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Wasserbillig (German pronunciation:[ˈvasɐˌbɪlɪç];Luxembourgish:Waasserbëlleg[vaːsɐˈbələɕ]ⓘ) is a town in thecommune ofMertert, in easternLuxembourg. As of 2024[update], Wasserbillig has 3,485 inhabitants,[1] which makes it the largest town in Mertert. Wasserbillig is the administrative seat of the commune of Mertert.
Wasserbillig lies at the confluence of the riversMoselle andSauer, which form the border withGermany at the town. On the opposite side of the Moselle and linked by a car ferry liesOberbillig, Germany; on the opposite side of the Sauer and linked by vehicle and rail bridges liesWasserbilligerbrück, Germany.
Wasserbillig is the lowest settlement in Luxembourg, at 132 m (433 ft) above sea level.
Around 100 AD, there was already a town where Wasserbillig is situated which the Roman named Biliacum. This is also where the second part of Wasserbillig's name comes from (-billig fromBiliacum). It was mainly atransloading harbour for goods coming down the Sauer or by cart. During the construction of the bridge over the Sauer in 1952, remnants of an old Roman bridge were found.[2]
In 2000, the town became the centre of international media attention when on 31 May, an armed man entered the Spatzennaschtcrèche andtook 43 children aged one to ten and 5 workers hostage. A large police operation was deployed and the situation ended after 28 hours when two policemen, disguised as journalists, entered the building and neutralised the perpetrator with firearms.[3][4]
Thetown's railway station is on theline between Luxembourg City and the German border, connecting eastern Luxembourg toTrier.
49°43′N6°30′E / 49.717°N 6.500°E /49.717; 6.500
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