Koekelberg

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Belgium municipality

Koekelberg (Template:IPA;Template:Efn Template:IPA) 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 Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Ganshoren, Jette, and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. In common with all of Brussels' municipalities, it is legally bilingual (French–Dutch).

Template:As of, the municipality had a population of 22,648 inhabitants, the smallest in the region.<ref name="IBSA">Template:Cite web</ref> The total area is Template:Convert, which gives a population density of Template:Convert.<ref name="IBSA" />

The municipality is dominated by the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart (or Koekelberg Basilica), one of the largest Catholic churches in the world.Template:Sfn Its main transportation hub are the interconnected Simonis and Elisabeth metro stations, served by the Brussels Intercommunal Transport Company (STIB/MIVB) system.

Main sights

Koekelberg has a rich cultural and architectural heritage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of the main points of interest include:

The Municipal Hall of Koekelberg, located on the Template:Lang/Template:Lang. Built in 1882, it was fitted with a geometric Art Deco facade designed by the architect Henri-Aimé Jacobs in 1938.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The National Basilica of the Sacred Heart (or Koekelberg Basilica), a minor basilica and parish church, as well as one of the largest churches by area in the world.Template:Sfn Completed only in 1969, and combining Art Deco with neo-Byzantine elements, its cupola provides a panoramic view of Brussels and its outskirts.Template:Sfn<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
The Lefever House, an early 20th-century (1913) Art Nouveau town house built by the architect Fernand Lefever, which has been listed as a protected monument since 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Finally, the municipality maintains several green areas, including Elisabeth Park and Victoria Park.

Lefever House (1913)

Lefever House (1913)
National Basilica of the Sacred Heart

National Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Elisabeth Park

Elisabeth Park

Politics

The current city council was elected in the October 2018 elections.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The current mayor of Koekelberg is Ahmed Laaouej, a member of PS, who is in coalition on the municipal council with Ecolo - Groen and Alternative Humaniste.

Economy

Koekelberg is the birthplace of the modern column still. In 1820, Jean‐Baptiste Cellier‐Blumenthal moved to Koekelberg and did the first experiments with his column still. The Belgians began distilling with his design soon after as they wanted to innovate in their distilleries.Template:Citation needed It is also home to the first whisky produced in Brussels.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>