The Pajottenland (in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

occasionally Payottenland) is a distinct region within the

Flemish Brabant Flemish Brabant ( nl, Vlaams-Brabant ; french: Brabant flamand ) is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Haina ...

province and the south-western part of the

Brussels Region Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

. The region is located west-southwest of

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

. The Pajottenland is predominantly farmland, with occasional gently rolling hills, and lies mostly between the rivers

Dender The Dender (Dutch, ) or Dendre ( French, ) is a 65-kilometre (40 mi) long river in Belgium, the right tributary of the river Scheldt. The confluence of the two rivers is in the Belgian town of Dendermonde. The Western or Little Dender is 22 kilome ...

and Zenne / Senne. The area has historically provided food and drink for the citizens of Brussels, especially

Lambic Lambic () is a type of beer brewed in the Pajottenland region of Belgium southwest of Brussels and in Brussels itself since the 13th century. Types of lambic beers include gueuze, kriek lambic and framboise. Lambic differs from most other beers ...

beer Beer is one of the oldest and the most widely consumed type of alcoholic drink in the world, and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from ce ...

s, which are only produced here and in the

Zenne The Senne () or Zenne () is a small river that flows through Brussels, left tributary of the Dijle/Dyle. Its source is in the village of Naast near the municipality of Soignies. It is an indirect tributary of the Scheldt, through the Dijle ...

valley where

is.

Geography

The Pajottenland is generally understood to cover the following municipalities and submunicipalities: * Affligem:

Essene The Essenes (; Hebrew: , ''Isiyim''; Greek: Ἐσσηνοί, Ἐσσαῖοι, or Ὀσσαῖοι, ''Essenoi, Essaioi, Ossaioi'') were a mystic Jewish sect during the Second Temple period that flourished from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st c ...

Hekelgem Affligem (; anciently written Afflighem) is a municipality located some west-north-west of Brussels in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, not far from the city of Aalst and the important railway junction of Denderleeuw. Affligem is situat ...

and

Teralfene Teralfene is a village in the municipality of Affligem, Belgium. It has an area of 244 ha (602.94 acres). The other communities in Affligem are Hekelgem and Essene. Name The name "Teralfene" originates from the brook Alfene (now called the Bel ...

* Asse: Asse,

Bekkerzeel Asse () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It comprises the towns of Asse proper, Bekkerzeel, Kobbegem, Mollem, Relegem and Zellik. Asse is also situated in the Pajottenland. As of 2020, Asse had a total p ...

Kobbegem Kobbegem is a village that is now part of the municipality of Asse, Flemish Brabant, Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by ...

Mollem Mollem is a village in the municipality of Asse, Flemish Brabant, Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherland ...

Relegem Relegem is a town and deelgemeente in the municipality of Asse in Flemish Brabant, Belgium. Relegem was its own municipality until January 1, 1977 when it was merged with Asse as part of the fusion of the Belgian municipalities. Just before the ...

and

Zellik Zellik is an urbanised town with over 8,000 inhabitants in the municipality of Asse, in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. As a suburb on the northwest edge of Brussels, it is separated from the rest of the agglomeration by the R0 ring road ...

* Bever *

Dilbeek Dilbeek () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Dilbeek proper, Groot-Bijgaarden, Itterbeek (with Sint-Anna-Pede), Schepdaal (with Sint-Gertrudis-Pede), ...

: Dilbeek,

Itterbeek Itterbeek is a historical village in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, and since 1977 a submunicipality of Dilbeek. Toponymy The village derives its name from the Indo-European words 'eud-' (water) en 'baki' (stream). One of the first m ...

(with

Sint-Anna-Pede Sint-Anna-Pede is a village in Itterbeek, Belgium, which is a deelgemeente of Dilbeek. It gets its name from the Pedebeek, the stream that flows through the village. Sint-Anna-Pede was already mentioned in the first half of the 12th century as "Pet ...

Schepdaal Schepdaal is a village and deelgemeente of Dilbeek in Flanders, Belgium. History The oldest mention dates back to 1260, when the area was called Scepdale. Before 1827 Schepdaal was a part of Zierbeek, named after the stream with the same name ...

(with

Sint-Gertrudis-Pede Sint-Gertrudis-Pede is a village in Dilbeek. Toponymy According to local legend, Gertrude of Nivelles, abbess of Nivelles Abbey, was on her way to Lennik when her carriage became stuck in the mud. Therefore, she was obliged to continue her jour ...

Sint-Martens-Bodegem Sint-Martens-Bodegem (locally known as: ''Beugem'') is a historic village that is now part of Dilbeek Dilbeek () is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Di ...

Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle is a village and deelgemeente of Dilbeek. History Historically, Sint-Ulriks-Kapelle was a part of the Land of Asse. Together with Dilbeek, Groot-Bijgaarden, Itterbeek, Schepdaal and Sint-Martens-Bodegem, it has formed the mu ...

Groot-Bijgaarden Groot-Bijgaarden (officially) or Grand-Bigard is a village and deelgemeente in the municipality of Dilbeek, a suburb of Brussels, in Flanders, Belgium. Toponymy The name Bijgaarden is derived from the Germanic word for enclosure. The appellation ...

Galmaarden Galmaarden (; french: Gammerages, ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Galmaarden proper, Tollembeek and Vollezele. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 20 ...

: Galmaarden,

Tollembeek Galmaarden (; french: Gammerages, ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Galmaarden proper, Tollembeek and Vollezele. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2 ...

Vollezele Galmaarden (; french: Gammerages, ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Galmaarden proper, Tollembeek and Vollezele. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, ...

Gooik Gooik () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Gooik proper, Kester, Leerbeek, Strijland and Oetingen. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2018 Gooik h ...

: Gooik (with Strijland), Kester, Leerbeek, Oetingen * Herne: Herne (with Kokejane),

Herfelingen Herfelingen is a village in the municipality of Herne in the Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as ...

, Sint-Pieters-Kapelle *

Lennik Lennik () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Sint-Kwintens-Lennik, Sint-Martens-Lennik, Eizeringen and Gaasbeek. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 20 ...

: Gaasbeek, Sint-Kwintens-Lennik (with Eizeringen), Sint-Martens-Lennik *

Liedekerke Liedekerke () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. On January 1, 2006 Liedekerke had a total population of 11,920. It is also situated in the Pajottenland.The total area is 10.08 km² which results in a popula ...

Pepingen Pepingen () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Beert, Bellingen, Bogaarden, Elingen, Heikruis and Pepingen proper. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January ...

: Pepingen, Beert, Bellingen,

Bogaarden Bogaarden is a village in the municipality of Pepingen, in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The name 'Bogaarden' means "orchards". Gertrude of Nivelles Gertrude of Nivelles, OSB (also spelled ''Geretrude'', ''Geretrudis'', ''Gertrud''; ...

Elingen Elingen is a village in the municipality of Pepingen, in the Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as ...

, Heikruis *

Roosdaal Roosdaal () is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Borchtlombeek, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek, Pamel and Strijtem. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. On January 1, 2016 ...

: Pamel (with Ledeberg), Borchtlombeek, Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Lombeek, Strijtem, Kattem * Sint-Pieters-Leeuw: Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Oudenaken, Ruisbroek, Sint-Laureins-Berchem,

Vlezenbeek Vlezenbeek is a small town of 3,324 in the Flemish Brabant southwest of Brussels, Belgium. It is part of the municipality Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. It is the home of Neuhaus, an international exporter of fine Belgian chocolate, as well as Lindemans Br ...

Ternat Ternat (; also french: Ternath, link=no) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Sint-Katherina-Lombeek, Ternat proper and Wambeek. It is also situated in the Pajottenland. ...

: Ternat,

Sint-Katherina-Lombeek Ternat (; also french: Ternath, link=no) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the villages of Sint-Katherina-Lombeek, Ternat proper and Wambeek. It is also situated in the Pajottenland ...

, Wambeek According to a lawyer named De Gronckel who first described it, the Pajottenland also includes

and the

Ninove Ninove () is a city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. It is situated on the river Dender, and is part of the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Ninove proper and since the 1976 merger ...

deelgemeente A deelgemeente (, literally ''part-municipality'') or section ( French) is a subdivision of a municipality in Belgium and, until March 2014, in the Netherlands as well. Belgium Each municipality in Belgium that existed as a separate entity on 1 J ...

n Neigem and Lieferinge. The rural part of

Anderlecht Anderlecht (, ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the south-western part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Forest, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, and Saint-Gilles, as well as the ...

, particularly in earlier times before it became a municipality of the

Brussels region Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

, may also be included. The tourist area marketed under the name ''Pajottenland en Zennevallei'' (Pajottenland and Zenne Valley) also includes the municipalities Beersel,

Drogenbos Drogenbos (; ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Drogenbos proper. On January 1, 2018, Drogenbos had a total population of 5,599. The total area is 2.49 km² (0.9 ...

, Halle,

Linkebeek Linkebeek (; ) is a Belgian municipality in Flanders, part of the province of Flemish Brabant, and in the administrative district of Halle-Vilvoorde. The municipality only comprises the town of Linkebeek proper. As of 1 January 2006, Linkebeek h ...

Sint-Genesius-Rode Sint-Genesius-Rode (; french: Rhode-Saint-Genèse, ) is a municipality located in Flanders, one of three regions of Belgium, in the province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the town of Sint-Genesius-Rode only, and lies between Brus ...

, which are clustered around the

Valley to the south-west of the main Pajottenland region. File:Gooik - Kester.jpg, Landscape in Gooik File:Decam 01.jpg, Lambic, Kriek and Gueuze De Cam, Gooik File:Galmaarden_-_Congobergstraat_-_Brabantse_Trekpaarden.jpg, Brabant draft horses. File:Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1568) The Blind Leading the Blind.jpg, ''

The Blind Leading the Blind "The blind leading the blind" is an idiom and a metaphor in the form of a parallel phrase, it is used to describe a situation where a person who knows nothing is getting advice and help from another person who knows almost nothing. History Th ...

'' (Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1568) File:Sint-Anna-Pede - Sint-Annakerk - 01.JPG, Little church in Sint-Anna-Pede (Dilbeek). File:Pieter Bruegel.ste Anne.jpg, ''The Blind Leading the Blind'' in Sint-Anna-Pede.

References

* Tim Webb, Chris Pollard, Joris Pattyn, Lambicland,

External links

*
The Pajottenland
official ''Pajottenland & Zennevallei'' tourist site

Geography of Flemish Brabant Regions of Flanders Areas of Belgium {{FlemishBrabant-geo-stub

Geography

See also

References

External links