Uccle

Uccle (French) Ukkel (Dutch)
Flag Coat of arms
Uccle municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region
Uccle Location in Belgium
Sovereign state	Belgium
Region	Brussels-Capital Region
Community	French Community Flemish Community
Arrondissement	Brussels
Coordinates	50°48′0″N 04°20′0″E / 50.8°N 4.333333°E / 50.8; 4.333333Coordinates: 50°48′0″N 04°20′0″E / 50.8°N 4.333333°E / 50.8; 4.333333
Area	22.91 km²
Population – Males – Females – Density	75,954 (2006-01-01) 45.83% 54.17% 3315 inhab./km²
Unemployment rate	12.2% (1 January 2006)
Mean annual income	€14,339/pers. (2003)
Mayor	Armand De Decker
Postal codes	1180
Area codes	02
Website	www.uccle.be

Uccle (French, pronounced [ˈykɫ]) or Ukkel (Dutch, pronounced [ˈʏkəl]  ( listen)) is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.

History

Origins to the 19th century

According to legend, Uccle’s church of St. Peter was dedicated by Pope Leo III in the year 803, with Charlemagne and Gerbald, Bishop of Liège, attending the ceremony. During the following centuries, several noble families built their manor and took residency here. The first mention of the name Woluesdal, now evolved into Wolvendael, dates from 1209. In 1467, Isabella of Portugal, wife of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy founded a Franciscan convent on Uccle’s territory. Later, Uccle became the judiciary capital of the area including Brussels. Throughout the early stages of its history, however, the village of Uccle always had a predominantly rural character and lived mostly from the products of forestry and agriculture.

19th and 20th centuries

At the end of the 18th century, a few years after the French Revolution, Uccle merged with neighbouring territories to become a commune, with its own mayor and municipal assembly. It had to wait until 1828, however, for the Dutch authorities to allow the construction of the first town hall. This was a time of economic prosperity and growth, stimulated by the proximity to the two main roads linking Brussels to the industrial south. A newer and larger town hall was built between 1872 and 1882. Banker and philanthropist Georges Brugmann contributed a lot to the urbanisation of the city just before the turn of the century. In the early 20th century Michel van Gelder introduced a new breed of chicken, the d'Uccle, named after the town. Despite the accelerated rate of construction that took place in the early 20th century, Uccle succeeded in keeping several of its green areas intact, which now attract many of the Brussels area’s wealthier inhabitants.

Sights

• Uccle is mainly a residential area, but counts a lot of parks and forested areas, such as the Park of Wolvendael and the Verrewinkel Woods. The municipality is also situated to the immediate west of the famous Bois de la Cambre (Dutch: Ter Kamerenbos).
• St. Job Square and the area near St. Peter's Church and the town hall are two older parts of town, now filled with a happy mix of stores and pubs.
• Uccle is the site of the Belgian national weather station, the Royal Meteorological Institute: any information on Belgian weather, unless region specific, is described by the statistics recorded in Uccle. Right next door is the Royal Observatory of Belgium.
• Uccle Cemetery, also known as Dieweg Cemetery, was created following a cholera epidemics that afflicted Brussels in 1866. Its mixture of trees and old stones exudes a unique romantic atmosphere.
• The Bloemenwerf, a turn-of-the-century (1900) Art Nouveau villa built by architect Henry Van de Velde.

Uccle Town Hall

Russian Orthodox Church in Uccle

Dieweg Cemetery

Famous residents of Uccle

Winter in Uccle, Rue du Kriekenput

The Paepenkasteel in 1694

Uccle map 1777

The tower of the Paepenkasteel

• Jean Améry, born Hans Maier, author and essayist (1912-1978)
• Sandrine Blancke, actress (b. 1978)
• Roger De Coster, motocross racer (b. 1944)
• Maurits Cornelis Escher, Dutch graphic artist (1898-1972)
• Jean-Michel Folon, artist, illustrator, painter, and sculptor (1934-2005)
• Pierre Harmel, lawyer, politician, and diplomat (b. 1911)
• Hergé, comics writer and artist, creator of Tintin and Snowy (1907-1983)
• Vincent Kompany, football defender (b. 1986)
• Joachim Lafosse, film director (b. 1975)
• Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein and Prince Rudolf of Liechtenstein, (b. 1974 and 1975, resp.)
• Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant (b. 1973)
• Marianne Merchez, astronaut (b. 1960)
• Axel Merckx, professional road bicycle racer (b. 1972)
• Philippe Moureaux, politician, senator, and professor of economic history (b. 1939)
• Alizée Poulicek, Miss Universe Belgium 2008 (b. 1987)
• Joseph Raphael, painter (1869-1950)
• Axelle Red, born Fabienne Demal, singer (b. 1968)
• Sybille de Selys Longchamps, baroness and aristocrat (b. 1941)
• Olivier Strebelle, sculptor (b. 1927)
• Toots Thielemans, jazz musician (b. 1922)
• Jacques Tits, mathematician (b. 1930)
• Jaco van Dormael, Film Director: "Mr. Nobody," "The Eighth Day" (b. 1957)
• Henry van de Velde, painter, architect, and interior designer (1863-1957)

Evolution of population

19th century

20th century up to municipality rearrangement

After municipality rearrangement

(The 19 municipalities of Brussels Capital Region were not affected by this rearrangement.)

Twin city

• Neuilly-sur-Seine:  France

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Uccle

• Official website of the municipality of Uccle (in French or Dutch only)

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