Ninove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ninove
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Collage of Ninove
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 Ninove
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | East Flanders | ||
| Arrondissement | Aalst | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 51.89 km2 (20.03 sq mi) | ||
| Population
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| • Total | Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | ||
| Postal codes |
9400, 9401, 9402, 9403, 9404, 9406
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| Area codes | 054 | ||
| Website | www.ninove.be | ||
Ninove (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈninoːvə]) is a city and municipality in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. It is on the river Dender, and is part of the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Ninove proper and since the 1976 merger of the towns of Appelterre-Eichem, Aspelare, Denderwindeke, Lieferinge, Meerbeke, Nederhasselt, Neigem, Okegem, Outer, Pollare and Voorde. On 1 January 2023 Ninove had a total population of 40.090. The total area is 72.57 km2 which gives a population density of 553 inhabitants per km2.
Contents
History
The oldest version of the name "Ninove", Neonifus dates from the 9th century. Later versions of the city name were Ninive and Nineve. The current version of the city name dates from the 14th century. The origin of the city name is not clear. There are two theories about the origin. One states that name is from Roman origin, the other states that it is of Frankish origin. The meaning of the name, however, is known. Ninove means "nieuw weiland" or in English, "new pasture".
During Roman rule, Ninove was a small settlement located in the current "Nederwijk". With the arrival of the Franks in the 4th century AD, the settlement grew to a small agricultural town. The area on which Ninove is located was from 843 on part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the 11th century this area was conquered by the Count of Flanders, Boudewijn V and the whole area between the rivers Scheldt and Dender became part of Flanders.
From the 11th century on, the medieval castrum was fortified into a castle stronghold. Because it lay on the trade route between Flanders and Brabant, the town prospered and grew into a city. In 1137, Norbertine monks from Park Abbey founded the Saint Cornelius Abbey (Abbey of Our Lady and SS. Cornelius and Cyprian), adjacent to the city (see below). In 1295 the town and lands were bought by the count of Flanders Guy of Dampierre. His grandson Henry awarded the town a city charter in 1339.
The 15th–17th centuries were a bad time for the city as the region was plagued with war and religious and political strife. The abbey was plundered by the French in 1578 during the reformation. In 1658, Ninove was occupied by the French army. After the Treaty of the Pyrenees, the French returned the area back to Spain but the area was to change hands many times during the wars of Louis XIV and Louis XV of France.
During the 17th century Ninove was crippled under the indemnities laid on it by the warring parties and the town faced a big economic crisis as its cloth industry went into decline. The big abbey was closed by the French in 1796, after Flanders was annexed to France. The town served as a cavalry headquarters during the Waterloo Campaign of 1815.
During the 19th century Ninove became industrialized and by the time of the First World War, the city became the centre of the Flemish match industry. This industry however declined in importance until the last match factory closed during the late 1970s.
From 1973 to 2011 the town of Meerbeke was the finish of the cycling race Tour of Flanders.
The population of Ninove has steadily grown and the city has become an attractive centre for commercial, recreational and economical activities in the area, and plays host to a popular annual Volkswagen show every March, specifically for air-cooled vehicles, i.e. Beetles, Camper-vans, Type 3's, 4's etc. The opening of a shopping mall in the centre of the city, as well as new sport and cultural infrastructure, and the construction of many residential apartment buildings have made Ninove a growing competitor for nearby Aalst and an ideal living-place for many commuters who work in nearby Brussels.
Premonstratensian abbey
The Premonstratensian abbot of Park Abbey founded the Abbey of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian in 1137. The monks settled on uncultivated lands which had been offered to them by the lord of Ninove which were near the town, on the banks of the river Dender. The community continued to grow and its financial position soon allowed it to occupy the adjacent parishes. The lay brothers undertook the farm work. Because of its large landholdings, the abbey soon became one of the biggest grain producers in Flanders. The 16th and 17th centuries were difficult times because of the political troubles and the effects of the French wars of religion on the Southern Netherlands. The 18th century brought a period of calm and prosperity. All the abbey buildings were reconstructed to the plans of a Ghent architect advised by Laurent-Benoît Dewez. The abbey was suppressed in 1796 during the French Revolution. The abbey community was able to buy it back but this process lasted until 1822. Many of the buildings were demolished during the first half of the 19th century. The abbey church became the parish church of the Assumption of Mary in 1813.
Nicknames
Throughout the ages the inhabitants of Ninove were given various nicknames as a title of honour or mockery.
Wortelmannen or Wortels
The inhabitants were given the title of "wortelmannen" or "wortels" (Dutch for carrot people or carrot) because of an event during the Middle Ages. During a row with the neighbouring city of Aalst, the people of Aalst decided to besiege Ninove. The inhabitants of Ninove were completely surprised by this attack and were found unprepared. In all the confusion the key to close the city gate could not be found. To bolt the gate, a carrot was used. A passing donkey saw the carrot-bolt and ate it, leaving the city gate unbolted and the militiamen from Aalst free entry of the city.
De Oudste, de Stoutste en de Wijste der Steden
Ninove was described by Antonius Sanderus as the Oldest, the Boldest and the Wisest of Cities. Sanderus wrote in his Flandria Illustrata:
"Ninive quattor habet portas. Hae portae, quamvis possint, vix umquam clauduntur: unde vulgari loco Ninove dicitur antiquissima, audaccissima, sapientissima".
Ninove was called the oldest because of the similarity of its name with the ancient Assyrian city Nineveh, the boldest because it waited on the enemy with open gates and the wisest because the city had no jester or town fool, if one was needed a fool from a neighbouring town was lent.
Media
Newspapers
Ninove is the home of independent digital news outlet Ninofmedia. Founded in 2013, Ninofmedia primarily covers news in Ninove and other surrounding areas in the Denderstreek.
Radio
Since March 2021, Radio Ninove (95 FM) has been operating as a local radio station licensed to serve Ninove. It was founded by experienced radio hosts who had previously worked at other radio stations in East Flanders, primarily in the city of Aalst. Radio Ninove aims to be a "partner in life" of Ninove's residents and local businesses by covering regional news, sports, politics, culture, and other important topics and events.
The predecessor to Radio Ninove—a station of the same name—was active during the 1980s.
Radio Ninove is involved in a close partnership with enkaavee, a radio station dedicated entirely to the Carnival of Ninove.
People
- Johannes Despauterius (ca.1480–1520), Flemish humanist
- Anthoni Schoonjans (1655–1726), painter
- Frans Hemerijckx (1902–1969), physician, worked among lepers in the Belgian Congo and India
- Louis Waltniel (1925–2001), liberal politician and industrialist
- Willy Roggeman (born 1934), writer and jazz musician
- Rudy De Leeuw (born 1953), chairman ABVV
- Johan Evenepoel (born 1965), Belgian composer
Sport
- Romain Gijssels (1907–1978), professional road bicycle racer
- Wesley Sonck (born 1978), former football player of the Belgium national team
- Geert De Vos (born 1981), is a Belgian dart player who plays for the British Darts Organisation
- Kevin van der Perren (born 1982), ice skater, 9th at the Winter Olympics
- Laurens de Plus (born 1995), professional road bicycle racer
