Wemmel

Wemmel
Municipality
Wemmel Castle, former residence of the Marquess of Wemmel, now Town Hall.
Coat of arms
Wemmel Location in Belgium
Location of Wemmel in Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°54′28″N 4°18′24″E / 50.90778°N 4.30667°E / 50.90778; 4.30667Coordinates: 50°54′28″N 4°18′24″E / 50.90778°N 4.30667°E / 50.90778; 4.30667
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Flemish Brabant
Arrondissement	Halle-Vilvoorde
Government
• Mayor	Marcel Van Langenhove (LB)
• Governing party/ies	LVB
Area
• Total	8.74 km2 (3.37 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
• Total	16,059
• Density	1,800/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Postal codes	1780
Area codes	02
Website	www.wemmel.be

Wemmel [ˈʋɛməl] is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Wemmel proper. On January 1, 2006, Wemmel had a total population of 14,774. The total area is 8.74 km² which gives a population density of 1,690 inhabitants per km².

The official language is Dutch, as everywhere in Flanders. In 1954, however, special linguistic facilities were given to local French-speakers. Although outside the Brussels-Capital Region, Wemmel is sometimes considered part of the suburbs of Brussels. The Brussels orbital motorway, known as the ring, cuts through the southern part of the town.

The centre of Wemmel initially developed around the Sint-Servaaskerk (Dutch: Church of Saint Servatius), because the ground there was best suited for building. Around the year 370, Frankish invaders drove out the ruling Romans, who had settled the area around the 2nd century AD. Wemmel eventually became part of the Duchy of Brabant.

One of the first lords of Wemmel of which there is a historical record was marshal Goswinus van Wembelne, who lived at the beginning of the 12th century. His descendants would be the lords of Wemmel until the end of the 12th century, when Isabella van Wembelne married Aernout II of Kraainem, and Wemmel became part of the already considerable possessions of Kraainem. Many notable men would come from this noble family, including Aernout III, who would die fighting on the French king's side at the Battle of the Golden Spurs. His son Leo was a skillful diplomat, who would sign the 1366 treaty that resolved a dispute between the County of Flanders and the Duchy of Brabant over the Lordship of Mechelen.