Overijse Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Overijse

Flag	Coat of arms

Overijse

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Halle-Vilvoorde

Area

• Total

44.43 km² (17.15 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

3090

Area codes

02, 016

Website

www.overijse.be

Overijse is a town in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium. It's like a suburb of the bigger Brussels area. The town of Overijse includes smaller communities such as Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek, and Terlanen.

In 2008, about 24,410 people lived in Overijse. The total area of the town is about 44.43 square kilometers (17.15 square miles). This means there are about 549 people living in each square kilometer. Overijse is surrounded by lots of forests, like the Sonian Forest, which are great for walking and cycling.

The main language spoken here is Dutch, just like in the rest of Flanders. Many people who speak French have moved to Overijse from other parts of Belgium. In 2008, there were also many people from other countries living in Overijse, including people from the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States.

A local brewer named Albert Lootvoet started making Leffe beer in Overijse in 1952. The beer was made here until 1977.

A Look at Overijse's Past
Fun Events in Overijse
Cool Places to Visit
Partner Towns Around the World
See also

A Look at Overijse's Past

Overijse gets its name from a nearby river called the IJse. The oldest name for the river was Isca, which is a very old word that means 'Water'.

A famous thinker from the 1500s, Justus Lipsius, was born in Overijse. He was a professor at Leuven University and a friend of a well-known printer named Plantin.

Fun Events in Overijse

Overijse has a special festival every year in August called the Druivenfeesten. This festival celebrates the town's history of growing grapes (druiven in Dutch).

During the festival, there's a bicycle race called the Druivenkoers Overijse. It's a one-day road race. Later in the year, usually in December, there's another famous bicycle race called the Vlaamse Druivencross, which is a type of off-road cycling race.

Cool Places to Visit

Overijse has many interesting historical places:

The Late Gothic St. Martinus Church has parts built in 1489 and 1520. It also has older towers from the 1100s.
The IJse Castle was built in the 1600s, but parts of it, like its front and a hunting building, are even older.
The Town Hall was built between 1503 and 1505 and was fixed up in 1963.
Near an old beguinage (a community for religious women) from 1264, there's a Gothic castle from the 1400s.
In the village of Tombeek, you can find the 1500s Bisdom Castle, which has towers from the 1100s.
Also in Tombeek, there's the Sanatorium Joseph Lemaire from 1937. It's a cool example of modern architecture.
In the village of Jezus-Eik, there's a Baroque church called Onze Lieve Vrouwekerk (Our Beloved Lady Church). Its choir was built in 1650 and the main part in 1667. It was restored in 2007.
Near Overijse, there's a large radio transmitter that sends out signals for Belgium's international radio service.