Tienen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tienen
Tirlemont (French)
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Collage of Tienen
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 Tienen
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | Flemish Brabant | ||
| Arrondissement | Leuven | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 71.77 km2 (27.71 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 |
3300
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| Area codes | 016 | ||
| Website | www.tienen.be | ||
Tienen is a lively city and municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, located in Flanders, Belgium. It's known by its Dutch name Tienen, but also by its French name, Tirlemont. The municipality includes Tienen itself, plus several nearby towns like Bost, Goetsenhoven, and Vissenaken.
As of January 1, 2017, Tienen was home to about 34,365 people. The city covers an area of 71.77 square kilometers (about 27.71 square miles). This means there are around 444 people living in each square kilometer, showing it's a busy place!
Contents
History of Tienen
Tienen has a long and interesting past. It was once a Roman settlement, a busy trading hub with roads connecting it to other important places. In the early Middle Ages, a German family likely ruled the town.
Tienen During Wars
During the Franco-Spanish War (1635-1659), Tienen was part of the Spanish Netherlands. In May 1635, a combined army from France and the Netherlands captured the city. Sadly, this led to a very difficult time for Tienen. The town was attacked, over 200 civilians were killed, and many buildings, including churches, were damaged. This event made it harder for the Dutch to gain support from the people in the Southern Netherlands, who were mostly Catholic.
Later, after the Treaty of Utrecht in 1714, Tienen became part of the Austrian Netherlands. During the French Revolutionary Wars, the French General Charles François Dumouriez used Tienen as a base. This was for the Battle of Neerwinden in 1793. On March 16, 1793, the French army pushed back an Austrian army. This was one of Dumouriez's last victories. Soon after, his army faced big defeats, and he ended up joining the French Royalists.
Economy and Industry
Tienen is very important for Belgium's sugar production. A huge factory called the Sugar refinery of Tienen (or Tiense Suikerraffinaderij) is located on the eastern side of the town. This factory processes sugar beet into sugar.
Besides sugar, Tienen is also home to other important companies. Citrique Belge produces citric acid, which is used in many foods and drinks. Havells Sylvania also has facilities here, making energy-saving lamps.
Culture and Famous Places
Tienen is a place where culture thrives. Every summer, the city hosts a popular rock festival called 'Suikerrock'. This festival brings music lovers together for a fun time.
Historic Churches and Landmarks
Tienen has some beautiful old buildings. The Sint-Germanus (St. Germain) Church dates back to the 12th century. It features a stunning altarpiece painted by Gustaaf Wappers, a famous artist from the 19th century. The church's belfry (bell tower) is so special that it's recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It's part of the group of Belfries of Belgium and France.
Another important church is Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Poel (Our Lady of the Pool). Construction on this church began in the 12th century and it was made larger in the 15th century. Interestingly, it was never fully finished!
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Sint-Germanus Church
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Het Toreke museum
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Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Poel
Getting Around Tienen
Tienen is well-connected by transport. The Tienen railway station is the oldest train station in Belgium that is still in use today. This makes it easy to travel to and from Tienen by train. There are also local taxi services available, like Taxi 7 - Tienen.
Famous People from Tienen
Many notable people have connections to Tienen:
- Beatrijs of Nazareth (1200–1268) was a Flemish mystic.
- André Vandewyer (1909–1992) was a Belgian footballer and coach.
- Matthias Vanden Gheyn (1721–1785) was a talented composer, organist, and carillonist.
- Linguist Herman Liebaers (1919–2010) was born in Tienen.
- Louis Michel (born 1947) is a well-known politician.
- Luc van Acker (born 1961) is a Belgian musician and producer.
- Xandee is a Belgian singer who represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.
Tienen's International Friends
Tienen has special connections with other cities around the world. These are called twin towns or sister cities.
- Tienen is twinned with:
Bielsko-Biała, a city in Poland.
See also
In Spanish: Tienen para niños
