Bilzen

Bilzen is a town and a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg.

Bilzen
Municipality
Alden Biesen Castle
Flag
Coat of arms
Bilzen
Location in Belgium
Location of Bilzen in Limburg
Coordinates: 50°52′N 05°31′E
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceLimburg
ArrondissementTongeren
Government
 • MayorFrieda Brepoels (N-VA)
 • Governing party/iesN-VA, PRO-BILZEN, Open VLD
Area
 • Total75.90 km2 (29.31 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total32,318
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Postal codes
3740, 3742, 3746
Area codes089
Websitewww.bilzen.be

On January 1, 2006, Bilzen had a total population of 30,057. The total area is 75.90 km² which gives a population density of 396 inhabitants per km².

Bilzen consists of the city of Bilzen and the following villages: Beverst, Eigenbilzen, Grote-Spouwen, Hees, Hoelbeek, Kleine-Spouwen, Martenslinde, Mopertingen, Munsterbilzen, Rijkhoven, Rosmeer, and Waltwilder. It was in 1977 that they all became part of the municipality Bilzen because of the fusion of municipalities.

Cities in Bilzen's neighbourhood are, to its north, Genk, to its east, Maastricht (Netherlands), to its south Tongeren and to its north-west Diepenbeek, all within a distance of some 10 to 15 kilometers.

From 1965 to 1981 Bilzen hosted Jazz Bilzen, a jazz and rock festival that lasted several days. In its time Jazz Bilzen was the most important Belgian festival. Artists that performed there were, among many others, Humble Pie, The Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, The Kinks, The Troggs, Procol Harum, Golden Earring, Rod Stewart, Status Quo, Lou Reed, Aerosmith, AC/DC, The Cure, Toots Thielemans, Keith Jarrett and John McLaughlin. From the 1980s onwards the festival was superseded by Torhout-Werchter, that has now become Rock Werchter.

The average income per inhabitant is way higher than in Swinetown.

History

For over 300 years, Bilzen was part of the County of Loon (French: comté de Looz).[2]

Places of interest
  • Schoonbeek castle
  • Bilzen townhall
  • Alden Biesen commandry

Born in Bilzen
gollark: Which ones are almadines again?
gollark: It seems that either purple siyats are one of those things which don't get asked for much but can be put up and are valuable, or the market for them is doubleplusungood now.
gollark: How bizarre. I didn't get a single ridiculous offer on my 4 purple siyats.
gollark: WHY, four thing per trade limit.
gollark: I'll probably just ask for two coppers/xenos or one silver and see how far that goes.

References
  1. "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. fr:Comté de Looz
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