Kortenberg
Encyclopedia
Kortenberg is a municipality
located in the Belgian
province of Flemish Brabant
. The municipality comprises the towns of Erps-Kwerps
, Everberg
, Kortenberg proper and Meerbeek
. In the southern part of Everberg there is a hamlet called Vrebos. Between Erps and Meerbeek another hamlet, called Schoonaarde, can be found in the proximity of the train station of Erps-Kwerps. On January 1, 2006 Kortenberg had a total population of 18,299. The total area is 34.52 km² which gives a population density
of 530 inhabitants per km².
an ancient Roman villa
has been excavated. The same archeological site revealed a burial-ground of the Frankish
civilisation.
In 1095, Gualgericus, bishop of Kamerijk, acknowledged the existence of a religious community on the Curtenbergh (meaning 'short hill'). For this reason, 1095 has been accepted as the founding year of Kortenberg. The conventuals moved in 1222 from the hill (the 'Curtenbergh') to lower grounds at the Minneveld, where the Abbey of Kortenberg still exists on this day.
From these early days, the Lords of Cortenberg lived in this village. They were of great significance in the history of the duchy of Brabant
. See also Charter of Kortenberg
.
The formerly independent municipality of Erps had the main bailiwick
in the area since 1286.
The construction of a paved road from 1706 until 1709 was an important event in the growth of the municipality, together with the construction of a railroad in 1866. In the end of the nineteenth century the new bourgeoisie built a whole range of new residences in the style of the Belle Epoque
with the typical spires.
On August 27th 1914, German troops put a local brewery, some residences and a little castle on fire while invading Kortenberg.
(Dutch: Hertog Jan II van Brabant) signed the Charter of Kortenberg
in the abbey.
The abbey has a stirring history of arson, plundering and reconstruction. The oldest still remaining parts are the gate building with the gothic spired gate from the early seventeenth century, the Veehof (Eng: 'Cattle courtyard') from 1650, the lease courtyard, the Brewery from 1732 , and the abbey castle which was built from 1779 until 1783. The traditional great hall and the baroque chapel are dated from 1934. The abbey, which is owned by the diocese, became a protected monument on February 14th 2005 as part of resolution made by the Flemish government. The Old Abbey Kortenberg is a center of contemplation. Old Abbey of Kortenberg
) and exit 22 (Bertem
). The main secondary road is the N2, which connects Brussels
with Leuven
.
Kortenberg has a train station which lies on the line Brussels-Liège (line 36). Also the town of Erps-Kwerps has its own train station on that same line.
A network of public transport via buses is maintained by the Flemish bus service company De Lijn.
Bus services:
358 (Brussels (North) - Kortenberg - Leuven);
351 (Brussels (North) - Kortenberg - Everberg - Meerbeek - Leuven);
352 (Kraainem metro - Kortenberg - Erps-Kwerps - Leuven);
225 (Kortenberg - Vilvoorde);
318 (Vrebos - Brussels);
271 (Brussels - Erps-Kwerps - Kampenhout);
651 (Brussels airport - Kortenberg - Everberg - Meerbeek - Leuven);
652 (Brussels airport - Erps-Kwerps - Leuven);
516 (School bus to Haacht);
521 (School bus to Heverlee via Everberg and Meerbeek);
522 (School bus to Heverlee via Erps-Kwerps);
523 (School bus to Heverlee via Kortenberg);
Za1 (School bus to Zaventem)
• 'De Klimop' in Erps-Kwerps
• 'De Negensprong' in Everberg
• 'De Regenboog' in Kortenberg
• 'De Boemerang' in Meerbeek
The oldest existing school in Kortenberg is the primary school Mater Dei in the town of Erps-Kwerps. The Flemish Community
also organizes educational facilities in the community school Hertog-Jan, which is a primary school and a middle school as well.
• Marie Abts-Ermens
• Félicien Marceau
(born Louis Carette)
• family de Mérode
o Willem Charles Ghislaine van Merode (1762-1831), Prince van Rubempré-Everberge
o Minister of State Charles-Antoine-Ghislain (Karel) count de Mérode-Westerloo
• Albert Jozef baron de Vleeschauwer van Braekel
• Minister of State Robert Houben
• Jean Meeus
• General Bernard Montgomery (in 1941 en 1944)
• Edward Schillebeeckx
• Minister of State and Karel Van Miert
(also former European Commissioner
)
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...
located 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 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...
. The municipality comprises the towns of Erps-Kwerps
Erps-Kwerps
Erps-Kwerps is a village in the Belgian Province of Flemish Brabant and a sub-municipality of Kortenberg. It has an area of 15.94 km^2.-Geography:...
, Everberg
Everberg
Everberg is a town in the Belgian province Flemish-Brabant and is part of the municipality of Kortenberg. The territory contains an area of 925 ha. The neighbouring towns or municipalities are Leefdaal, Kortenberg, Erps-Kwerps, Meerbeek, Sterrebeek, Moorsel and Tervuren...
, Kortenberg proper and Meerbeek
Meerbeek
Meerbeek is a town in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant and is the part of the municipality of Kortenberg, along with Everberg, Erps-Kwerps and Kortenberg. The town borders the towns of Veltem-Beisem , Bertem, Erps-Kwerps and Everberg. The area comprises 515 ha....
. In the southern part of Everberg there is a hamlet called Vrebos. Between Erps and Meerbeek another hamlet, called Schoonaarde, can be found in the proximity of the train station of Erps-Kwerps. On January 1, 2006 Kortenberg had a total population of 18,299. The total area is 34.52 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 530 inhabitants per km².
History
On the territory of Erps-KwerpsErps-Kwerps
Erps-Kwerps is a village in the Belgian Province of Flemish Brabant and a sub-municipality of Kortenberg. It has an area of 15.94 km^2.-Geography:...
an ancient Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
has been excavated. The same archeological site revealed a burial-ground of the Frankish
Franks
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...
civilisation.
In 1095, Gualgericus, bishop of Kamerijk, acknowledged the existence of a religious community on the Curtenbergh (meaning 'short hill'). For this reason, 1095 has been accepted as the founding year of Kortenberg. The conventuals moved in 1222 from the hill (the 'Curtenbergh') to lower grounds at the Minneveld, where the Abbey of Kortenberg still exists on this day.
From these early days, the Lords of Cortenberg lived in this village. They were of great significance in the history of the duchy of Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
. See also Charter of Kortenberg
Charter of Kortenberg
On September 27, 1312, the Duke of Brabant signed a charter that should better be referred to as a constitution. It was valid for the entire duchy. From this charter originated a kind of "Parliament of Cortenbergh" or a "Council of Cortenberg" or what was called an assembly of "The Lords of...
.
The formerly independent municipality of Erps had the main bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
in the area since 1286.
The construction of a paved road from 1706 until 1709 was an important event in the growth of the municipality, together with the construction of a railroad in 1866. In the end of the nineteenth century the new bourgeoisie built a whole range of new residences in the style of the Belle Epoque
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque or La Belle Époque was a period in European social history that began during the late 19th century and lasted until World War I. Occurring during the era of the French Third Republic and the German Empire, it was a period characterised by optimism and new technological and medical...
with the typical spires.
On August 27th 1914, German troops put a local brewery, some residences and a little castle on fire while invading Kortenberg.
Abbey of Kortenberg
Since 1222 an abbey has been present until this day. In 1312 John II, Duke of BrabantJohn II, Duke of Brabant
John II van Brabant , also called John the Peaceful, was Duke of Brabant, Lothier and Limburg...
(Dutch: Hertog Jan II van Brabant) signed the Charter of Kortenberg
Charter of Kortenberg
On September 27, 1312, the Duke of Brabant signed a charter that should better be referred to as a constitution. It was valid for the entire duchy. From this charter originated a kind of "Parliament of Cortenbergh" or a "Council of Cortenberg" or what was called an assembly of "The Lords of...
in the abbey.
The abbey has a stirring history of arson, plundering and reconstruction. The oldest still remaining parts are the gate building with the gothic spired gate from the early seventeenth century, the Veehof (Eng: 'Cattle courtyard') from 1650, the lease courtyard, the Brewery from 1732 , and the abbey castle which was built from 1779 until 1783. The traditional great hall and the baroque chapel are dated from 1934. The abbey, which is owned by the diocese, became a protected monument on February 14th 2005 as part of resolution made by the Flemish government. The Old Abbey Kortenberg is a center of contemplation. Old Abbey of Kortenberg
Traffic and mobility
The municipality is crossed by the highway A3/E40 (Brussels-Liège). Although the territory contains a parking lot adjacent to this highway, it doesn't have any access or exits roads. It lies between exit 21 (SterrebeekSterrebeek
Sterrebeek is a town in the municipality of Zaventem, and a suburb on the east-northeast side of Brussels.Brussels American School is located in Sterrebeek....
) and exit 22 (Bertem
Bertem
Bertem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Bertem proper, Korbeek-Dijle and Leefdaal. On January 1, 2006 Bertem had a total population of 9,215...
). The main secondary road is the N2, which connects 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...
with Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
.
Kortenberg has a train station which lies on the line Brussels-Liège (line 36). Also the town of Erps-Kwerps has its own train station on that same line.
A network of public transport via buses is maintained by the Flemish bus service company De Lijn.
Bus services:
358 (Brussels (North) - Kortenberg - Leuven);
351 (Brussels (North) - Kortenberg - Everberg - Meerbeek - Leuven);
352 (Kraainem metro - Kortenberg - Erps-Kwerps - Leuven);
225 (Kortenberg - Vilvoorde);
318 (Vrebos - Brussels);
271 (Brussels - Erps-Kwerps - Kampenhout);
651 (Brussels airport - Kortenberg - Everberg - Meerbeek - Leuven);
652 (Brussels airport - Erps-Kwerps - Leuven);
516 (School bus to Haacht);
521 (School bus to Heverlee via Everberg and Meerbeek);
522 (School bus to Heverlee via Erps-Kwerps);
523 (School bus to Heverlee via Kortenberg);
Za1 (School bus to Zaventem)
Education
The municipality organizes primary education in all of the four towns:• 'De Klimop' in Erps-Kwerps
• 'De Negensprong' in Everberg
• 'De Regenboog' in Kortenberg
• 'De Boemerang' in Meerbeek
The oldest existing school in Kortenberg is the primary school Mater Dei in the town of Erps-Kwerps. The Flemish Community
Flemish Community
The term Flemish Community has two distinct, though related, meanings:...
also organizes educational facilities in the community school Hertog-Jan, which is a primary school and a middle school as well.
Notable citizens of Kortenberg
Citizens who were born or died in Kortenberg, lived a considerable time in Korterberg, or still live there.• Marie Abts-Ermens
• Félicien Marceau
Félicien Marceau
Félicien Marceau is the pen name of Louis Carette a French novelist, playwright and essayist originally from Belgium. He was close to the Hussards right-wing literary movement, itself close to the monarchist .He received the Prix Goncourt for his book Creezy in 1969...
(born Louis Carette)
• family de Mérode
o Willem Charles Ghislaine van Merode (1762-1831), Prince van Rubempré-Everberge
o Minister of State Charles-Antoine-Ghislain (Karel) count de Mérode-Westerloo
• Albert Jozef baron de Vleeschauwer van Braekel
• Minister of State Robert Houben
• Jean Meeus
Jean Meeus
Jean Meeus is a Belgian astronomer specializing in celestial mechanics. The asteroid 2213 Meeus is named after him.Jean Meeus studied mathematics at the University of Leuven in Belgium, where he received the Degree of Licentiate in 1953...
• General Bernard Montgomery (in 1941 en 1944)
• Edward Schillebeeckx
Edward Schillebeeckx
Edward Cornelis Florentius Alfonsus Schillebeeckx was a Belgian Roman Catholic theologian born in Antwerp. He taught at the Catholic University in Nijmegen. He then continued writing. In his nineties, he still wanted to finish a major book about the Sacraments.He was a member of the Dominican Order...
• Minister of State and Karel Van Miert
Karel Van Miert
Karel Van Miert was a socialist Flemish politician.He was born in Oud-Turnhout. He studied at Ghent University and gained a degree in diplomatic sciences. In 1976 he became adjunct-national secretary of the – at that time – unitary Belgian socialist party...
(also former European Commissioner
European Commissioner
A European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each Member within the college holds a specific portfolio and are led by the President of the European Commission...
)
External links
- Official website - Available only 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...
- Website with some more pictures and history - Available only 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...
- Gazetteer Entry
- Heritage House Kortenberg (Erfgoedhuis VZW): Historical and Cultural Society