Before it adopted the metric system in 1816, the area that now constitutes
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...
used a number of
units of measurement
A unit of measurement, or unit of measure, is a definite magnitude (mathematics), magnitude of a quantity, defined and adopted by convention or by law, that is used as a standard for measurement of the same kind of quantity. Any other qua ...
to measure different types of quantities including length, mass, and area.
Since 1820, the
International Metric System has been compulsory in Belgium. Initially, different names were used for units like metre, litre, kilogram, etc.
Pre-metric Units
Before 1820, different units were used in the area that now constitutes Belgium. Belgium became an independent country in 1830.
Length
Different units were used to measure length in Belgium. One perche was equal to . One pied was equal to 1/20 perche.
Mass
A number of units were used to measure mass in Belgium. One
livre
Livre may refer to:
Currency
* French livre, one of a number of obsolete units of currency of France
* Livre tournois, one particular obsolete unit of currency of France
* Livre parisis, another particular obsolete unit of currency of France
* Fre ...
was equal to . Some other units are provided below:
1 loth = 1/32 livre
1 once = 1/16 livre
1 marc 1/2 livre
1 stein = 8 livre
1
quintal
The quintal or centner is a historical unit of mass in many countries that is usually defined as 100 base units, such as pounds or kilograms. It is a traditional unit of weight in France, Portugal, and Spain and their former colonies. It is com ...
= 100 livre
1 chariot = 165 livre
1 balle = 200 livre
1 schiffpfund = 300 livre
1 charge = 400 livre.
Area
Different units were used to measure area in Belgium. One arpent was equal to 400 perche
2 (130.6 a)
Units with Metric System
In the starting era of the metric system in Belgium, other names were used for metric units, including aune for metre, litron for litre, livre for kilogram, once for hectogram, lood for decigram, and wigtje for gram.
References
{{Reflist
Culture of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...