Ixelles

Ixelles (French, pronounced [iksɛl]) or Elsene (Dutch, pronounced [ˈɛlsənə] ⓘ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located to the south-east of Brussels' city centre, it is geographically bisected by the City of Brussels. It is also bordered by the municipalities of Auderghem, Etterbeek, Forest, Uccle, Saint-Gilles and Watermael-Boitsfort.

Ixelles
Ixelles (French)
Elsene (Dutch)
Municipality
Ixelles' Municipal Hall seen from the Place Fernand Cocq/Fernand Cocqplein
Ixelles' Municipal Hall seen from the Place Fernand Cocq/Fernand Cocqplein
Flag of Ixelles
Flag
Coat of arms of Ixelles
Coat of arms
Location of Ixelles
Ixelles is located in Belgium
Ixelles
Ixelles
Location in Belgium
Ixelles municipality in the Brussels Capital Region
Coordinates: 50°50′N 04°22′E
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
French Community
RegionBrussels-Capital
ArrondissementBrussels-Capital
Government
 • MayorChristos Doulkeridis (Ecolo)
 • Governing party/iesEcolo / Groen - PS / sp.a
Area
 • Total6.41 km2 (2.47 sq mi)
Population
 (2020-01-01)[1]
 • Total87,632
 • Density14,000/km2 (35,000/sq mi)
Postal codes
1050
NIS code
21009
Area codes02
Websitewww.ixelles.be (in French)
www.elsene.be (in Dutch)

As of 1 January 2022, the municipality had a population of 87,052 inhabitants.[2] The total area is 6.41 km2 (2.47 sq mi), which gives a population density of 13,578/km2 (35,170/sq mi).[2] In common with all of Brussels' municipalities, it is legally bilingual (French–Dutch). It is generally considered an affluent area of the region,[3] and is particularly noted for its communities of European and Congolese immigrants.[3]

Geography

Ixelles is located in the south-east of Brussels and is divided into two parts by the Avenue Louise/Louizalaan, which is part of the City of Brussels. The municipality's smaller western part includes the Rue du Bailli/Baljuwstraat and extends roughly from the Avenue Louise to the Avenue Brugmann/Brugmannlaan, whilst its larger eastern part includes campuses of Brussels' two leading universities; the French-speaking Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), along with the Place Eugène Flagey. The Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos is located just south of Ixelles.

The construction of the Avenue Louise was commissioned in 1847 as a monumental avenue bordered by chestnut trees that would allow easy access from Brussels' city centre to the popular recreational area of the Bois de la Cambre. It was also to be the first Haussmann-esque artery of the city. Originally, fierce resistance to the project was put up by the town of Ixelles—then, as now, a separate municipality (local authority) from the City of Brussels—through whose territory the avenue was to run. After years of fruitless negotiations, Brussels finally annexed the narrow band of land needed for the avenue, in addition to the Bois de la Cambre itself, in 1864. That decision accounts for the unusual shape of today's City of Brussels and for the separation of Ixelles into two separate areas.

History

Medieval origins

The placename was first mentioned in 1210 as Elsela, from the Old Dutch Else(n)lo, meaning alder woods.[4] The origins of the village date from the foundation of La Cambre Abbey. Hendrik I, Duke of Brabant, donated the Pennebeke domain (Pennebeek was the original name of the Maalbeek spring) to the Cistercian nun Gisela in 1201. She in turn founded the Abbey, and in 1210, acquired property on which the duke ordered the construction of a mill.[5] The marshlands around the Abbey were later drained and sanitised, which resulted in four springs which served as a source of fish for the Abbey's inhabitants and the neighbouring hamlets.[6] The Abbey was located near the springs of the Maelbeek river in the Sonian Forest, the remnant of which closest to Brussels became known as the Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos in the 19th century. The Abbey was recognised by Jan III van Bethune, the Bishop of Cambrai, in 1202, soon after its foundation.[7] The saints Boniface of Brussels and Alice of Schaerbeek were two of its most famous residents in the 13th century.

La Cambre Abbey, founded in 1201

Around 1300, during the reign of John II, Duke of Brabant, a hostel was built near the Abbey to provide meals to the wood bearers working in the forest. Soon, a hamlet and a couple of chapels were built, including the Church of the Holy Cross (French: Église Sainte-Croix, Dutch: Heilig-Kruiskerk), also inaugurated by the Bishop of Cambrai and dedicated to Mary and the Holy Cross in 1459 (the Bishop of Cambrai is said to have brought two pieces of the original cross with him).[8] Initially, these hamlets and provisions were constructed for the labourers that helped drain and sanitise the marshlands. At that time, part of Ixelles was a dependence of Brussels; the other part was the property of the local lord.

Before the Revolution

In 1478, the wars between Louis XI of France and Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, brought devastation to the Abbey and the surrounding areas. In 1585, during the period of the Habsburg Netherlands, the Spanish burnt down most of the buildings to prevent them from being used as a refuge by Calvinists. The Abbey was restored in time for the Joyous Entry of the Archdukes Albert and Isabella in 1599. Further manors and castles (Ermitage, Ten Bosch and Ixelles, for example) were built in Ixelles in the 16th century, gradually transforming the hamlet into a full-fledged village.

Thanks to the Maalbeek springs and the purity of its waters, a brewing industry became active in the area. It started inside the Abbey, but by the 16th century, had expanded beyond its walls. Due to the liberalisation of beer manufacturing by the Council of Brabant in 1602, the industry grew, which resulted in a lively scene by the banks of the spring. By the 17th and 18th centuries, around 20 breweries-cabarets had settled in Ixelles, among which Saint-Hubert, De Sterre and L'Italie.[5]

A 17th-century drawn map of the four lakes of Ixelles. Left are a collection of buildings including the mill; right is the Abdye van Tercameren (La Cambre Abbey).
The village of Ixelles marked on the 18th-century Ferraris map

Independent municipality

In 1795, like many other towns surrounding Brussels, Ixelles was proclaimed a separate municipality by the French regime after the Revolution. The municipalities of Neder-Elsene ("Lower Ixelles", where the Abbey is located), Opper-Elsene ("Upper Ixelles", a Brussels suburb), Boondaal, Tenbos, and Solbos, all became part of Ixelles. Moreover, the Abbey was stripped of its religious functions, becoming among others a cotton-manufacturing plant, a farm, a military school, and a hospital. Many of the medieval gates of Brussels that lined what is now the Small Ring were taken down and more streets were built to accommodate the migration towards the suburbs. Ixelles' population grew nearly one-hundredfold, from 677 in 1813 to more than 58,000 in 1900. With this intense growth also came the Francisation of the municipality.

At the end of the 19th century, some of the ponds were drained, leaving only the so-called "Ixelles Ponds", and a new Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1860. The first trams appeared in 1884 and the first cinema in 1919. By then, Ixelles and the Avenue Louise had become one of the most fashionable areas of Brussels. Artists and celebrities moved in, leading to architectural novelties such as Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Matongé
The Namur Gate and the Chaussée d'Ixelles/Elsensesteenweg, c. 1900

Ixelles is known throughout Belgium for its large community of people of African origin. This population is mainly concentrated near the Namur Gate and the Chaussée d'Ixelles/Elsensesteenweg, and the neighbourhood is nicknamed Matongé or Matongué after the marketplace and commercial district with the same name in Kalamu, Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The core of Matongé was formed in late 1950s by the foundation of Maisaf (an abbreviation of Maison Africaine or African House) which served as a centre and residence for university students from the Belgian Congo. After Congolese independence in 1960, the district faced an influx of immigrants from the new state who shaped the neighbourhood in a style to resemble the original Matongé. During the sixties and into the seventies, the area was a well known meeting place for students and diplomats from Zaire. At the time they were known locally as Belgicains. There are also communities from other African countries, mainly from Rwanda, Burundi, Mali, Cameroon, and Senegal, present in the district.

The famous shopping arcades; the Galerie d'Ixelles and the Galerie de la Porte de Namur, are both located in the heart of Matongé. In the gallery and the adjoining streets, a large number of specialised food shops and suppliers can be found. The area is renowned for its clothes, shoes and material shops, hairdressers and wigmakers, booksellers, jewellers and craft shops, making the area unmissable for many local and even international visitors, men and women, young and old. Over 45 different nationalities amongst the residents and shopkeepers can be counted, including most African countries. Statistically, many of the shopkeepers are not necessarily local residents. Amongst the visitors and window shoppers to Matongé are many who appreciate African fashion and the lifestyle.

The district also attained notoriety from the early 2000s with gang violence perpetrated by African gangs, partly composed of exiled child soldiers like Black Démolition. It was the scene of race riots in January 2001. Matongé, with its more recent immigrant communities from Latin America, Pakistan, and India along with African ones, is seen as a symbol of multiculturalism in Belgium. The local authorities, community groups and residents with a certain degree of success have more recently re-established the area as a safe place to visit. As the area and property ages there is increased pressure and interest from property developers to expand the European Quarter on one side and the fashionable Avenue Louise on the other, effectively Matongé is sandwiched between the two.

Every year since 2001 at the end of June, a successful multi-cultural festival, Matongé en Couleurs, has been organised in the area. The date coincides with the celebration of Congolese independence. The film Juju Factory, released in 2006, was partly filmed in the area. The local television channel BX1 (formerly Télé Bruxelles) broadcasts a weekly magazine programme, Téle Matongé XL.

The pedestrian street Rue Longue Vie/Lange-Levenstraat is full of snack-bars where African food is sold. Most of these have been decorated by the famous Afro-European artist John Bush. Le Soleil d'Afrique has almost become his museum, with not only his original paintings on display, but also other painted surfaces and furniture.

Main sights

Events

Several fairs are organised in Ixelles, including the Spring Fair on the Place Eugène Flagey, which takes place between the fourth and sixth Sunday after Easter, as well as the Boondael Fair at the end of July.

Demographics

Migrant communities in Ixelles with over 1,000 people as of 1 January 2020:[11]

 France11,470
 Italy4,504
 Spain2,540
 Portugal1,795
 Germany1,793
 Romania1,750
 Poland1,378
 United Kingdom1,188
 Morocco1,107
 Greece1,045
Group of origin Year
2023[12][13]
Number %
Belgians with Belgian background 20,038 22.64%
Belgians with foreign background 23,999 27.11%
Neighbouring country 3,587 4.05%
EU27 (excluding neighbouring country) 3,657 4.13%
Outside EU 27 16,755 18.93%
Non-Belgians 44,484 50.25%
Neighbouring country 15,519 17.53%
EU27 (excluding neighbouring country) 16,208 18.31%
Outside EU 27 12,757 14.41%
Total 88,521 100%

Politics

The current city council was elected in the October 2018 elections.[14] The current mayor of Ixelles is Christos Doulkeridis, a member of Ecolo, who is in coalition on the municipal council with PS - sp.a.[15]

Ixelles local election – 14 October 2018
Party
Votes  % Swing (pp) Elected
2018		 Change
Ecolo - Groen 10,817 33.05 Increase9.53
16 / 43 (37%)
 Increase5
MR - Open Vld 8,364 25.55 Decrease3.54
12 / 43 (28%)
 Decrease3
PS - sp.a 6,190 18.91 Increase2.30
9 / 43 (21%)
 Increase1
DéFI 2,342 7.16 Decrease5.05
2 / 43 (5%)
 Decrease3
PVDA-PTB 2,049 6.26 Increase4.44
2 / 43 (5%)
 Increase2
cdH - CD&V (Objective XL) 1,817 5.55 Decrease3.86
2 / 43 (5%)
 Decrease2
N-VA 960 2.93 Increase0.58
0 / 43 (0%)
 -
Volt 191 0.58 New
0 / 43 (0%)
 -

International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Belgium

Twin towns and sister cities

Ixelles is twinned with:

Notable people

Born in Ixelles:

Bust of Auguste Perret

Lived in Ixelles:

Élisée Reclus

References

Notes
  1. "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
  2. "Ixelles | IBSA". ibsa.brussels. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  3. "Ixelles and St Gilles". Areas in Brussels. Wanted in Europe: Brussels. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  4. Jan de Vries, Woordenboek der Noord- en Zuidnederlandse plaatsnamen, Het Spectrum publishers, 1962
  5. Herla, Michèle (2016). ELSENE: Geschiedenis van de stedenbouwkundige ontwikkeling – Deel 2 [ELSENE: History of urban development – Part 2] (PDF) (Report) (in Dutch). Gewestelijke Overheidsdienst Brussel, Directie Monumenten en Landschappen, CCN [Brussels Regional Public Service, Monuments and Landscapes Directorate, CCN]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019 – via www.irismonument.be.
  6. "DE VIJVERS VAN ELSENE". Leefmilieu Brussel. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  7. Marc, Meganck (2016). "De Ter Kamerenabdij" (PDF). Inventaris van het Bouwkundig Erfgoed van het Brussels Hoofstedelijk Gewest: 46 – via City of Brussels Archives.
  8. "Gehucht Elsene ontstond in 14de eeuw nabij de Vijvers". www.bruzz.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. "Ixelles - Ancien Institut national de radiodiffusion (INR) - Place Eugène Flagey 18-18a - Rue Alphonse De Witte 4 - Rue du Belvédère 27-29 - DIONGRE Joseph". www.irismonument.be. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  10. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Major Town Houses of the Architect Victor Horta (Brussels)". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  11. "Nationalités | IBSA". ibsa.brussels. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  12. "Origin | Statbel". statbel.fgov.be. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  13. "Herkomst naar nationaliteitsgroep van herkomst per gemeente". StatBel: Belgium in Figures. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  14. "Résultats officiels des élections communales 2018" (in French). Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  15. "Ixelles: Ecolo-Groen et le PS s'engagent à former la majorité" (in French). 15 October 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  16. "Twin towns, Biarritz official website". Biarritz.fr. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  17. "Jumelages et coopération internationale". Ixelles.be. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
  18. "Welcome to Zababdeh". Ixelles.be. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  19. "Le Grand Jojo, icône populaire belge, est décédé à l'âge de 85 ans". La Meuse (in French). 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  20. "Karl Marx". Brussels Remembers. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
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