Geraardsbergen

Geraardsbergen
Municipality

Town hall, museum and Marbol fountain

Flag
Coat of arms
Geraardsbergen

Location in Belgium

Coordinates: 50°46′N 03°52′E / 50.767°N 3.867°E / 50.767; 3.867Coordinates: 50°46′N 03°52′E / 50.767°N 3.867°E / 50.767; 3.867
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province East Flanders
Arrondissement Aalst
Government
 • Mayor Guido De Padt (Open VLD)
 • Governing party/ies CD&V, Open VLD
Area
 • Total 79.71 km2 (30.78 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2013)[1]
 • Total 32,629
 • Density 410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Postal codes 9500, 9506
Area codes 054
Website www.geraardsbergen.be

Geraardsbergen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣeːraːrdzbɛrɣə(n)], French: Grammont) is a city and municipality located in the Denderstreek and in the Flemish Ardennes, the hilly southern part of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Geraardsbergen proper and the following towns:

Goeferdinge, Grimminge, Idegem, Moerbeke, Nederboelare, Nieuwenhove, Onkerzele, Ophasselt, Overboelare, Schendelbeke, Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem, Viane, Waarbeke, Zandbergen and Zarlardinge.

On January 1, 2006 Geraardsbergen had a total population of 31,380. The total area is 79.71 km² which gives a population density of 394 inhabitants per km².

The current mayor of Geraardsbergen is Guido De Padt, from the Open VLD (liberal) party.

History

Geraardsbergen in 1649

Geraardsbergen is one of the oldest cities in Belgium. It came into existence close to the settlement of Hunnegem and in 1068 was one of the first communities in Western Europe to be granted city status.[2]

The city was destroyed in 1381 by Walter IV of Enghien and his troops. According to legend, during the siege local people threw some of their left over food over the city wall to show that they had sufficient food to survive a long siege. This bravado notwithstanding, the city was still captured by Enghien's troops. Every year the city organizes the krakelingenworp carnival on top of the hill at Oudenberg (111 metres (364 ft)) to celebrate this historical event.[3]

On 29 May 1815, shortly before the Battle of Waterloo, Wellington and Blücher reviewed the Allied cavalry here. Some 6,000 troops were paraded in meadows on the banks of the Dender between Geraardsbergen and Jedeghem.[4]

Places of interest

Mattentaart

Mattentaart

Geraardsbergen is known for the mattentaart, a type of sweet pastry. This is made with matten paste or cheese curd.[5]

The mattentaart was granted Protected Geographical Indication status by the European Union in 2006, indicating they can only be made in Geraardsbergen or in the nearby municipality of Lierde.[5][6]

Notable individuals

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality on 1 January 2013 (XLS; 607.5 KB)
  2. ↑ "Stad Geraardsbergen - Geschiedenis van de stad Geraardsbergen".
  3. ↑ "Stad Geraardsbergen - Krakelingen & Tonnekensbrand (Eng)".
  4. ↑ Cavalié Mercer, Journal of the Waterloo Campaign Kept throughout the Campaign of 1815, Da Capo Press, 1995
  5. 1 2 "Summary, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 'Geraardsbergse Mattentaart'". Official Journal of the European Union. 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  6. ↑ "Mattentaart". Retrieved 2009-03-04.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Geraardsbergen.
 Lierde Herzele Ninove
Brakel Galmaarden (VBR)
   Geraardsbergen  
Lessines (WHT), Bever (VBR)
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