Waterloo, Belgium

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For other uses, see Waterloo (disambiguation).
  Waterloo
Waterloo: the "Butte du Lion" commemorating the Battle
 
Location on map of Belgium
Coat of arms The municipality of Waterloo in Walloon Brabant
Geography
Country Belgium
Region Flag of Wallonia Wallonia
Community Flag of Wallonia French Community
Province Flag of Walloon Brabant Walloon Brabant
Arrondissement Nivelles
Coordinates 50°43′N 04°23′E / 50.717, 4.383Coordinates: 50°43′N 04°23′E / 50.717, 4.383
Area 21.03 km²
Population (Source: NIS)
Population
– Males
– Females
- Density		 29,315 (January 1, 2006)
47.54%
52.46%
1394 inhab./km²
Economy
Unemployment rate 10.57% (January 1, 2006)
Mean annual income 14,866 €/pers. (2003)
Government
Mayor Serge Kubla
Governing parties MR
Other information
Postal codes 1410
Area codes 02
Web address www.waterloo.be

Waterloo (pronounced [watəʀˈloː]) is a Walloon municipality located in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium. On January 1, 2006, Waterloo had a total population of 29,315. The total area is 21.03 km² which gives a population density of 1,394 inhabitants per km².

One quarter of the current registered population are non-Belgian, most of whom work for institutions in Brussels, the capital of the European Union. Waterloo is home to St. John's International School, one of the largest and oldest international schools in Belgium. The European headquarters of MasterCard International is also located in Waterloo.

Contents

[edit] Battle of Waterloo

Main article: Battle of Waterloo

Waterloo's claim to fame is the Battle of Waterloo (June 18, 1815) between the First French Empire of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Alliance of the Seventh Coalition (the United Kingdom, Prussia, Austria and others), under the main allied commanders, the Duke of Wellington and General von Blücher. There is a memorial in the form of a statue of a lion (looking towards France) on a hill, with 226 stairs, called La Butte du Lion. Other attractions related to the battle are the Wellington Museum and the Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph where Wellington is said to have made a prayer before going into battle. Today the Church is home to British and Dutch plaques commemorating the fallen

[edit] Modern-day Waterloo

Today, Waterloo contains two Carrefour hypermarkets, a Delhaize store, an Ibis Hotel, a Fortis Bank branch, numerous office parks to the east of the town and two international schools: St. John's International School and the Scandinavian School. As a result Waterloo is a polyglot and multicultural town, the Commune offers services in French, Dutch, and English. A row of shops, called Petit Paris is along the Chaussée de Bruxelles (which becomes Chaussée de Waterloo or Steenweg op Waterloo when nearing Brussels) from the church to the intersection with Dreve Richelle. There are also numerous bars that are very popular on the weekends.

[edit] Origin of the name

The top of the knoll on the site of the battle, and the famous lion. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington said of it "They have spoiled my Battlefield."
The top of the knoll on the site of the battle, and the famous lion. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington said of it "They have spoiled my Battlefield."

The placename, of Dutch origin, is most likely derived from "water", which means water, and lo(o), which is an ancient word for forest. Possibly, the early settlement was located near marshy woods.

[edit] External links

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Municipalities in the Province of Walloon Brabant, Wallonia, Belgium
Nivelles


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