Sint-Gertrudis-Pede is a village in

Dilbeek Dilbeek () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Dilbeek proper, Groot-Bijgaarden, Itterbeek (with Sint-Anna-Pede), Schepdaal (with Sint-Gertrudis-Pe ...

Toponymy

According to local legend,

Gertrude of Nivelles Gertrude of Nivelles, OSB (also spelled ''Geretrude'', ''Geretrudis'', ''Gertrud''; c. 628 – 17 March 659) was a seventh-century abbess who, with her mother Itta, founded the Abbey of Nivelles, now in Belgium. Life Family and childhood The e ...

, abbess of Nivelles Abbey, was on her way to

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 Gaasbeek is a village in the Belgian municipality of Lenn ...

when her carriage became stuck in the mud. Therefore, she was obliged to continue her journey on foot. The name Pede would come from the Latin for "on foot".

History

Sint-Gertrudis-Pede grew around the place where different streams came together to form the Pedebeek, of which the largest is the Laarbeek. Around these streams were three large farms, who originally depended on the abbey of Nijvel, and later on Gaasbeek. The village never became an independent municipality, however this almost was the case. On 19 May 1893 the motion to create the municipality of Sint-Getrudis-Pede was accepted in the Chamber of Representatives, but was rejected by the Senate. In 1890 it became an independent parish, stretching over the borders of the municipalities of Schepdaal, Itterbeek, Sint-Martens-Lennik and Vlezenbeek. In 1977 it became part of the municipality of Dilbeek.

Attractions

Watermill A watermill or water mill is a mill that uses hydropower. It is a structure that uses a water wheel or water turbine to drive a mechanical process such as milling (grinding), rolling, or hammering. Such processes are needed in the productio ...

* Pedebeek * Sint-Gertrudis Church * Pedemole footpath

Famous inhabitants

* Urbanus, Flemish comedian

References

{{Reflist Dilbeek Populated places in Flemish Brabant