Tienen

Tienen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈtinə(n)] ⓘ; French: Tirlemont [tiʁləmɔ̃]) is a city and municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, Belgium. The municipality comprises Tienen itself and the towns of Bost, Goetsenhoven, Hakendover, Kumtich, Oorbeek, Oplinter, Sint-Margriete-Houtem and Vissenaken.

Tienen
Municipality
Collage of Tienen
Collage of Tienen
Flag of Tienen
Flag
Coat of arms of Tienen
Coat of arms
Location of Tienen
Tienen is located in Belgium
Tienen
Tienen
Location in Belgium
Tienen in the Province of Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°48′N 04°56′E
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceFlemish Brabant
ArrondissementLeuven
Government
 • MayorKatrien Partyka (CD&V)
 • Governing party/iesCD&V, Open VLD, N-VA, Groen
Area
 • Total72.77 km2 (28.10 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total34,675
 • Density480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Postal codes
3300
NIS code
24107
Area codes016
Websitewww.tienen.be

On 1 January 2017, Tienen had a total population of 34,365. The total area is 71.77 km2 (27.71 sq mi) which gives a population density of 444 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,150/sq mi).

History
Painting of a determined-looking man who is standing with his left hand on his hip and his right hand on a table. He wears a dark blue double-breasted military coat with red breeches. His hair or wig in the style of the late 18th century, powdered white and curled at the ears.
French commander Charles François Dumouriez, who used the town as a base during the March 1793 Battle of Neerwinden

In the early Middle Ages, the town was probably ruled by an old German family Thienen.

During the 1635 to 1659 Franco-Spanish War, Tienen was part of the Spanish Netherlands and was captured by a combined Franco-Dutch army in May 1635.[2] Its capture resulted in one of the most serious atrocities of the Dutch Revolt; the town was sacked, over 200 civilians killed and many buildings damaged, including Catholic churches and monasteries. This ended Dutch prospects of winning over the predominantly Catholic population of the Southern Netherlands.[3]

After the 1714 Treaty of Utrecht, the town was incorporated into the Austrian Netherlands; in the French Revolutionary Wars, it was used as a base by French Republican General Charles François Dumouriez during the Battle of Neerwinden. On 16 March 1793, the French repulsed an Austrian army commanded by Prince Josias of Coburg.[4]

This was the last victory for the veteran Dumouriez, hero of Valmy and Jemappes; within a week, his army suffered such catastrophic defeats that he defected to the French Royalists.[5]

Economy

Tienen is the centre of sugar production in Belgium; a huge sugar beet processing factory, the Sugar refinery of Tienen (Tiense Suikerraffinaderij - Raffinerie Tirlemontoise), is located at the eastern edge of the town. It is the site of facilities owned by Citrique Belge, that produces citric acid, and Havells Sylvania, a manufacturer of energy saving lamps.[6]

Culture and significant landmarks

Tienen is the location of a summer rock festival known as 'Suikerrock'.[7]

The Sint-Germanus (St. Germain) Church dates from the 12th century and has an altarpiece by the 19th-century painter Gustaaf Wappers.[8] Its belfry has earned that complex a designation on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list of Belfries of Belgium and France.[9]

The principal church, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Poel (Our Lady of the Pool), was begun in the 12th and enlarged in the 15th century;[8] it remains unfinished.

  • Sint-Germanus Church
    Sint-Germanus Church
  • Het Toreke museum
    Het Toreke museum
  • Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Poel
    Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Poel

Transport

The town is served by Tienen railway station, the oldest in Belgium still in use.

Notable inhabitants

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Belgium

Twin towns—Sister cities

Tienen is twinned with:

References
  1. "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. De Périni 1896, p. 179.
  3. Lasaffer 2006, pp. 3–4.
  4. Soboul 1975, p. 298.
  5. Thiers 1838, p. 298.
  6. www.havells-sylvania.com Archived 2010-06-20 at the Wayback Machine
  7. www.suikerrock.be
  8. Chisholm 1911.
  9. "World Heritage List | Belfries of Belgium and France". UNESCO. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  10. "Bielsko-Biała - Partner Cities". © 2008 Urzędu Miejskiego w Bielsku-Białej. Retrieved 2008-12-10.

Sources
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