Affligem

Affligem
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Affligem Location in Belgium
Affligem in the Province of Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°54′N 04°06′E / 50.900°N 4.100°E / 50.900; 4.100Coordinates: 50°54′N 04°06′E / 50.900°N 4.100°E / 50.900; 4.100
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Flemish Brabant
Arrondissement	Halle-Vilvoorde
Government
• Mayor	Walter De Donder
• Governing party/ies	VLD, CD&V
Area
• Total	17.70 km2 (6.83 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	13,079
• Density	740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Postal codes	1790
Area codes	053 - 02
Website	www.affligem.be

Affligem (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑfliɣɛm]) (anciently written Afflighem) is a municipality located some 20 km (12 mi) west-north-west of Brussels in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, not far from the town of Aalst and the important railway junction of Denderleeuw.

The municipality comprises the villages of Essene, Hekelgem and Teralfene (note that there is no village called Affligem proper). On 1 January 2006 it had 11,956 inhabitants. The total area is 17.70 km² (7 sq mi), giving a population density of 676 inhabitants per km².

Historically, the village is best known for the Benedictine Affligem Abbey, founded in 1062.

The abbey of Affligem was founded around 1074. The label "anno 1074" on the Affligem beer bottles is based on the foundation history. The brand name is used under licence from the monks of Affligem, by the Op-Ale brewery in the neighbouring village of Opwijk. The brewery is now owned by Heineken International, who have renamed it the Affligem brewery and market the beers internationally.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton.