City and municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium
Bilzen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɪlzə(n)] ⓘ ) is a city and a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg .
In 2021, Bilzen had a total population of 32,536.[2] The total area is 75.90 km2 which gives a population density of 426 inhabitants per km2 .
Bilzen consists of the city of Bilzen and the following villages: Beverst [nl ] , Eigenbilzen , Grote-Spouwen [nl ] , Hees [nl ] , Hoelbeek [nl ] , Kleine-Spouwen [nl ] , Martenslinde [nl ] , Mopertingen [nl ] , Munsterbilzen [nl ] , Rijkhoven , Rosmeer [nl ] , and Waltwilder [nl ] . It was in 1977 that they all became part of the municipality Bilzen because of the fusion of municipalities.
Cities in Bilzen's neighbourhood are all within a distance of some 10 to 15 kilometers: to its north, Genk ; to its east, Maastricht (Netherlands ); to its south Tongeren ; and to its north-west, Diepenbeek .
From 1965 to 1981 Bilzen hosted Jazz Bilzen , a jazz and rock festival that lasted several days. In its time Jazz Bilzen was the most important Belgian festival. Artists that performed there were, among many others, Humble Pie , The Moody Blues , Deep Purple , Black Sabbath , Humble Pie , The Kinks , The Troggs , Procol Harum , Golden Earring , Rod Stewart , Status Quo , Lou Reed , Aerosmith , AC/DC , The Cure , Toots Thielemans , Keith Jarrett and John McLaughlin . From the 1980s onwards the festival was superseded by Torhout-Werchter, that has now become Rock Werchter .
History
For over 300 years, Bilzen was part of the County of Loon (French : comté de Looz ).
Places of interest
Born in Bilzen
Gallery
Bilzen, church: parochiekerk Sint-Mauritius
Bilzen, townhall
Beverst, Schoonbeek castle
Mopertingen, church: parochiekerk Sint-Catharina
Munsterbilzen, church: parochiekerk Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ten-Hemelopneming
Rijkhoven, Alden Biesen commandry
References
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to
Bilzen .
Places adjacent to Bilzen
International National Geographic