Lier | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hoogbrug over the Nete in Lier | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Lier in Antwerp Province | |
 Interactive map of Lier | |
  Lier Location in Belgium | |
| Coordinates:51°8′N4°34′E / 51.133°N 4.567°E /51.133; 4.567 | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | Antwerp |
| Arrondissement | Mechelen |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rik Verwaest (N-VA) |
| • Governing parties | N-VA,Open Vld |
| Area | |
• Total | 49.85 km2 (19.25 sq mi) |
| Population (2020-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 36,646 |
| • Density | 735.1/km2 (1,904/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 2500 |
| NIS code | 12021 |
| Area codes | 03, 015 |
| Website | www.lier.be |
Lier (Dutch:[liːr]ⓘ;French:Lierre[ljɛʁ]ⓘ) is amunicipality located in theBelgian province ofAntwerp. It is composed of the city of Lier proper and the village ofKoningshooikt. The city centre is surrounded by the riverNete, around which it grew. In 2018, Lier had a total population of 35,712. The total area is 49.70 km2 making apopulation density (PD) of 720 per km2. Lier is known for its beers (which includeCaves), its patron saintSt. Gummarus andLierse vlaaikes cake. It is also home to the world headquarters ofVan Hool, a global bus and coach manufacturer. Lier's two principalfootball clubs areK. Lyra-Lierse andLierse Kempenzonen (formerly known as KFC Oosterzonen, which moved to Lier in 2018).
The etymology of the nameLier is still under debate. It most likely refers to the riverNete and the muddy soils that surround it. The Latin name of Lier isLyra, the suffix of which (-ara) is probably derived from the Germanic or Celtic reference toriver. Alternatively, the origin might be the Germanic wordsLedo orLedi, which both refer to a location near the confluence of rivers (in this case theMinor and MajorNete). Other explanations include the old Dutch wordlaar (clearance in the woods) or the wordliere (parapet). There is also a resemblance to the Swedish wordleira, which meansmuddy shore, or the Icelandic wordleir, which meansclay. An all together different explanation is the Germanic wordhieura, which refers to a hillock type of country.[2]
There is scant record of Lier predating the 7th century.Saint Gummarus himself was born in the 7th century and died on 11 October 714. He was canonised in 754.[3] In 1194 Lier was givenoppidum status and in 1212 granted municipal rights.[4] The Lierbeguinage was founded in 1258 and in 1998 was inscribed on theUNESCOWorld Heritage List as part of theFlemish Béguinages site.[5] The last surviving beguine died in 1994.[6]
In the 14th century, DukeJan II wished to reward the City of Lier for joining his fight against theCity of Mechelen. He offered the city the choice of either hosting a university or a livestock market. The city notoriously selected the livestock market option, upon which the Duke is reported to have sighed: "Oh, those wretchedsheep heads". Today, a herd of bronze sheep near theZimmer tower serves as a reminder to this fateful decision. Theuniversity was eventually seeded in the city ofLeuven, in 1425, as one of Europe's first and today most prominent universities. The nicknameSchapekoppen (which translates toSheep Heads) is still used in Flanders to refer to inhabitants of Lier.[7]
In 1496, Lier was the scene of the marriage betweenPhilip the Handsome,[8] son ofMaximilian of Austria, andJoanna of Castile. This marriage was pivotal to the history of Europe, forCharles V, who was born to this marriage (Ghent, 1500), would go on to rule both theHoly Roman Empire and theSpanish Empire.
KingChristian II of Denmark, accompanied by his spouseIsabella (sister to Charles V and known asQueen Elisabeth), lived in Lier until 1523, after having been expelled from Denmark by the local nobility while waiting in vain for military support from his brother in law.[9] He attempted again to regain the Danish and Norwegian throne, but was taken prisoner and spent the rest of his life detained in the Danish castles of Sønderborg and Kalundborg. Isabella died in 1526 at the Castle ofZwijnaarde.[10]
A conspicuous feature of the market square is a headstone (witches-stone, placed in 1974) that marks the spot where Lier's last witchcraft-related execution is traditionally believed to have taken place.[11]
In 1860, askeleton of a mammoth was unearthed at the site of the current city hall buildings.[12] It was the first mammoth skeleton to be discovered in western Europe.
At the start of the WWI,King Albert and his Chiefs of Staff were temporarily headquartered in Lier, before retreating toTemse as German lines advanced. Being part of theredoubt of Antwerp, the city suffered heavily under German artillery fire, leaving much of its medieval structures damaged beyond repair. Most medieval-style structures that exist today (including the town hall and its belfry) are therefore replicas, built shortly after the War.
Lier is routinely referred to with the rhymeLierke Plezierke (which roughly translates as "fun in Lier"). This expression originates from a bookletFelix Timmermans wrote in 1928, in celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of a neighbouring couple.[13]
The strong ties Lier had developed with the Belgian military ever since in 1888 artillery barracks were built, continued after the World Wars. From 1955 to 1997 the barracks housed the Royal School of Cadets (cadet school for the Belgian army).[14] A prominent alumnus of this school is Belgian astronautFrank De Winne. The site was vacated by the army in 1998, acquired by the city, and now houses city hall and the police department. Two artillery pieces are on display on the city hall's patio, as a reminder of the building's past.[15] The city of Lier is also patron city to the Belgian Army'sSecond Artillery Regiment (now termed theArtillery Battalion).
Some might argue that Lier is a part of the Antwerp suburban area, making it a district on itself, but generally, Lier is divided into five main districts: Leuvensepoort, Mechelpoort, Lisp, the city centre andKoningshooikt. The last is a historic village that was administratively joined to the town as asub-municipality in 1977.
| Name | Surface area (km2) | Inhabitants (01/01/2012) |
|---|---|---|
| Lier - Centre -Koningshooikt | 49.7 | 34,244 30,042 4,202 |
| Source:KEMPEN | MECHELEN | ||
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| § 1977: addition of Koningshooikt to Lier NIS – from 1806 till 1976 census on 31 December; from 1977 = inhabitants at 1 January Source:Statbel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Era | Mayor | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1831 - 1848 | Charles Mast-De Vries | independent | |
| 1848 - 1853 | Jan Baptist Peeters | Liberal | |
| 1853 - 1872 | George Bergmann | Liberal | |
| 1872 - 1911 | Florent Van Cauwenbergh | Catholic | |
| 1911 - 1927 | Jozef Schellekens | Catholic | |
| 1927 | Jules Van Hoof | Catholic | |
| 1928 - 1941 | Joseph Van Cauwenbergh | Catholic | |
| 1941 | Frans Raatsacting mayor | Catholic | |
| 1941 - 1944 | Alfred Van der Hallenoorlogsburgemeester | VNV | |
| 1944 - 1954 | Joseph Van Cauwenbergh | CVP | |
| 1954 - 1959 | Jules Van Hoof | CVP | |
| 1959 - 1976 | Frans Breugelmans | CVP | |
| 1977 - 1982 | Raymond Callaerts | CVP | |
| 1983 - 1984 | Herman Vanderpoorten | PVV | |
| 1984 - 1994 | Maurice Vanhoutte | PVV /VLD | |
| 1995 - 2012 | Marleen Vanderpoorten | VLD /Open Vld | |
| 2013 - heden | Frank Boogaerts | N-VA |
_-_Lierre%2c_Interior_of_Saint-Gommaire_-_P258_-_The_Wallace_Collection.jpg)
In 2004, Lier was the host for the third episode ofFata Morgana, the TV show in which Belgian celebrities gave a city or town several challenges. The theme was "Lier 2020" and the inhabitants succeeded in completing all challenges.
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Villages around Lier | |
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