Boussu (; pcd, Boussu-dlé-Mont) is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...
of
Wallonia
Wallonia (; french: Wallonie ), or ; nl, Wallonië ; wa, Waloneye or officially the Walloon Region (french: link=no, Région wallonne),; nl, link=no, Waals gewest; wa, link=no, Redjon walone is one of the three regions of Belgium—al ...
located in the
province of Hainaut
Hainaut (, also , , ; nl, Henegouwen ; wa, Hinnot; pcd, Hénau), historically also known as Heynowes in English, is a province of Wallonia and Belgium.
To its south lies the French department of Nord, while within Belgium it borders (cloc ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
.
As of January 1, 2006, Boussu had a population of 20,058. The total area is 20.01 km², which gives a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
of 1,002 inhabitants per km².
The municipality consists of the following districts: Boussu and
Hornu.
History
During the late Middle Ages the town gave his name to an important branch of the
House of Hénin. The castle of Boussu was constructed in this period, and important members of this family are buried inside the church. Most famous is the Mausoleum of
Maximilien II de Hénin, 5th Count of Bossu
Maximilien II de Hénin, 5th Count of Bossu (1580-1625) was a noble lord.
Family
Maxillien was the son of Jacques de Hénin, Marquess of la Veere, brother of Maximilien de Hénin, 3rd Count of Bossu and Marie of Hanaert, Baronnes of Liedekerc ...
.
In the 19th century local industry expanded. A planned industrial city, called le
Grand Hornu
Grand-Hornu is an old industrial coal mining complex and company town (''cité ouvrière'') in Hornu (Boussu
Boussu (; pcd, Boussu-dlé-Mont) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
As of January 1, 2006, Bou ...
, was constructed.
Located in
Hornu, the buildings are now a museum.
Etymology
As its neighbouring municipality, Hornu, Boussu's town is very old and the history of
Saint Waudru mentions the existence of a church in the 13th century. In the acts of the past, Boussu conquered very diverse titles: Buxutum, Bussuth, Bussut, Bossut, Boussut. However, the etymology is very simple. This means "the place abundant in boxwood" (in Latin buxus: meaning boxwood or buxutum meaning boxwood coppice).
Famous inhabitants
*
Marcel Moreau
Marcel Moreau (16 April 1933 − 4 April 2020) was a Belgian writer. He was born in Boussu, a town in the mining region of Borinage in Hainaut Province, into a working-class environment. He described it as "a pure cultural void" with "a total absen ...
, writer
*
Massimo Bruno
Massimo Bruno (born 17 September 1993) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a right winger for Kortrijk.
Club career Charleroi
Born in Boussu, Belgium, Bruno started his football career at RSB Frameries before he moved to Mons. Bruno joined And ...
, Footballer and Belgian youth international
References
External links
*
Municipalities of Hainaut (province)
{{Hainaut-geo-stub