Some historical facts about Zaventem and other Zaventem, Belgium General Tips

Favorite Thing: Zaventem, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Nossegem and Sterrebeek were independent municipalities during the middle ages. In 1621 Sir Ferdinand de Booischot, owner of Zaventem, was raised to the peerage and became a baron. He bought Nossegem, Sterrebeek and Sint-Stevens-Woluwe. The family kept the barony in its hands until the French occupation in 1795 made an end to the barony. The 4 municipalities became independent again. This short historical overview declares perhaps why the people of those 4 municipalities are strongly attached to each other.
In 1977 the Belgian government decided to reduce the number of municipalities from about 3000 to 500, in order to create a more efficient administration policy. So the 4 municipalities were united again and renamed as Zaventem.


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Favorite Thing: Surface area: 27,62 km²
Population (2001): 27.159 habitants
Population density: 971/km²
Jobs (2000): 48.729
Distance North-South: 4,2 km
Distance East-West: 5,5 km

Subdivision of the Zaventem territory:

Agriculture: 33,90%
Residential zone: 26,10%
Business zone: 13,70%
Green zone: 9,10%
Recreation: 3,30%
Other: 13.90%


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Favorite Thing: Since the 17th century Zaventem developed its first industrial activity with several paper-mills like “Grellingen” (1610) and later the “Papeteries de Saventhem” (1764). In 1852 the tannery “Tannerie et Maroquinerie Belge” was founded and last but not least in 1906 the car factory “Excelsior” produced its world-famous models here in Zaventem.

Zaventem seemed to be endowed with the spirit of inventiveness and private enterprise.
Willem-Lambert (1818-1909) discovered the coal-basin of Limburg.
Ivo Maupertuis (1850-1915) invented and put together the first system for the heating of the chicory (witloof) in the ground during winter, which resulted in an important production growth.
Arthur De Coninck equipped the “Excelsior” with a revolutionary brake-system.


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Favorite Thing: Today Zaventem is a modern and progressive municipality, thanks to its rich industrial heritage. Of course the ever-expanding national airport contributes a lot to its richness. Even after the crash of our national proud, the “SABENA air company” in the year 2002, Zaventem is still an important centre of attraction for high-tech companies, the service industry and the distribution of wholesale.


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