Overijse
Encyclopedia
Overijse is a municipality
in the province of Flemish Brabant
, in Flanders
, one of the three regions of Belgium
. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410. The total area is 44.43 km² which gives a population density
of 549 inhabitants per km².
Overijse is surrounded by an extensive woodlands (Zoniënwoud/Forêt de Soignes), with walk- and bicycle paths. The community is regarded as a very attractive area in which to live.
The official language is Dutch
. French-speaking residents who have migrated mainly from Wallonia or Brussels
are represented by 8 members on the 27-seat local council. According to the 2008 census, Overijse was also home to 4,842 expatriates including 1,236 Dutch, 766 British, 505 Germans, 375 Americans, 311 French and 295 Italian.
Near Overijse there is a medium wave transmitter for the Belgian foreign radio service. Overijse has a traditional festival every year, held in August (Druivenfeesten). The festival commemorates the industry that shaped the area, namely cultivation of grapes (Dutch
druiven). In 2010 it is held from August 21–28.
In 1952, Albert Lootvoet, a local brewer started brewing the now world-famous Leffe
beer according to its original recipe. The Leffe beers were brewed in Overijse from 1952 until 1977, when the Artois
breweries bought out the local brewer.
. He was a professor at Leuven
and was friends with the famous book printer and publisher Plantin.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in 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...
, in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, one of the three regions 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...
. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On December 31, 2008 Overijse had a total population of 24,410. The total area is 44.43 km² which gives a population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 549 inhabitants per km².
Overijse is surrounded by an extensive woodlands (Zoniënwoud/Forêt de Soignes), with walk- and bicycle paths. The community is regarded as a very attractive area in which to live.
The official language is Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch 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...
. French-speaking residents who have migrated mainly from Wallonia or Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
are represented by 8 members on the 27-seat local council. According to the 2008 census, Overijse was also home to 4,842 expatriates including 1,236 Dutch, 766 British, 505 Germans, 375 Americans, 311 French and 295 Italian.
Near Overijse there is a medium wave transmitter for the Belgian foreign radio service. Overijse has a traditional festival every year, held in August (Druivenfeesten). The festival commemorates the industry that shaped the area, namely cultivation of grapes (Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch 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...
druiven). In 2010 it is held from August 21–28.
In 1952, Albert Lootvoet, a local brewer started brewing the now world-famous Leffe
Leffe
Leffe is a beer brand owned by InBev Belgium, the European operating arm of the global Anheuser–Busch InBev brewery giant. There are several beers in the range, and they are marketed as Abbey beers. They are brewed in large quantities and are widely distributed.-History:The abbey was founded in...
beer according to its original recipe. The Leffe beers were brewed in Overijse from 1952 until 1977, when the Artois
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
breweries bought out the local brewer.
History of Overijse
Overijse draws its name from the nearby river, the IJse, that flows through the region. The oldest known name is Isca; the word is likely Celtic in origin, and translated means 'Water'. Overijse was the birthplace of the celebrated 16th century humanist Justus LipsiusJustus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia...
. He was a professor at Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
and was friends with the famous book printer and publisher Plantin.
Sightseeing
Overijse has several sights that sum up its history:- The Late GothicGothic architectureGothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
Sint Martinus Church with ship (1489), the choir (1520), and quasi RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
towers from the (12th century). - Castle of the IJse (17th century) with a (16th century) facade and a 15th century hunting pavilion; against the castle walls Kellebron from the 13th century.
- Townhouse (1503–1505), restored in 1963.
- By the beguinage (1264) a 15th century Gothic castle.
- In the village Tombeek, the (16th century) castle Bisdom with 12th century towers.
- Also, Tombeek has the Sanatorium Joseph Lemaire (1937), a modernModernismModernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
building from architect Maxime Brunfaut. - In the village Jezus-Eik is the BaroqueBaroque architectureBaroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
Onze Lieve Vrouwenkerk (Our Beloved Lady Church) with a choir from (1650) and a ship from 1667, restored in 2007.
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...