Halen (Belgium)

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Halen
Halen wapen.svg Flag of Halen.svg
Halen (Limburg)
Halen
Halen
State : BelgiumBelgium Belgium
Region : Flanders
Province : Limburg
District : Hasselt
Coordinates : 50 ° 57 '  N , 5 ° 7'  E Coordinates: 50 ° 57 '  N , 5 ° 7'  E
Area : 36.29 km²
Residents: 9427 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density: 260 inhabitants per km²
Post Code: 3545
Prefix: 013
Mayor: Erik Van Roelen (CD&V)

Local government address : 		Stad Halen
Market 14
3545 Halen
Website: www.halen.be
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Halen ( Limburgish : Hôle ) is a small Belgian town in the west of the province of Limburg , which belongs to the Flanders region. The city has 9427 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2019) and has an area of ​​36.29 km².

geography

Halen is located on the national road N 2 between Diest (about 7 km northwest) and Hasselt (about 17 km east). To the west of the city, at junction 25 (Halen), the A 2 motorway leads over the N 2.

The river Demer and its tributaries Gete and Velp flow through Halen, both of which flow into the Demer in Halen.

history

Near Halen, on the bridge over the Gete, one of the first combat operations during the German occupation of Belgium took place in the First World War in August 1914 with the battle near Haelen . The Belgian army was victorious, but the battle had no significant impact on the enemy occupation of the country. A small museum commemorates these fighting.

Church of Sint Pieter in de Banden

Today's municipality was created through the merger of the formerly independent municipalities of Halen and Loksbergen on January 1, 1965 and Zelem on January 1, 1977. Since July 1985, it has had the status of a town.

Attractions

The church of Sint Pieter in de Banden ( St. Peter in Chains ) dates from the 11th century. The top floors of the tower and its top were not built until after the First World War.

Town twinning

Halen is the twin town of the German city Pasewalk ( Western Pomerania ).

Web links

Commons : Halen  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikisource: Halen in the Topographia Circuli Burgundici (Mathäus Merian)  - sources and full texts