Bierbeek

Bierbeek
Bierbeek
State :	Belgium
Region :	Flanders
Province :	Flemish Brabant
District :	Lions
Coordinates :	50 ° 50 ′  N , 4 ° 46 ′  E Coordinates: 50 ° 50 ′  N , 4 ° 46 ′  E
Area :	39.73 km²
Residents:	10,083 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density:	254 inhabitants per km²
Post Code:	3360
Prefix:	011-016
Mayor:	Johan Vanhulst ( CD&V )
Local government address :	Gemeente Bierbeek Dorpsstraat 2 3360 Bierbeek
Website:	www.bierbeek.be

Bierbeek is a municipality in the Dutch -speaking province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium . It was created in 1977 from the merger of the previously independent municipalities of Bierbeek, Korbeek-Lo, Lovenjoel and Opvelp.

Origin of name

The name Bierbeeks was mentioned as early as 1034, at that time as "Birbais" , "Birbaica" , "Byrbais" or in a number of other variations, all of which result from the Germanic combination of "birnu" and "baki" (brook). It is noticeable that the oldest mention of the name also includes Romance forms.

Korbeek-Lo is first mentioned in 1107 as "Corbeke" . This name is derived from the Germanic terms "kurta" and "baki" , which means something like "short brook". To distinguish it from the nearby Korbeek-Dijle (sub-municipality of Bertem ), the addition "Lo" has been used since the late Middle Ages . Lo was the formerly extensive forest area east of Leuven , from which numerous names in the region are still derived today, such as B. Kessel-Lo , a sub-municipality of Lion.

Lovenjoel comes from the Romanesque "Lovinion" or "Lovinial" , a diminutive of lion. These two forms are named in a Paris manuscript from the 12th century, to the Gesta episcaperum Leodieniensium , the basic text of which is dated to the year 980.

Opvelp is mentioned from 1153 as "Vellepa" , "Velpe" or "Velepe" . The origin is probably the Celtic term compound "Falw-apa" , which means yellowish water.

history

Bierbeek was undoubtedly already settled in Roman times, as archaeological finds show. At that time a Roman road ran from Leuven to Tienen and passed Lovenjoel and Bierbeek in its course. In 402 the Roman rule ended, but Franks had already settled in the area before that , and in part they had driven out the local population.

In 450 the bishop of Poitiers sent a relic of St. Hilary to Bierbeek, which speaks for an early Christianization of the area. Bierbeek was then part of the County of Brunerode whose administrative center Hoegaarden was. In 879 this county passed to the German Emperor , who gave it as a fief to the Bishop of Liège in 988 . This made Bierbeek a constant bone of contention between the bishop and the Count of Leuven for the following years . In 1106 the area finally became part of the County of Leuven.

The Bierbeek barony was one of the most important in Brabant at the time . The progenitor of this noble family is probably Hendrik van Bierbeek, who is mentioned as lord of the place in 1094. He was the brother of Gottfried I von Löwen . A branch of the Bierbeek family moved to Brussels and disappeared from the 13th century for no known cause. The members of their families who had stayed in Bierbeek lost their reputation through fragmentation and the waste of their wealth.

In 1284 Duke Johann I von Brabant gave the barony to his brother Gottfried, who died in 1302 in the battle of the Spurs . Over the years the barony fell by way of succession to the Harcourt family , a powerful Norman family, and to the de Croy and Arenberg families . The Duke of Arenberg still bears the title of Duke of Aarschot and Baron of Bierbeek today .

coat of arms

Description: In the split of black and silver shield in front of the Brabant lion and behind a red bar .

Population development

Population development 1755–1983

Until 1910 the population in Bierbeek increased steadily. The sharp decline up to 1961 is due to the two world wars. After that, slow growth began again. Korbeek-Lo experienced its greatest increase in population after the Second World War , because the proximity of Löwen had a positive effect. Through the municipal reform in 1977 Korbeek-Lo lost the most urban part of its municipal area to Leuven, which explains the sudden slump.

Attractions

St. Hilary's Church in Bierbeek

St. Hilary Church

The Church of St. Hilary in Bierbeek is one of the most remarkable and best preserved Romanesque village churches in Brabant. It dates from the second half of the 12th century and is characterized by its simple exterior. It is a three-aisled pillar basilica on which the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style can be clearly seen. The basilica was built in three periods. The central nave, transept and choir date from 1130 to 1200 and are in the Romanesque style. The west tower (approx. 1225) is early Gothic and the side aisles and transept arms (1907) are neo-Romanesque.

Wilderhof Castle

The Wilderhof Castle is located in the hamlet of Ruisbroek and was the center of one of the oldest lords of Bierbeek. It belonged to the Lords of Wilder, one of the seven families from which the Magistrates of Leuven were elected. In 1483 the farm was bought by the Abbey of Villers-la-Ville , which established the abbot's residence here. Due to financial constraints, the farm was later sold to the Park Abbey . At the end of the 19th century, the building finally belonged to Leo Collering, Mayor of Leuven. The complex has been protected as a “ monument ” since 1982 .

Sons and daughters

• Gaston Roelants (* 1937 in Opvelp), former athlete
• Frederik Veuchelen (* 1978 in Korbeek-Lo), racing cyclist

Web links

Commons : Bierbeek  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Wikisource: Bierbeek in the Topographia Circuli Burgundici (Mathäus Merian)  - sources and full texts

• Official homepage of the municipality