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Anderlecht

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Anderlecht is one of the 19 municipalities in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.

Anderlecht Brussels-Capital Belgium Map
Anderlecht Brussels-Capital Belgium Map

It is the westernmost municipality in this region. It sits in the south-western part of the Brussels area. The municipality is the third largest in the region. It covers an area of 34.28 square kilometers. This size follows the City of Brussels and Uccle. It is a legally bilingual place. This means both French and Dutch are used officially. The Brussels–Charleroi Canal is a major feature. This waterway cuts the municipality into two parts.

Anderlecht OSM
Anderlecht OSM

The geography of Anderlecht is very diverse. The land is part of the Brabantian Plateau. The climate is classified as oceanic. This is known as the Köppen Cfb climate. It features warm summers and cool winters. The Atlantic Ocean influences this weather. Marine air masses travel from the ocean to the area. Nearby wetlands also create a maritime temperate climate. On average, it rains about 130 days per year. Violent thunderstorms often occur during the summer months. The upper area of the municipality is greener. It is also much less densely populated than the lower areas.

The history of the land began long ago. Humans lived on the right bank of the Senne river. These traces date to the Stone Age and Bronze Age. Archaeologists found a Roman villa and a Frankish necropolis here. A necropolis is an ancient burial site. The name Anderlecht first appeared in the year 1047. In 1356, the Battle of Scheut occurred. Louis II, the Count of Flanders, fought against Brussels. This battle was supposedly about money. In 1393, a charter made Anderlecht part of Brussels. Around this time, the church of Saint Guy was rebuilt. It used the Brabantine Gothic style above an older crypt.

Anderlecht became a cultural center in later centuries. In 1521, the writer Erasmus of Rotterdam stayed here. He was a famous Dutch humanist and theologian.

Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Hans Holbein d. J. in Kunstmuseum Basel
Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Hans Holbein d. J. in Kunstmuseum Basel

The 17th and 18th centuries brought many wars. The Nine Years' War caused great damage. In 1695, the high ground of Scheut was used for bombardment. This bombardment of Brussels caused a massive fire. It was the most destructive event in Brussels' history. Later, the French Revolutionary army fought there in 1792. These events led to the end of the local canons. The French then proclaimed Anderlecht an independent municipality.

The 19th century brought rapid population growth. This happened because Brussels was expanding quickly. The population grew ten times between 1830 and 1890. It doubled again between 1890 and 1910. New districts like La Roue were built as garden cities.

Saint Joseph Church (1)
Saint Joseph Church (1)

These were designed to house many newcomers. After World War II, urban renewal changed the landscape. Architects followed the modernist Athens Charter. They built large housing projects like Scherdemael and Peterbos. These projects focused on a new park system. The area along the canal is also seeing new life today. This is part of a large revitalisation programme.

Anderlecht contains many distinct districts. The historical centre was once known as Rinck. It contains the Place de la Vaillance.

Anderlecht, Dapperheidsplein
Anderlecht, Dapperheidsplein

The Church of St. Guido is also here. This church has a Romanesque crypt from the 10th century.

Saint Guido Church (14)
Saint Guido Church (14)

The Aumale district is in the north. It holds the Erasmus House museum. The Meir district is in the south. It features Art Deco architecture and wide avenues.

Anderlecht2019 26
Anderlecht2019 26

This area includes Astrid Park. The R.S.C. Anderlecht football club plays here.

Lotto park 2022
Lotto park 2022

The Cureghem district grew during the Industrial Revolution. It sits along the Brussels–Charleroi Canal.

The municipality has many important landmarks. The Municipal Hall was opened in 1879. It was designed by architect Jean-Baptiste Mortier. It uses the neo-Flemish Renaissance style. The Scheut district has historical importance too. In 1863, Theophile Verbist founded a college there. The missionaries from this group travelled to many places. They went to China, Mongolia, and the Philippines. They also went to the Congo Free State. Today, the area is a mix of residential and commercial zones. The diverse history and many different districts make Anderlecht a complex part of Belgium.

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🖼️ Images & Media (11)
File:Saint Guido Church (14).jpg
Saint Guido Church (14).jpg
File:KartuisScheut.png
KartuisScheut.png
File:Anderlecht Brussels-Capital Belgium Map.svg
Anderlecht Brussels-Capital Belgium Map.svg
File:Anderlecht OSM.png
Anderlecht OSM.png
File:Anderlecht, Dapperheidsplein.jpg
Anderlecht, Dapperheidsplein.jpg
File:Anderlecht2019 26.jpg
Anderlecht2019 26.jpg
File:Saint Joseph Church (1).jpg
Saint Joseph Church (1).jpg
File:Anderlecht2018.svg
Anderlecht2018.svg
File:Abattoirs de Cureghem.JPG
Abattoirs de Cureghem.JPG
File:Lotto park 2022.jpg
Lotto park 2022.jpg
File:Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Hans Holbein d. J. in Kunstmuseum Basel.jpg
Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam by Hans...
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