Grimbergen

Grimbergen
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Grimbergen Location in Belgium
Location of Grimbergen in Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°56′N 04°23′E / 50.933°N 4.383°E / 50.933; 4.383Coordinates: 50°56′N 04°23′E / 50.933°N 4.383°E / 50.933; 4.383
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Flemish Brabant
Arrondissement	Halle-Vilvoorde
Government
• Mayor	Marleen Mertens (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V, VLD
Area
• Total	38.59 km2 (14.90 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	36,742
• Density	950/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
Postal codes	1850-1853
Area codes	02
Website	www.grimbergen.be

Grimbergen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣrɪmbɛrɣə(n)]) is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, 10 km north of national capital Brussels. The municipality comprises the towns of Beigem, Grimbergen, Humbeek and Strombeek-Bever. On January 1, 2006 Grimbergen had a total population of 33,965. The total area is 38.61 km² which gives a population density of 880 inhabitants per km². Grimbergen is located in the Flemish (Dutch) language area of Belgium. The French-speaking minority is represented by 4 members on the 30-seat local council. Grimbergen is mostly known for its Norbertine abbey and the beer first brewed there. Grimbergen's proximity to Brussels makes it a residential town for commuting.

In Roman times, several important roads passed near the territory of present Grimbergen. A fort was built in the 8th century at the strategic point where the road crossed the river Zenne. The local lord soon acquired a large piece of territory in this area, extending to the rivers Scheldt, Rupel, and Dender.

In the 12th century the name of the hamlet was Grentberghis, which came from the Old Dutch Grientbergen, meaning mounds of coarse sand. A community of Augustinian monks had already tried to settle here a century earlier during the reign of Godfrey III, Duke of Lower Lorraine, but it is only in the early 12th century that their religious community prospered. Under the leadership of Norbert of Xanten, the Norbertine monks built the Grimbergen Abbey here in 1128, founding a beer brewery. A few years later, the animosity between the powerful Grimbergen family and their then infant overlord Godfrey III of Leuven precipitated the Wars of Grimbergen. The unrest caused the destruction of the local castle by the Duke of Brabant, the move of the ruling Grimbergen lord to nearby Ninove, and the parceling of his territory. The city's coat of arms dates from that period.