Koekelberg

Koekelberg (French: [kukœlbɛʁ(ɡ)]; Dutch: [ˈkukəlˌbɛr(ə)x] ^ⓘ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the north-western part of the region, it is bordered by Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Ganshoren, Jette, and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. In common with all of Brussels' municipalities, it is legally bilingual (French–Dutch).

Koekelberg
Municipality
Koekelberg's Municipal Hall seen from the Place Henri Vanhuffel/Henri Vanhuffelplein
Coat of arms
Location of Koekelberg
Koekelberg Location in Belgium Koekelberg municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region
Coordinates: 50°52′N 04°20′E
Community	Flemish community French community
Region	Brussels-Capital
Arrondissement	Brussels-Capital
Government
• Mayor	Ahmed Laaouej (PS)
• Governing party/ies	PS, Ecolo-Groen, Alternative Humaniste
Area
• Total	1.18 km2 (0.46 sq mi)
Population  (2020-01-01)[1]
• Total	21,959
• Density	19,000/km2 (48,000/sq mi)
Postal codes	1081
NIS code	21011
Area codes	02
Website	www.koekelberg.be

As of 1 January 2022^[update], the municipality had a population of 22,023 inhabitants, the smallest in the region.^[2] The total area is 1.18 km² (0.46 sq mi), which gives a population density of 15,543/km² (40,260/sq mi).^[2]

The municipality is dominated by the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart (or Koekelberg Basilica), one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the world.^[3] Its main transportation hub are the connected Simonis and Elisabeth metro stations, served by the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB/MIVB) system.

Politics

The current city council was elected in the October 2018 elections.^[4] The current mayor of Koekelberg is Ahmed Laaouej, a member of PS, who is in coalition on the municipal council with Ecolo - Groen and Alternative Humaniste.

Main sights

• The Municipal Hall of Koekelberg, located on the Place Henri Vanhuffel/Henri Vanhuffelplein. Built in 1882, it was fitted with a geometric Art Deco facade designed by the architect Henri-Aimé Jacobs in 1938.^[5]
• The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart (or Koekelberg Basilica), a minor basilica and parish church, as well as one of the largest churches by area in the world.^[3] Completed only in 1969, and combining Art Deco with neo-Byzantine elements, its cupola provides a panoramic view of Brussels and its outskirts.
• Lefever House, an early 20th-century (1913) Art Nouveau town house built by the architect Fernand Lefever, which has been listed as a protected monument since 2006.^[6]
• Finally, the municipality maintains several green areas, including Elisabeth Park and Victoria Park.

• 
  Lefever House (1913)
• 
  National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
• 
  Elisabeth Park

References

Citations

1. "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
2. "Koekelberg | IBSA". ibsa.brussels. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
3. Stéphany 2006, p. 63.
4. "Résultats officiels des élections communales 2018" (in French). Retrieved 17 July 2021.
5. "maison communal – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2023.
6. "Maison personnelle de l'architecte Fernand Lefever – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 4 June 2023.

Bibliography

• Stéphany, Pierre (2006). "Bruxelles. La basilique de Koekelberg". La Belgique en cent coups d'oeil (in French). Tielt: Lanno Publishers. ISBN 2-87386-445-1.

External links

• Belgium portal

• Media related to Koekelberg at Wikimedia Commons
• Official site (in French and Dutch)