Oudsbergen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oudsbergen
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Commandery of Gruitrode
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 Oudsbergen
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | Limburg | ||
| Arrondissement | Maaseik | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 116.24 km2 (44.88 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 |
3660, 3670
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| Area codes | 011, 089 | ||
| Website | oudsbergen.be | ||
Oudsbergen is a town, or more accurately, a municipality in the country of Belgium. It is located in the Belgian province of Limburg. This municipality was formed on January 1, 2019. It was created when two smaller municipalities, Opglabbeek and Meeuwen-Gruitrode, joined together.
Oudsbergen covers an area of about 116 square kilometers. In 2021, around 23,520 people lived there.
Contents
How Oudsbergen Was Created
Oudsbergen was formed through a special process called a municipal merger. This means two or more smaller towns or areas combine to become one larger municipality.
Why Municipalities Merge
The government in Flanders, which is a region in Belgium, encourages municipalities to merge. They offer help and support to towns that decide to join forces. This can help them work better and share resources.
The Merger Process
The idea to merge Opglabbeek and Meeuwen-Gruitrode started in November 2016. The local councils of both towns agreed to the plan. A local council is a group of elected people who make decisions for their town.
The final decision to merge was made on June 26, 2017. The Flemish Government then officially approved this merger. This approval came through a special rule called a decree on May 4, 2018. The merger officially happened on January 1, 2019.
Population Before the Merger
Before they merged, Opglabbeek and Meeuwen-Gruitrode were separate. On January 1, 2018, Opglabbeek had about 10,332 people. Meeuwen-Gruitrode had a larger population of about 13,091 people. When they combined, their populations added up to form the new municipality of Oudsbergen.
What Is a Municipality?
A municipality is like a local government area. It's a town or a group of villages that are governed together. People living in a municipality elect leaders to make decisions for their community.
Who Leads a Municipality?
The main leader of a municipality is called the Mayor. In Oudsbergen, the mayor is Marco Goossens. He belongs to a political party called Christian Democratic and Flemish (CD&V). The mayor and the local council work together to manage the town. They handle things like local services, public spaces, and community events.
