...
: Triandria
Triandria
Triandria is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Thessaloniki, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located east of Thessaloniki's city centre at...
: Rueifang Township
Rueifang Township
Ruifang District is a district in eastern New Taipei City in northern Republic of China .Mining was an important industry in Ruifang in the early 20th century. Gold was mined in Jiufen and Jinguashi while coal was mined in Houtong...
: Tshwane
External links
- Official website - Only available 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...
- maasmechelen village