Zichem

Zichem
Zichem Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 51°00′N 4°59′E / 51.000°N 4.983°E / 51.000; 4.983
Country	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	Flemish Brabant
Municipality	Scherpenheuvel-Zichem
Postal codes	3271
Area codes	013
Website

Zichem is a village in Belgium, part of the municipality Scherpenheuvel-Zichem.

Zichem was a prosperous city until the Eighty Years' War, in which it was besieged, conquered and destroyed by Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma in 1578. This disaster was followed by an earthquake in 1580 and a city fire in 1599, a serie of events from with Zichem never fully recovered.

It is also the birthplace of Flemish author Ernest Claes and 22nd Superior General of the Society of Jesus Peter Jan Beckx.

Sources

The Spanish massacre the defenders of Zichem in 1578