Heusden-Zolder (; li, Heuze-Zolder ) is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

located in the Belgian province of Limburg near

Hasselt Hasselt (, , ; la, Hasseletum, Hasselatum) is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital and largest city of the province of Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is known for its former branding as "the city of taste", as well as its ...

. On 1 January 2006 Heusden-Zolder had a total population of 30,769. The total area is 53.23 km² which gives a

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

of 578 inhabitants per km². Heusden-Zolder was the result of the merger on 1 January 1977 of the two former municipalities of Heusden and Zolder, and currently consists of the former Heusden parishes of Heusden centre, Berkenbos and

Eversel Eversel is a village in Heusden that is part of the municipality of Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. It is located in the northwestern corner of the municipality. Eversel is also a Roman Catholic parish established in 1839. The local Roman Catholic church ...

, and the former Zolder parishes of Zolder centre,

Boekt Boekt is a village in Zolder that is part of the Heusden-Zolder municipality of the Limburg (Belgium), Limburg province in the Flemish Community of Belgium. The village has its own village council. References External linksUnofficial website

, Viversel, Bolderberg and Lindeman. Heusden-Zolder is home to almost 2,000

immigrants Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, and ...

from all over the world. This is due to the (now closed) coal mine of Zolder. During the 1960s Belgian coal mines faced an enormous shortage of employees. To address this problem, foreigner labourers were encouraged to immigrate and work near the mines. After their closure (the mine in Zolder was the last one in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg to close in 1992) most of the immigrants chose to stay, which makes Heusden-Zolder a relatively multicultural place.

Local infrastructure

The town hall, a large glass construction, is located in Zolder centre since the merger. As a compromise, the former town hall of Heusden is now used instead by the local

social security Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specificall ...

department (

OCMW The Public Centre for Social Welfare is a public institution that exists in each of the 581 municipalities of Belgium. Every citizen of Belgium has the right to social assistance and social integration. The term is a translation of the (OCMW), ...

). Heusden-Zolder has one hospital, the Sint-Franciscusziekenhuis. Also, it has one secondary school, the Sint-Franciscuscollege, which is spread over two campusses: one in Heusden centre and one in Berkenbos. Heusden-Zolder also has a railway station, called "Zolder station". The town is easily accessible via the Albert Canal and the highway E314 and has therefore several industrial zones, such as 'Zolder-Lummen'.

Places of interest

* The Circuit Terlaemen, former home to the

Formula One Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...

Belgian Grand Prix The Belgian Grand Prix (French language, French: ''Grand Prix de Belgique''; Dutch language, Dutch: ''Grote Prijs van België''; German language, German: ''Großer Preis von Belgien'') is a motor racing event which forms part of the Formula O ...

and host of the

2007 Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix The 2007 Belgian Champ Car Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 2007 season of the Champ Car World Series. It was held on August 26, 2007 at Circuit Zolder in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The race was won by Sébastien Bourdais, and it was his s ...

. Also the 1969 and 2002

UCI Road World Championships The UCI Road World Championships are the annual world championships for bicycle road racing organized by the (UCI). The UCI Road World Championships consist of events for road race and individual time trial, and a mixed team relay. Events ...

, the 2002 and 2016

UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships The UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships are the world championships for cyclo-cross organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). Starting in 2020, six events are organized each year – men's elite, women's elite, men's under 23, wome ...

and the 2003 Motocross des Nations were held at this same location. *

Meylandt Castle Meylandt Castle ( nl, Kasteel Meylandt) is a country house, on the site of an earlier castle, in Heusden in the municipality of Heusden-Zolder, province of Limburg, Belgium. Although the site has been in use since the 1380s at the latest, the pr ...

, a castle donated to Heusden-Zolder by the De Theux de Meylandt family. It is currently used as an art school. * De Veen, an

athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competiti ...

stadium A stadium ( : stadiums or stadia) is a place or venue for (mostly) outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a tiered structure designed to allow spectators to stand o ...

that yearly hosts the

KBC Night of Athletics The KBC Night of Athletics ( nl, Nacht van de Atletiek) is an annual athletics event at the Stadium De Veen in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. It is officially presented and sponsored by the KBC Bank KBC Group is a Belgian universal multi-channel ban ...

, the second most important athletics meeting in Belgium after the world famous

Memorial Van Damme The Memorial Van Damme is an annual athletics event at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, that takes place in late August or early September. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now the final event of the Diamond L ...

in Brussels.

Famous activities

* De Revue, comical theatre play in the Heusden dialect. * The

Grand Prix Erik De Vlaeminck The Grand Prix Eric De Vlaeminck is a cyclo-cross race on and around the circuit Terlaemen in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The race is named after seven times world champion cyclo-cross Eric De Vlaeminck. Until 2019 it was part of the UCI Cyclo-cros ...

Heusden-Zolder is a

UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup The UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup is a season-long competition in cyclo-cross, organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). First held in the 1993–1994 season, there are currently five awards, tailored to the different categories of riders: ...

competition traditionally held on

Boxing Day Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It ...

Climate

Heusden-Zolder has an

oceanic climate An oceanic climate, also known as a marine climate, is the humid temperate climate sub-type in Köppen classification ''Cfb'', typical of west coasts in higher middle latitudes of continents, generally featuring cool summers and mild winters ( ...

due to

Gulf Stream The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Current, North Atlantic Drift, is a warm and swift Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida a ...

influence, in spite of its inland position. The municipality is in the region with the warmest summers in the Benelux region with July average highs.

Famous inhabitants

Evil Superstars Evil Superstars was a Belgian indie rock band led by Mauro Pawlowski. Among its members was Millionaire and Eagles of Death Metal guitarist Tim Vanhamel. History Evil Superstars was formed in 1992 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. The original membe ...

, indie rock band * Regi Penxten,

Milk Inc. Milk Inc. is a dance music group that formed in the commercial dance scene in Belgium in 1995. The discography of the group includes a total of seven studio albums and 41 singles. History Milk Inc. released their first hit single "La Vache" i ...

and DJ * Mario Borremans, mayor * Luc Nilis, football player * Dries Vanthoor, racing driver.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Municipalities of Limburg (Belgium)