History Watermael-Boitsfort

the church of st clement, of tower dates 11th century

the modern-day municipality of watermael-boitsfort 2 separate settlements located on plain between 2 small rivers of woluwe , watermaelbeek north of sonian forest. earliest evidence of human activity in region remains of small fortified neolithic village of michelsberg culture, dating between 3500-2500 bc.

the earliest mention of name watermael in document of 914 bequeathing estate of name french abbey. part of estate of watermael, boitfort became separate after hunting lodge, on site adjacent forest, given boutsvoord family duchy of brabant in 13th century. during middle ages, inhabitants of 2 settlements farmed , raised cattle , number of hunting lodges on edge of forest built members of nobility. construction of road city of brussels, north, through boitsfort led rapid expansion of both settlements. population of watermael rose 349 inhabitants in 1709 826 in 1800.

watermael-boitsfort created in 1811 during period of french rule when 2 municipalities merged. although several industries grew in area during 19th century, watermael-boitsfort remained largely agrarian , increasingly residential, after municipality linked brussels railway in 1854. became fashionable, bourgeois neighbourhood. dutch dominant language, french became dominant after 1920. during 1920s, 2 garden cities (cité-jardins), le logis , floréal, built. municipality s population hit all-time peak of 25,138 inhabitants in 1970.

watermael-boitsfort s first mayor liberal pierre-théodore verhaegen, known role in creation of free university of brussels, held post between 1820 , 1842.

notable historic buildings in municipality include church of st clement of parts date 11th century.

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