Brasschaat Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Brasschaat

Flag	Coat of arms

Brasschaat

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Antwerp

Area

• Total

38.49 km² (14.86 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

2930

Area codes

Website

www.brasschaat.be

Brasschaat is a town in Flanders, one of the three main regions of Belgium. It's located in the Antwerp province. Brasschaat is known for being a very nice place to live. In 2006, it even won an award for being one of the "most livable municipalities" in the world!

History of Brasschaat
Fun Traditions
Places to See
Famous People from Brasschaat
Sports in Brasschaat
Sister Cities
See also

History of Brasschaat

Early Beginnings

The story of Brasschaat began a very long time ago with the Celtic people. Later, a group called the Belgae lived here. Then, the Romans took over and built an important road through the area. After some invasions in the 3rd and 4th centuries, the whole region became Christian. In the Middle Ages, a small river called Laar helped mark the border between two important church areas.

The Middle Ages

The name Breesgata or Brexgata was first used in 1269. In 1482, a special building for nuns was started here, and you can still see parts of it today. Brasschaat was part of a larger area called the Campine. But for church matters, it was part of the Bishopric of Liège until 1569.

Around that time, about 4,500 people and 383 horses lived in the village. The end of the 1500s was very tough. Wars between different religious groups caused the population to shrink a lot, down to only 420 people and 59 horses. After a terrible sickness spread in 1610, only 26 families were left. The oldest local club, the guild of Sint-Antonius, was founded in 1667.

Modern Times

In 1823, Brasschaat officially became its own separate town, no longer part of Ekeren. The town chose its own mayor and local council the next year. However, it wasn't until 1830 that its independence was fully recognized.

Because of its important location for defending the port of Antwerp, Brasschaat became a key military spot during World War I. The Brasschaat fort, which you can still see, was built in 1912. Between 1937 and 1939, more defenses were added, like bunkers and a big ditch to stop tanks. Many of these old military buildings are now home to colonies of bats!

In 1945, a school in Brasschaat was hit by a flying bomb.

Fun Traditions

The yearly Dorpsdag (which means "village day") happens on the first Sunday in September. It includes a procession to remember when the main church was first used in 1753.

Places to See

Brasschaat is known as a "park town" because it has many beautiful parks and woods. One famous nature area is De Inslag. It has 149 hectares of woods and fields, plus the old antitank ditch.
The De Mik castle is a cool place with a drawbridge. It's surrounded by lovely gardens and a special collection of trees called an arboretum.
You can also find a petting farm and an artillery museum in the Brasschaat area.
The "Peerdsbos" is another great nature and recreation spot.
Brasschaat is also famous in Belgium for its long main street. It's full of different shops, cafes, and bars. Because Brasschaat is a well-off town, you'll find fancy jewelry stores, designer clothing shops, and trendy cafes there.

Brasschaat church
Castle of Brasschaat, from the 19th century
A bunker and antitank ditch in De Inslag
The nature preservation area De Inslag

Famous People from Brasschaat

Gerolf Annemans (born 1958), a politician
Jozef De Beenhouwer, a musician
Jean-Marie Pfaff, a famous football goalkeeper
Maxim Van Gils, a professional cyclist
Andy Van Vliet (born 1995), a basketball player

Sports in Brasschaat

The town hosts some well-known sports events. The biggest one is the yearly Premium European Cup triathlon, which is a race with swimming, cycling, and running. The Hoogboom Military Camp in Brasschaat was even used for shooting events during the 1920 Summer Olympics that took place in nearby Antwerp.