Brabant had fortified walled cities and unwalled cities. The unwalled cities did not have the right to construct walls. Trade was allowed in the walled areas and usually this right resulted in a larger population and the development of major villages and later cities. The unwalled cities also had the right to hold markets, which they held on large market squares. This distinguishes them from surrounding villages that were not allowed to hold markets and did not possess market squares. Being unwalled also meant that some of these places suffered heavily in war and during the
Dutch Revolt.
Quarter of Leuven Walled cities •
Leuven: the capital city of the original region from where Brabant expanded. It has been a university town since 1425. •
Tienen: east of Leuven. Historically, it was, along with Lier and Diest, one of the bigger cities after the four regional city capitals. •
Zoutleeuw: east of Tienen. It lies near the border of Brabant. In its days, it was a wealthy merchant town. It was also the biggest garrison site near the border with Liege. A swamp separates Zoutleeuw from Liège. •
Landen: south east of Zoutleeuw; a small garrison town. Many noted people lived to the near south-west of it:
Pepin of Landen, his wife,
Itta of Metz (or St. Ida), and their daughter, St.
Gertrude of Nivelles, as well as
St. Bavo and
St. Begga. •
Hannut: south of Landen. Like Landen, it was a small garrison town. •
Aarschot: north east of Leuven. It was once the capital of the
Duchy of Aarschot. It is famous for its architecture in the "Demer"
gothic style, which uses a local type of red stone for its churches and other important buildings. •
Scherpenheuvel: east of Aarschot. It was, and is, the only
baroque town in the Low Countries. As such, it is still an important place of pilgrimage. •
Zichem: north of Scherpenheuvel. The city was destroyed during the Dutch Revolt, which left it with a 'rural undeveloped character' ever since. The church and the Maagdentoren (tower of the Virgin) in local red stone are buildings from Zichem's past. Zichem was once part of the
Barony of Diest. •
Diest: east of Scherpenheuvel. It was one of Brabant's biggest cities, after the four capitals, and was an important brewery town. The city still counts numerous monuments of its past as attractions today. Like Zichem and Breda it is a
Nassau city. Diest was also the capital of the Barony of Diest, and its lands. •
Halen: A small garrison city where the "
Battle of the Silver Helmets" took place during World War I; a victory for the Royal Belgian Cavalry. •
Jodoigne: south of Tienen. The city and the surrounding area is known for its white stone. Many battles have taken place in this region, and other parts of
Walloon Brabant. •
Gembloux: south west of Jodoigne. Is known for the buildings of
Gembloux Abbey.
Unwalled cities • : south of Zoutleeuw. Although it holds
city rights it never developed into a city and could be considered a village.
Quarter of Brussels Walled cities •
Brussels: the capital city of this part of Brabant. Also former capital of the
Seventeen Provinces, and of the
Southern part of the Seventeen Provinces; today it is the capital of the Kingdom of Belgium. Once known as the 'city of nobles' because of the presence of the Royal Court. •
Vilvoorde: north of Brussels. The first modern purpose-built prison of the
Austrian Netherlands was opened here in 1779. •
Nivelles: south of Brussels. Known for its
church and as the birthplace of
Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, who played an important role in the early history of Brussels and the local region.
Unwalled cities •
Braine-l'Alleud: south of Brussels. The
Battle of Waterloo, where the
Duke of Wellington of Great Britain defeated Emperor Napoleon I of France, took place near this small city. The church functioned as a hospital at the time for the many casualties of the conflict. •
Genappe: east of Nivelles; a small city with an old town centre developed around a market square. •
La Hulpe: north east of Braine-l'Alleud. Could be considered a village, although it was allowed to hold markets and held justice in its own small domain. It has become more well-known lately as the residence of
Ernest Solvay. •
Overijse: south east of Brussels. Historically more important, as it held its own trade market
Béguinage and cloth hall; but the city never expanded beyond the large market square. •
Tervuren: east of Brussels. Tervuren was the country residence of the Dukes of Brabant, and continued as such when the Habsburgs took over. Stately homes of the old noble families characterise Tervuren. Also, the more recent Congo Museum is situated in the Park of Tervuren. •
Duisburg: south east of Tervuren; was ruled by the Abbey of
Coudenberg, who never allowed it to develop into a city. •
Merchtem: north west of Brussels. A small unwalled city, with pretensions, but it was larger than the towns of La Hulpe or Duisburg. •
Asse: West of Brussels. Next to Genappe and Braine Alleud, it was one of the bigger unwalled cities of the Brussels quarter. Today it has an old hospital and market square. •
Wavre: west of Jodoigne and today the capital of Walloon Brabant.
Quarter of Antwerp Walled cities •
Antwerp: the capital of this quarter. Also the
episcopal see for this part of Brabant, which included the
Barony of Breda and the
Margraviate of Bergen op Zoom. Antwerp today is a city of business and trade with many merchant palaces still standing in the old town. •
Lier: south east of Antwerp. Known as the wedding site of the parents of
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, an event which led to many future political changes. •
Herentals: east of Lier. A city located in a forested area. •
Zandvliet: north of Antwerp. A garrison city built to defend the Southern Netherlands. •
Bergen op Zoom: north of Zandvliet. Old fortified port town. •
Steenbergen: north of Bergen op Zoom; also an important port town. •
Breda: north east of Antwerp. One of the Nassau trade cities, fortified city and an important military center (even currently).
Unwalled cities •
Turnhout: de jure Turnhout was a walled city, but de facto the city stays unwalled. The largest of the unwalled cities of Brabant. •
Geel: east of Herentals. Known for its early and present health care facilities. •
Hoogstraten: north east of Antwerp. Capital of the
County of Hoogstraten, later a Duchy of the Princes of
Salm. •
Duffel: south of Antwerp. An important barony of the later Middle Ages which was largely destroyed by wars. Its name has been remembered, and is now used as the common military name for a small clothes carrying bag. •
Walem: part of the
Barony of Duffel; never became more than a village. •
Arendonk: east of Turnhout. Famous for training falcons and eagles for use in the Hunt. Note: the city of
Mechelen formed an independent state along with the Land of
Heist-op-den-Berg and
Gestel.
Willemstad,
Geertruidenberg and
Klundert were part of the
County of Holland.
Quarter of 's-Hertogenbosch Source:
Walled cities • Bois-le-Duc (
's-Hertogenbosch): regional capital city and
episcopal see of this part of Brabant. •
Heusden: north west of 's Hertogenbosch. It was said to be an "untakeable city" (in the military sense), and it lies close to the boundaries of the old Counties of Holland and
Guelders. •
Helmond: built as a military counterweight barrier to the counts of Guelders. It has a massive water fortress of historical interest. •
Ravenstein: east of 's Hertogenbosch. Founded by a vassal of the duke of Brabant. Became part of the
Duchy of Cleves in 1397 and remained a separate territory until 1795. A later duke of
Cleves sent his sister, Anne of Cleves, to England to become one of the two surviving wives of King Henry VIII. •
Meghem (now called
Megen): north-west of Ravenstein. A small town, originally independent as capital of the county with the same name which later became semi-dependent of Brabant. Was granted city rights in 1357. •
Grave: south-east of Ravenstein: a smaller garrison town on the north-east side of Brabant and capital of the 'Land van
Cuijk'. Was granted city rights in 1233. The lords of Grave aligned themselves with the dukes of
Guelders, rivals of the dukes of Brabant, from time to time. Became an integral part of 'Staats-Brabant' in 1648. •
Eindhoven: was granted city rights in 1232 shortly after starting out as one of the first 'planned' new cities in Europe. Its magnificent walls were demolished in the
Eighty Years War, and were never to be rebuilt.
Unwalled cities •
Oirschot •
Oisterwijk •
Waalwijk •
Vught ==See also==