Bilzen Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Bilzen

Alden Biesen Castle

Flag	Coat of arms

Bilzen

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Tongeren

Area

• Total

75.90 km² (29.31 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

3740, 3742, 3746

Area codes

089

Website

www.bilzen.be

Bilzen is a city and a municipality in Belgium. It is located in the Limburg province. This province is in the Flemish part of Belgium.

In 2021, Bilzen had a total population of 32,536 people. The city covers an area of 75.90 square kilometers. This means about 426 people live in each square kilometer.

Bilzen includes the main city and several smaller villages. These villages are Beverst, Eigenbilzen, Grote-Spouwen, Hees, Hoelbeek, Kleine-Spouwen, Martenslinde, Mopertingen, Munsterbilzen, Rijkhoven, Rosmeer, and Waltwilder. All these villages became part of the Bilzen municipality in 1977. This happened because of a fusion of municipalities.

Other cities are close to Bilzen. To its north is Genk. To its east is Maastricht in the Netherlands. To its south is Tongeren. And to its north-west is Diepenbeek.

Music and Festivals in Bilzen
Bilzen's History
Places to Visit in Bilzen
Famous People from Bilzen
Gallery
See also

Music and Festivals in Bilzen

From 1965 to 1981, Bilzen was home to a very important music festival. It was called Jazz Bilzen. This festival lasted for several days each year. It was the most important Belgian festival of its time.

Many famous artists performed at Jazz Bilzen. Some of them include Humble Pie, The Moody Blues, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, 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. After the 1980s, another festival called Torhout-Werchter became more popular. Today, it is known as Rock Werchter.

Bilzen's History

For more than 300 years, Bilzen was part of the County of Loon. This was a historical territory in the Low Countries.

Places to Visit in Bilzen

Bilzen has some interesting places to see.

Alden Biesen Castle is located in the village of Rijkhoven. It is a beautiful old castle.
Munsterbilzen Abbey is another historical site. It was once an important abbey.

Famous People from Bilzen

Many well-known people were born in Bilzen.

Bert Appermont (born 1973) is a composer and conductor.
Elke Clijsters (born 1985) is a tennis player. She is the younger sister of Kim Clijsters.
Kim Clijsters (born 1983) is a famous tennis player.
Valérie Courtois (born 1990) is a volleyball player.
Lisa del Bo (born 1961) is a singer.
Camille Huysmans (1871–1968) was a politician. He served as Prime Minister of Belgium from 1946 to 1947. He was also the mayor of Antwerp from 1933 to 1946.
Jelle Vossen (born 1989) is a football player.
Thibaut Courtois (born 1992) is also a football player.