Belgian units of measurement

Prior to adopting the metric system in 1816 a number of units of measurement were used in Belgium to measure different types of quantities including length, mass, area.[1] Since 1820, International Metric System has been compulsory in Belgium, and in the starting, different names were used for units like meter, litre, kilogram, etc. [2][1]

Pre-metric Units

Before 1820, different units were used in Belgium.

Length

Different units were used to measure length in Belgium. One perche was equal to 6.497 m. one pied was equals to 1/20 perche.[2] [1]

Mass

A number of units were used to measure mass in Belgium. One livre equals 489.5 g. Some other units are provided below:[2][3]

1 loth = 1/32 livre

1 once = 1/16 livre

1 marc 1/2 livre

1 stein = 8 livre

1 quintal = 100 livre

1 chariot = 165 livre

1 balle = 200 livre

1 schiffpfund = 300 livre

1 charge = 400 livre.

Area

Different units were used to measure area in Belgium. One arpent was equal to 400 perche2 (130.6 a)[2][1]

Units with Metric System

With the starting era of Metric System in Belgium, other names were used for metric units including aune for meter, litron for litre, livre for kilogram, once for hectogram, lood for decigram and wigtje for gram.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Washburn, E.W. (1926). International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. p. 3.
  3. ↑ Cardarelli, F. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins. London: Springer. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4471-1122-1.
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