The Pajottenland (; in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

occasionally Payottenland) is a distinct region within the

Flemish Brabant Flemish Brabant ( ; ) is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also ...

province and the south-western part of the

Brussels Region Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

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 ...

. The region is located west-southwest of

Brussels Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

. The Pajottenland is predominantly farmland, with occasional gently rolling hills, and lies mostly between the rivers

Dender The Dender () or Dendre () is a long river in Belgium, the right tributary of the river Scheldt. The confluence of the two rivers is in the Belgian town of Dendermonde. The Western or Little Dender is long and begins in Barry near Leuze-en-Hain ...

and Zenne / Senne. The area has historically provided food and drink for the citizens of Brussels, especially

Lambic Lambic ( , ; ) is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels since the 13th century. Types of lambic beer include gueuze, kriek lambic, and framboise. Lambic differs from most other beers in that it is Bre ...

beer Beer is an alcoholic beverage produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grain—most commonly malted barley, although wheat, maize (corn), rice, and oats are also used. The grain is mashed to convert starch in the ...

s, which are only produced here and in the

Zenne The ( French, ) or ( Dutch, ) is a small river that flows through Brussels, Belgium. Its source is in the village of Naast near the municipality of Soignies. It is an indirect tributary of the Scheldt, through the Dyle and the Rupel. It jo ...

valley where

is.

Geography

The Pajottenland is generally understood to cover the following municipalities and submunicipalities: *

Affligem Affligem (; anciently written Afflighem) is a municipality located some west-north-west of Brussels in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, not far from the city of Aalst and the important railway junction of Denderleeuw. Affligem is situa ...

Essene The Essenes (; Hebrew: , ''ʾĪssīyīm''; Greek: Ἐσσηνοί, Ἐσσαῖοι, or Ὀσσαῖοι, ''Essenoi, Essaioi, Ossaioi'') or Essenians were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd centu ...

Hekelgem Hekelgem is a village in the province Flemish Brabant, Belgium. In 1977 it merged with Essene and Teralfene to form the municipality of Affligem, of which it remains a section. The merged municipality is named after the historic Affligem Abbey in ...

and

Teralfene Teralfene is a village in the municipality of Affligem, Belgium. It has an area of 244 ha (602.94 acres). The other communities in Affligem are Hekelgem and Essene. Name The name "Teralfene" originates from the brook Alfene (now called the Bell ...

Asse Asse () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It comprises the towns of Asse proper, Bekkerzeel, Kobbegem, Mollem, Relegem and Zellik. Asse is also situated in the Pajottenland. ...

: Asse,

Bekkerzeel Bekkerzeel is a submunicipality of Asse in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant Flemish Brabant ( ; ) is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Belgian provinces of Antwerp ...

Kobbegem Kobbegem is a village that is now part of the municipality of Asse, Flemish Brabant, Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, ...

Mollem Mollem is a village in the municipality of Asse, Flemish Brabant, Belgium. It used to be a municipality on its own but now is a part of Asse. Mollem has a railway station on line 60 between Jette and Dendermonde Dendermonde (; , ) is a city i ...

Relegem Relegem is a town and deelgemeente in the Municipalities of Belgium, municipality of Asse in Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Relegem was its own municipality until January 1, 1977 when it was merged with Asse as part of the fusion of the Belgian municip ...

and

Zellik Zellik is an urbanised town with over 8,000 inhabitants in the municipality of Asse, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. As a suburb on the northwest edge of Brussels, it is separated from the rest of the agglomeration by the R0 ring roa ...

* Bever *

Dilbeek Dilbeek () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Dilbeek proper, Groot-Bijgaarden, Itterbeek (with Sint-A ...

: Dilbeek,

Itterbeek Itterbeek is a historical village in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, and since 1977 a submunicipality of Dilbeek. Toponymy The village derives its name from the Indo-European words 'eud-' (water) en 'baki' (stream). One of the firs ...

(with

Sint-Anna-Pede Sint-Anna-Pede is a village in Itterbeek, Belgium, which is a deelgemeente of Dilbeek. It gets its name from the Pedebeek, the stream that flows through the village.Text on the Sint-Anna Church and the village, in Dutch Sint-Anna-Pede was already ...

Schepdaal Schepdaal is a village and deelgemeente of Dilbeek in Flanders, Belgium. History The oldest mention dates back to 1260, when the area was called Scepdale. Before 1827 Schepdaal was a part of Zierbeek, named after the stream with the same name ...

(with

Sint-Gertrudis-Pede Sint-Gertrudis-Pede is a village in Dilbeek Dilbeek () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Dilbeek p ...

Sint-Martens-Bodegem Sint-Martens-Bodegem (locally known as: ''Beugem'') is a historic village that is now part of Dilbeek. It has 2638 inhabitants. Toponymy For a long time it was assumed that the mention 'Bodenghem' in the founding charter of the abbey of Affligem ...

Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle is a village and deelgemeente of Dilbeek, Belgium. History Historically, Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle was a part of the Land of Asse. Together with Dilbeek, Groot-Bijgaarden, Itterbeek, Schepdaal and Sint-Martens-Bodegem, it ha ...

Groot-Bijgaarden Groot-Bijgaarden () is a village and deelgemeente in the municipality of Dilbeek, a suburb of Brussels, in Flanders, Belgium. Toponymy The name Bijgaarden is derived from the Germanic word for enclosure. The appellation "Great" (Groot) was attac ...

Galmaarden Galmaarden (; , ) is a small town in the municipality of Pajottegem in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It is also situated in the Pajottenland The Pajottenland (; in English occasionally Payottenland) is a distinct region within the F ...

: Galmaarden,

Tollembeek Galmaarden (; , ) is a small town in the municipality of Pajottegem in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It is also situated in the Pajottenland The Pajottenland (; in English occasionally Payottenland) is a distinct region within the F ...

Vollezele Galmaarden (; , ) is a small town in the municipality of Pajottegem in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. References External links * Official website - Only available in Dutch Dutch or Nederlan ...

Gooik Gooik () is a former Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Gooik proper, Kester, Belgium, Kester, Leerbeek, Strijland and Oetingen. It is now par ...

: Gooik (with Strijland), Kester, Leerbeek, Oetingen * Herne: Herne (with Kokejane), Herfelingen, Sint-Pieters-Kapelle *

Lennik Lennik () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Sint-Kwintens-Lennik, Sint-Martens-Lennik, Eizeringen and Gaasbeek. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 20 ...

: Gaasbeek, Sint-Kwintens-Lennik (with Eizeringen), Sint-Martens-Lennik *

Liedekerke Liedekerke () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. On January 1, 2006, Liedekerke had a total population of 11,920. It is also situated in the Pajottenland.The total area is 10.08 km2 which results in a popula ...

Pepingen Pepingen () is a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality located in the Belgium, Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Beert, Bellingen, Belgium, Bellingen, Bogaarden, Elingen, Heikruis and Pepingen proper. ...

: Pepingen, Beert, Bellingen, Bogaarden, Elingen, Heikruis *

Roosdaal Roosdaal () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Borchtlombeek, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek, Pamel and Strijtem. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2016 ...

: Pamel (with Ledeberg),

Borchtlombeek Roosdaal () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Borchtlombeek, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek, Pamel and Strijtem. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2016, ...

Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek Roosdaal () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Borchtlombeek, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek, Pamel and Strijtem. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2016 ...

, Strijtem, Kattem *

Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (; , ) is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Oudenaken, Ruisbroek, Sint-Laureins-Berchem, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw proper and Vlezenbeek. Si ...

: Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Oudenaken, Ruisbroek,

Sint-Laureins-Berchem Sint-Pieters-Leeuw (; , ) is a Municipalities in Belgium, municipality in the Provinces of Belgium, province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Oudenaken, Ruisbroek, Flemish Brabant, Ruisb ...

, Vlezenbeek *

Ternat Ternat (; also ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Sint-Katherina-Lombeek, Ternat proper and Wambeek. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2018 Ter ...

: Ternat, Sint-Katherina-Lombeek,

Wambeek Wambeek is a village and a district in the municipality of Ternat, in Flemish Brabant, Belgium. It lies in Pajottenland. The first written mention of the village is from 877, when it was described as an estate belonging to the Collegiate Church ...

According to a lawyer named De Gronckel who first described it, the Pajottenland also includes

and the

Ninove Ninove () is a City status in Belgium, city and Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flanders, Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. It is on the river Dender, and is part of the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city o ...

deelgemeente A (, literally ''sub-municipality''), or section (), is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium and, until March 2014, in the Netherlands as well. Belgium Each municipality in Belgium that existed as a separate entity on 1 January 1961 bu ...

n Neigem and Lieferinge. The rural part of

Anderlecht Anderlecht (; ) is one of the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the south-western part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Forest, B ...

, particularly in earlier times before it became a municipality of the

Brussels region Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...

, may also be included. The tourist area marketed under the name ''Pajottenland en Zennevallei'' (Pajottenland and Zenne Valley) also includes the municipalities

Beersel Beersel () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium, south-west of the centre of Brussels. The municipality comprises the towns of Alsemberg, Beersel proper, Dworp, Huizingen and Lot. On 1 Janua ...

Drogenbos Drogenbos (, ) is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Drogenbos proper. On January 1, 2018, Drogenbos had a total population of 5,599. The total area is , ...

, Halle,

Linkebeek Linkebeek (, ) is a Belgian municipality in the Halle-Vilvoorde district (''arrondissement'') of the province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Linkebeek proper. On 1 January 2006, Linkebeek had a total population o ...

Sint-Genesius-Rode Sint-Genesius-Rode (; ) is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Sint-Genesius-Rode proper, and lies between Brussels and Waterloo in Wallonia. On January ...

, which are clustered around the

Valley to the south-west of the main Pajottenland region. File:Gooik - Kester.jpg, Landscape in Gooik File:Decam 01.jpg, Lambic, Kriek and Gueuze De Cam, Gooik File:Galmaarden_-_Congobergstraat_-_Brabantse_Trekpaarden.jpg, Brabant draft horses. File:Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1568) The Blind Leading the Blind.jpg, ''

The Blind Leading the Blind ''The Blind Leading the Blind'', ''Blind'', or ''The Parable of the Blind'' () is a painting by the Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, Netherlandish Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, completed in 1568. Executed in Glue-size, d ...

'' (Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1568) File:Sint-Anna-Pede - Sint-Annakerk - 01.JPG, Little church in Sint-Anna-Pede (Dilbeek). File:Pieter Bruegel.ste Anne.jpg, ''The Blind Leading the Blind'' in Sint-Anna-Pede.

References

* Tim Webb, Chris Pollard, Joris Pattyn, Lambicland,

External links

*
The Pajottenland
official ''Pajottenland & Zennevallei'' tourist site

Geography of Flemish Brabant Regions of Flanders Areas of Belgium {{FlemishBrabant-geo-stub

Geography

See also

References

External links