Bilzen

Bilzen
Bilzen
State :	Belgium
Region :	Flanders
Province :	Limburg
District :	Tongeren
Coordinates :	50 ° 52 '  N , 5 ° 31'  E Coordinates: 50 ° 52 '  N , 5 ° 31'  E
Area :	75.90 km²
Residents:	32,328 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density:	426 inhabitants per km²
Post Code:	3740, 3742, 3746
Prefix:	089
Mayor:	Frieda Brepoels
Local government address :	Administratief Centrum Deken Paquayplein 1 3740 Bilzen
Website:	www.bilzen.be

Bilzen ( Limburgish : Bilze ) is a Belgian municipality in the province of Limburg . It is located near Hasselt .

Bilzen consists of the localities: Beverst, Bilzen, Eigenbilzen, Grote-Spouwen, Hees, Hoelbeek, Kleine-Spouwen, Martenslinde, Mopertingen, Munsterbilzen, Rijkhoven, Rosmeer and Waltwilder, which were merged into one municipality in 1977.

The place became internationally known through the jazz and rock music festival "Jazz Bilzen", which took place from 1965 to 1981.

sons and daughters of the town

• Alfred Bertrand (1913–1986), Minister (CVP), MEP and Chairman of the EPP Group
• Frieda Brepoels (* 1955), politician, MEP, Mayor of Bilzen since 2013
• Lisa del Bo (* 1961), singer
• Bert Appermont (* 1973), composer and musician
• Jan-Pieter Martens (* 1974), soccer player and soccer official
• Kim Clijsters (born 1983), tennis player
• Jelle Vossen (* 1989), soccer player
• Roy Jans (* 1990), racing cyclist

Attractions

• Alden Biesen Castle , a former seat of the Teutonic Knights, is located in the village of Rijkhoven .
• The remains of a former imperial abbey are in the village of Munsterbilzen .

Town twinning

• Bilsen , Germany , since 2000

Web links

Commons : Bilzen  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Wikisource: Bilzen in the Topographia Westphaliae (Mathäus Merian)  - sources and full texts

Alden Biesen Castle in Rijkhoven