Kraainem
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| Kraainem | ||
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| Geography | ||
| Country | .svg/27px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png){kind=small} Belgium |
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| Region |  Flemish Region |
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| Community | Flemish Community |
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| Province |  Flemish Brabant |
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| Arrondissement | Halle-Vilvoorde | |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: | |
| Area | 5.80 km² | |
| Population (Source: NIS) | ||
| Population – Males – Females - Density |
13,150 (January 1, 2006) 48.05% 51.95% 2266 inhab./km² |
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| Economy | ||
| Unemployment rate | 7.64% (January 1, 2006) | |
| Mean annual income | 14,731 €/pers. (2003) | |
| Government | ||
| Mayor | Arnold d'Oreye de Lantremange (UNION) | |
| Governing parties | UNION (FDF-CDH-MR-PS-ECOLO-Independant),KZOOO | |
| Other information | ||
| Postal codes | 1950 | |
| Area codes | 02 | |
| Web address | www.kraainem.be | |
Kraainem is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Kraainem proper. On January 1, 2006 Kraainem had a total population of 13,150. The total area is 5.80 km² which gives a population density of 2,266 inhabitants per km².
Kraainem is a municipality with language facilities within Flanders. Although close to 80% of the population speaks French as their first language, the official language is Dutch. However, in 1963, special 'language facilities' were given to French-speaking inhabitants, when those were still a minority. They can request official documents from the local administration in French.
Kraainem is one of the richest municipalities in Belgium.
[edit] The Urbanisation of Kraainem
The forest of Stokkel belonged to the d'Huart family until the 1920s. When grandfather d'Huart died in 1927, his family decided to found "la Société Immobilière de Stockel" and built a lane through the forest. This lane is the current Albert d'Huartlaan that used to be covered with gravel until 1960.
The homes surrounding the "Hurlevent" were built and afterwards those of the society of Utrecht. The real construction started in 1930 and accelerated after the second world war. Approximately 2800 people lived in Kraainem in 1940, 3254 in 1945 and 5190 in 1954, which was the year in which urbanisation really experienced its surge.
In 1949 the social housing of Eigen Haard were built followed by the Josephine Charlotte neighbourhood in 1954. Over 11,000 souls lived in the Kraainem region in 1967. In 1993, 12,780 people were living in Kraainem of which 2,623 were immigrants. Despite being in Flanders, the majority of the population today is predominantly francophone, with a healthy Flemish-speaking minority. Communal politics centres upon the language issue. Given the commune's proximity and good transport links to the airport, to NATO and to the European Quarter, an increasing number of non-Belgians have settled in the commune and this trend looks set to continue as the few remaining greenfield sites are developed.
The commune has two state schools, one Dutch and one francophone, and in 1968 the new St-Dominicus chapel was inaugurated.
[edit] External links
- Official website (in Dutch and French)
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