Overijse () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is a suburb of the wider Brussels metropolitan area. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse proper, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On January 1, 2023, Overijse had a total population of 25,962.
The official language of Overijse is Dutch language. The municipality is home to a minority of French-speaking residents and, according to a 2023 census, to 4,389 expatriates including 716 Dutch, 402 French, 389 Romanians, 306 Polish and 281 Germans.
In 1952, Albert Lootvoet, a local brewer started brewing Leffe beer. The Leffe beers were brewed in Overijse from 1952 until 1977, when the Artois breweries bought out the local brewer.
History
Overijse draws its name from the nearby river, the
IJse, that flows through the region. The oldest known name is
Isca; the word is likely
Celtic languages in origin, and translated means 'Water'. Overijse was the birthplace of the 16th century humanist
Justus Lipsius, a professor at
Leuven who was friend of the printer and publisher Plantin.
Events
Overijse has a traditional festival every year, held in August (Druivenfeesten). The festival commemorates the industry that shaped the area, namely cultivation of grapes (
Dutch language druiven).
[ Official Druivenfeest Program Retrieved 2010-05-26] The Druivenkoers Overijse is a single-day road bicycle race during the festival. The Vlaamse Druivencross is a December
cyclo-cross classic race.
Attractions
Historical sites include:
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The Late Gothic St. Martinus Church with the nave (1489), the choir (1520), and quasi Romanesque towers from the 12th century.
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IJse Castle (17th century) with a 16th-century facade and a 15th-century hunting pavilion; against the castle walls Kellebron from the 13th century.
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Townhouse (1503–1505), restored in 1963.
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By the beguinage (1264), a 15th-century Gothic castle.
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In the village of Tombeek, the 16th-century Bisdom Castle with 12th-century towers.
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Also in Tombeek, the Sanatorium Joseph Lemaire (1937), a modernism building from architect Maxime Brunfaut.
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In the village of Jezus-Eik, the Baroque Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (Our Beloved Lady Church) with a choir from 1650 and a nave from 1667, restored in 2007.
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Near Overijse there is a medium wave transmitter for the Belgian foreign radio service.
Twin towns
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Lecco, Lecco, Lombardy, Italy
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Bruttig-Fankel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
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Bacharach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
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Mâcon, Saône-et-Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
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Modra, Slovakia
External links
