Boussu (; ) is a
municipality
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality' ...
of
Wallonia
Wallonia ( ; ; or ), officially the Walloon Region ( ; ), is one of the three communities, regions and language areas of Belgium, regions of Belgium—along with Flemish Region, Flanders and Brussels. Covering the southern portion of the c ...
located in the
province of Hainaut,
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 ...
.
As of January 1, 2006, Boussu had a population of 20,058. The total area is 20.01 km
2, which gives a
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), 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 geog ...
of 1,002 inhabitants per km
2.
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.
In the 19th century local industry expanded. A planned industrial city, called le
Grand Hornu, 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 abse ...
, writer
*
Massimo Bruno, Footballer and Belgian youth international
References
External links
*
Municipalities of Hainaut (province)
{{Hainaut-geo-stub