Woluwe-Saint-Pierre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
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Woluwe Saint-Pierre's Municipal Hall
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 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community French Community |
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| Region | Brussels | ||
| Arrondissement | Brussels-Capital | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 8.85 km2 (3.42 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 |
1150
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| Area codes | 02 | ||
| Website | www.woluwe1150.be | ||
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre (pronounced "woh-loo-weh san pyair") or Sint-Pieters-Woluwe (pronounced "sint pee-ters woh-loo-weh") is one of the 19 towns that make up the Brussels-Capital Region in Belgium. It is located on the eastern side of Brussels. This town shares its borders with other Brussels towns like Etterbeek, Auderghem, and Woluwe-Saint-Lambert. It also borders the Flemish towns of Kraainem and Tervuren. Like all towns in Brussels, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is officially bilingual, meaning both French and Dutch are spoken.
As of 2022, about 42,216 people live in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. The town covers an area of 8.94 square kilometers. This means there are about 4,722 people living in each square kilometer. Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is mostly a wealthy residential area. It has wide streets lined with parks, like the famous Avenue de Tervueren. Many countries have their embassies here, especially near Marshal Montgomery Square. Long ago, three streams flowed through the town. Today, only the Woluwe stream, which flows into the Senne River, can still be seen easily.
Contents
History of Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Let's explore how Woluwe-Saint-Pierre grew from a small settlement into the town it is today.
Early Days: Middle Ages to the 1600s
The name Wolewe first appeared in writing in 1117. It was found in an old document from Forest. Back then, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre was a small village with farms. These farms belonged to the Park Abbey near Leuven. Life became difficult in the mid-1500s. This was due to wars started by Philip II of Spain against Protestants. People faced poverty and hunger during this time.
Things got better in the early 1600s under Archdukes Albert VII and Isabella. Safety and wealth returned to the area. The first major road connecting Tervuren to Brussels was built then. It was known as the "Street of the Duke."
Growth and Modern Times: 1700s to Today
The French Revolution also brought tough times to Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. Roads became unsafe, and religious freedoms were limited. Many wild animals were hunted for food. People had to burn peat for heat because coal and wood were scarce.
The local government became independent from Brussels. Woluwe-Saint-Pierre got its first mayor on May 26, 1819. Its first town council was also formed that year. New business chances helped the town become wealthy. However, the town did not grow very fast until the late 1800s.
Between 1880 and 1910, many new things were built. These included new roads like the Avenue de Tervueren. Grand homes, such as the Stoclet Palace, and Woluwe Park were also designed or built. A large horse race track was built in 1906, but it is no longer there.
Residential areas, where people live, grew after the First World War. More building happened after the Second World War. Before 1918, farming and fishing were common jobs. Today, these have almost completely disappeared. The town's economy now mostly relies on services, like shops and offices.
What to See in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre has many interesting places to visit.
- Woluwe Park: This large park is home to huge giant sequoia trees and cypress trees. You can also see many different birds here, like mute swans, gulls, and grey herons.
- Municipal Hall: The town's main building, the Municipal Hall, is very impressive and modern. Visitors are welcome to look around.
- Saint Peter's Church: The main church of the town was built in 1755. It stands on the site of a much older church. Money for its construction came from Forest Abbey. You can still see parts of the older building on the left side of the current church.
- Historic Houses: Several beautiful houses and mansions from the early 1900s can still be seen. One famous example is the Stoclet Palace. It was built between 1905 and 1909. The Austrian architect Josef Hoffmann designed it for a Belgian banker named Adolphe Stoclet. Inside, it has amazing mosaics and paintings by Gustav Klimt.
- Bibliotheca Wittockiana: This library has one of the world's most famous collections of bookbindings.
- Korean War Memorial: On the Avenue Jules-César, there is a memorial. It honors the Belgian Volunteer Corps for Korea. This group of Belgian soldiers helped South Korea during the Korean War (1950–1953).
- Brussels Tram Museum: This museum shows a collection of old trams and buses. You can see how public transport has changed over time.
Famous People from Woluwe-Saint-Pierre
Some well-known people have lived in or are connected to Woluwe-Saint-Pierre.
- Jean Bingen (1920–2012): A scholar who studied ancient writings on papyrus and stone. He passed away here.
- Henri d'Orléans, Count of Paris (1933–2019): A person who claimed to be the rightful heir to the French throne.
- Eddy Merckx (born 1945): A very famous professional cyclist. He won the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia many times in the 1960s and 1970s.
Town Partnerships Around the World
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre has special connections with other towns in different countries. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities." They often share cultural exchanges and friendly relations.
Twin Towns and Sister Cities
Woluwe-Saint-Pierre is twinned with:
Ruyumba, Rwanda
Gangnam-gu (Seoul), South Korea
New Iberia, Louisiana, USA
Pecica, Romania
Chaoyang, China
Chennai, India
Images for kids
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The Woluwe stream flowing through the town.
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The Stoclet Palace, a famous building designed by Josef Hoffmann.
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Gombert House, built in 1933.
