Berchem-Sainte-Agathe ( French, ) or Sint-Agatha-Berchem ( Dutch, ), often simply called Berchem, is one of the 19 municipalities of the

Brussels-Capital Region Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital ...

, Belgium. Located in the north-western part of the region, it is bordered by Ganshoren, Koekelberg, and

Molenbeek-Saint-Jean (French language, French, ) or (Dutch language, Dutch, ), often simply called Molenbeek, is one of the List of municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the western p ...

, as well as the Flemish municipalities of

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. ...

and

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 ...

. In common with all of Brussels' municipalities, it is legally

bilingual Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by a group of speakers. When the languages are just two, it is usually called bilingualism. It is believed that multilingual speakers outnumber monolin ...

(French–Dutch). , the municipality had a population of 25,787 inhabitants. The total area is , 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 . The municipality is known for its calm and peaceful character. It is said that Berchem is a "village in the city".

History

In the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe was a modest village on the edge of Brussels. In 1795, it received the status of an autonomous municipality. In 1841, it separated from neighbouring Koekelberg, and in 1954, it became a part of the

Main sights

Berchem-Sainte-Agathe has a rich cultural and architectural heritage. Some of the main points of interest include: * The former Church of St. Agatha, an old 12th-century Romanesque church. Completely renovated from 1972 to 1974, it is now deconsecrated and used for cultural ceremonies and celebrations. * The Villa Marie-Mirande, an early 20th-century (1912)

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau ( ; ; ), Jugendstil and Sezessionstil in German, is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. It was often inspired by natural forms such as the sinuous curves of plants and ...

town house designed by the architect Victor Tinant. * The main pavilion of the former French Hospital, designed in neoclassical style by the architect Gustave Maukels and completed in 1928–29. * The Cité Moderne, a housing project designed and built from 1922 to 1924 by the

modernist Modernism was an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abstraction, and Subjectivity and objectivity (philosophy), subjective experience. Philosophy, politics, architecture, and soc ...

architect Victor Bourgeois. File:Eglise Sainte-Agathe.JPG, Former Church of St. Agatha File:Villa Marie-Mirande (1).jpg, Villa Marie-Mirande File:French Hospital (2).jpg, French Hospital File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Cité Moderne - 01.jpg, Cité Moderne

Famous inhabitants

* David Lachterman (1934–1992), radio and television comedian and commentary expert * Alexis Saelemaekers (born 1999), football player who has played as a winger for R.S.C. Anderlecht and A.C. Milan * Françoise Schepmans (born 1960), politician and mayor of Molenbeek, was born there. * Jean-Claude Van Damme (born 1960), actor and martial artist, was born there. * Rudi Vervoort (born 1958), politician and Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region, was born there.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region Populated places in Belgium