Wellen

Wellen
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Wellen Location in Belgium
Location of Wellen in Limburg
Coordinates: 50°51′N 05°19′E / 50.850°N 5.317°E / 50.850; 5.317Coordinates: 50°51′N 05°19′E / 50.850°N 5.317°E / 50.850; 5.317
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Limburg
Arrondissement	Tongeren
Government
• Mayor	Els Robeyns (SPa)
• Governing party/ies	(SPa)
Area
• Total	26.72 km2 (10.32 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	7,374
• Density	280/km2 (710/sq mi)
Postal codes	3830-3832
Area codes	012, 011
Website	www.wellen.be

Wellen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On 1 January 2008, Wellen had a total population of 7,102. The total area is 26.72 km², giving a population density of 266 inhabitants per km².

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Wellen, Berlingen, Herten and Ulbeek. Other population centres and hamlets include: Bos, Beurs, Kukkelberg, Langenakker, Oetersloven, Overbroek, Russelt, and Vrolingen.

Archaeological findings suggest the place was inhabited already during the Frankish period (5th to 7th century). Debris from the river Herk on that spot made fertile soil for farming. Mention of the name Wellene or Welnis doesn't occur until the second half of the 12th.

The name Wellen derives from the Middle Dutch "wellene", meaning "source" or "pit" or, alternately, from Latin terra Villina, "agricultural holding". Wellen was long associated with the abbey of Munsterbilzen, founded around 670.