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
Naast were a French rock band. They are part of the ''nouvelle vague du rock français'' (New Wave of French Rock), which includes other bands like Les Plastiscines and Pravda. Their track "Mauvais Garçon" was included in Guitar Hero III: Leg ...
near the municipality of
Soignies. It is an indirect tributary of the
Scheldt, through the Dijle and the
Rupel. It joins the Dijle at Zennegat, in
Battel
Battel, or battels, sometimes spelled batells, or batels is a term used in the University of Oxford to refer to food ordered by members of the college as distinct from the usual commons. Hence it also referred to college accounts for board and ...
in the north of the municipality of
Mechelen
Mechelen (; french: Malines ; traditional English name: MechlinMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical contex ...
, only a few hundred metres before the Dijle itself joins the Rupel.
The
Woluwe is one of the tributaries of the Senne.
In total the Senne is long.
In the centre of Brussels, the Senne was
completely covered up and major boulevards were built over top in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is still visible in the outskirts of Brussels and outside the city, though within the city it now runs mostly underneath the
small ring
The Small Ring (french: Petite Ceinture, nl, Kleine Ring) inner ring road, formally R20 and N0 is a series of roadways in central Brussels, Belgium, surrounding the historic city centre. The city centre is usually defined as the area within t ...
. The Senne was notorious for being one of Belgium's worst
polluted rivers, since all
effluent
Effluent is wastewater from sewers or industrial outfalls that flows directly into surface waters either untreated or after being treated at a facility. The term has slightly different meanings in certain contexts, and may contain various pollut ...
s from the
Brussels Capital Region emptied into it without treatment. In March 2007, the completion of new
sewage treatment plants began to remediate this problem. However, in December 2009, the plant Brussels Nord of Acquiris was temporarily and abruptly shut down, creating a political and
ecological crisis.
The
yellow iris became used as the emblem of the
Brussels-Capital Region due to its habitat in the marshy plains around the river. The unique seasonal wild
yeasts of the Senne river valley are used in the production of the regional
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 ...
style of
beer.
The
Brasserie de la Senne is a recently opened brewery named for the river.
Despite the covering up of the Senne resulting in the river being all but invisible in the centre of Brussels, it has had a cultural impact on the city. A nickname for residents of the city, "Zinneke", is taken from the stray dogs which hung around the Senne in the Middle Ages, known as "Zenneke" or "Zinneke". The name was revived at the start of the 21st century with the creation of the
Zinneke Parade
The Zinneke Parade is a biennial parade held in the City of Brussels, Belgium, since 2000. It is a cultural event organised by the Zinneke Association, which brings together at each edition about 1500 participants. A different theme is chosen fo ...
, a multicultural biennial event in the centre of Brussels.
Gallery
File:Voûtement de la Senne 1867.JPG, Covering of the Senne in 1867
File:Senne au Nord de Bruxelles.jpg, View from the bridge of ''rue du Rupel'' in Brussels direction North-east at the Senne river which leaves there the city canalization
References
{{authority control
Subterranean rivers
Rivers of Belgium
Rivers of Antwerp Province
Rivers of Brussels
Rivers of Flemish Brabant
Rivers of Hainaut (province)
Rivers of Walloon Brabant