Jette

Jette
Municipality
Jette's Municipal Hall
Jette's Municipal Hall
Flag of Jette
Flag
Coat of arms of Jette
Coat of arms
Jette municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region
Jette municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region
Interactive map of Jette
Jette is located in Belgium
Jette
Jette
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 50°52′N 04°20′E / 50.867°N 4.333°E / 50.867; 4.333
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
French Community
RegionBrussels-Capital
ArrondissementBrussels-Capital
Government
 • MayorClaire Vandevivere (LBJette-Les Engagés)
 • Governing partiesLBJette, MR-VLD, Ecolo
Area
 • Total
5.19 km2 (2.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2020-01-01)
 • Total
52,728
 • Density10,200/km2 (26,300/sq mi)
Postal codes
1090
NIS code
21010
Area codes02
Websitejette.irisnet.be/en (in English)
jette.irisnet.be/fr (in French)
jette.irisnet.be/nl (in Dutch)

Jette (French: [ʒɛt] ⓘ; Dutch: [ˈjɛtə] ⓘ) is one of the 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium. Located in the north-western part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, Ganshoren, Koekelberg, and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, as well as the Flemish municipalities of Asse and Wemmel. Like all municipalities in Brussels, it is officially bilingual (French–Dutch).

As of 1 January 2024, the municipality had a population of 54,107 inhabitants. The total area is 5.19 km2 (2.00 sq mi), which gives a population density of 10,427/km2 (27,010/sq mi).

History

Origins to Middle Ages

Neolithic tools and remains of a Gallo-Roman villa have been found on the territory of Jette, proving the old age of the first settlements in this area. The fact that its first church was dedicated to Saint Peter also indicates early Christianisation. During the Middle Ages, parts of the territory were feudal dependencies of the Duchy of Brabant. Under the duke's protection, Dieleghem Abbey was founded in 1095 by the Bishop of Cambrai and administered by Augustinian canons. In 1140, the Abbey's monks switched to the rules of the Premonstratensian order. In the 13th century, the Abbey possessed half of the municipality's territory and played an important social and economic role until the French Revolution.

17th–20th centuries

During the Ancien Régime, Jette was part of the town of Merchtem, located in modern-day Flemish Brabant. In the 17th century, during the period of the Spanish Netherlands, the Finance Minister under Archdukes Albert and Isabella acquired and refurbished the old 12th-century Rivieren Castle in the village of Ganshoren, near Jette. In 1654, the minister's son made this estate into a barony, then five years later, into a county, which included Jette and several neighbouring villages.

In the 1790s, the regime that was put in power by the French Revolution curtailed the religious freedoms drastically. The monks were expelled from the Abbey in 1796, and most of the buildings demolished the following year. Only the abbot's house was kept as a leisure house. In 1841, Ganshoren split from Jette. During the following decades, what remained of Jette gradually lost its rural character to become a suburb of Brussels. Its population, which was of around 10,000 in 1900 grew to more than 40,000 in 1971.

Main sights

Jette has a rich cultural and architectural heritage. Some of the main points of interest include:

Notable inhabitants

International relations

Twin towns and sister cities

Jette is twinned with:

References

  1. ↑ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
  2. 1 2 "Jette | IBSA". ibsa.brussels. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  3. ↑ "Jette – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Ancienne maison communale de Jette – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  5. ↑ "Abbaye de Dieleghem - ancienne prélature – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 13 June 2025.
  6. ↑ "René Magritte Museum". Museum website. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Musée d'Art Abstrait". Brussels Museums (in French). 1 January 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Un Musée d'Art abstrait ouvre ce dimanche à Bruxelles". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Gare de Jette – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 13 June 2025.