Editing Eupen

{{Short description|City in Liège province and capital of East Belgium}}
{{Other uses}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Eupen
|picture          = {{multiple image
| total_width            = 280
| border                 = infobox
| perrow                 = 1/2/2/1
| caption_align          = center
| image1                 = Evening view of Sankt Nikolaus from Loten, Eupen, 2023.jpg
| alt1                   = 
| caption1               = City Parish Church of Saint Nicholas
| image2                 = View down Klötzerbahn towards Friedenskirche at dusk, Eupen, 2023.jpg
| alt2                   = 
| caption2               = Friedenskirche 
| image3                 = Klötzerbahn, Eupen, 2023.jpg
| alt3                   = 
| caption3               = ''Klötzerbahn'' street 
| image4                 = Eupen 03.jpg
| alt4                   = 
| caption4               = ''Malmedyerstraße''
| image5                 = Eupen Tuchverlegergebäude Gran Ry Klötzerbahn 34, heute Regierung DG.jpg
| alt5                    = 
| caption5         = Haus Grand Ry
| image6              = Moorenhöhe (7).jpg
| alt6                          =
| caption6               = View of Eupen from ''Moorenhöhe''
}}
|picture-legend   = 
|map              = Eupen Liège Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Eupen in the province of Liège
|arms             = BE Eupen COA.svg
|flag             = Flagge Eupen.svg
|region           = {{BE-REG-WAL}}
|community        = {{BE-DE}}
|province         = {{BE-PROV-LG}}
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Verviers|Verviers]]
|nis=63023
|pyramid-date     = 01/01/2006
|0-19=22.66
|20-64=59.11
|65=18.23
|language         = German
|foreigners       = 12.98
|foreigners-date  = 01/07/2005
|mayor            = Claudia Niessen ([[Ecolo]])
|majority         = [[Ecolo]], [[Partei für Freiheit und Fortschritt|PFF]], [[Socialist Party (Belgium)|SPplus!]]
|postal-codes     = 4700, 4701
|telephone-area   = 087
|web              = [http://www.eupen.be/ www.eupen.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|50|38|N|06|02|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Eupen''' ({{IPA|de|ˈɔʏpn̩|lang|De-Eupen.ogg}}, {{IPA|fr|øpɛn|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Manestra-Eupen.wav}}, {{IPA|nl|ˈøːpə(n)|lang|Nl-Eupen.ogg}}; {{langx|ksh|Ööpe|label=[[Ripuarian language|Ripuarian]]}} {{IPA|ksh|ˈøːpə|}}; {{Langx|wa|Neyåw}} {{IPA|wa|nɛjɑːw|}}; former {{Langx|fr|Néau}} {{IPA|fr|neo|}}) is the capital of [[German-speaking Community of Belgium]] and is a city and [[municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Liège Province|province of Liège]], {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=off}} from the [[Germany|German]] border ([[Aachen]]), from the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] border ([[Maastricht]]) and from the "[[High Fens]]" nature reserve ([[Ardennes]]). The town is also the capital of the [[Euroregion]] [[Meuse-Rhine Euroregion|Meuse-Rhine]].

First mentioned in 1213 as belonging to the [[Duchy of Limburg]], possession of Eupen passed to [[Brabant (duchy)|Brabant]], [[Burgundy (historical region)|Burgundy]], the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and [[France]] before being given in 1815 to [[Prussia]], which became part of the new [[German Empire]] in 1871. In 1919, after the [[First World War]], the [[Treaty of Versailles]] transferred Eupen and the nearby municipality of [[Malmedy]] from [[Germany]] to Belgium.

[[German language|German]] remains the official language in Eupen (also spoken in the form of the [[Eupen dialect]]), and the city serves as the capital for Belgium's [[German-speaking Community of Belgium|German-speaking Community]]. The city has a small university, the ''{{ill|Autonome Hochschule Ostbelgien|de|Autonome Hochschule Ostbelgien|nl|Autonome Hochschule Ostbelgien}}'', offering bachelor's degrees in Education and Nursing. In 2010, Eupen's association football team, [[K.A.S. Eupen]], became the first club from the German-speaking Community to play in the [[Belgian Pro League]].

On 1 January 2006, Eupen had a total population of 18,248 (8,892 males and 9,356 females). The total area is {{convert|103.74|km²|2|abbr=on}} which gives a [[population density]] of 175.90 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>.

==History==
[[File:Carte Belgique 1843.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Belgium in 1843: Eupen and the East Cantons were then German.]]

===Early history===
Eupen and the St. Nikolaus Chapel were first mentioned in 1213 as part of the [[Duchy of Limburg]]. In 1288, after the [[Battle of Worringen]], the Duchy of Limburg was annexed by [[John I of Brabant]]. Brabant and Limburg were inherited by [[Duchy of Burgundy|Burgundy]] in 1387, and Eupen was burnt to the ground during the war against the [[Guelders]]. Burgundy was dissolved in 1477 by the [[Austria]]n [[Habsburgs]] who then inherited Eupen after gaining both Limburg and Brabant.

===Habsburgs and Germans===
Habsburg [[Holy Roman Emperor Charles V]] granted Eupen the privilege to conduct two markets per year in 1544. In 1555, both Brabant and Limburg were passed to the Spanish branch of the Habsburgs. Ten years later, [[Protestantism]] was mentioned for the first time in the town. In 1582, during the [[Dutch Revolt]] against the Spanish Habsburgs, rebels burnt Eupen but did not take control of it. [[Bubonic plague]] reached Eupen in 1635, with devastating consequences. Eupen obtained its own court of law in 1648, and in 1674 received [[City status in Belgium|city rights]], giving it greater recognition and autonomy. Six years later, textile manufacture was introduced to the city.

In 1713, with the [[Treaty of Utrecht]], Brabant and Limburg were returned to the Austrian Habsburgs. Revolutionary France took the city in 1794, incorporating it into the [[Ourthe (department)|''Département'' Ourthe]], {{lang|fr|préfecture}} [[Liège]] and {{lang|fr|sous-préfecture}} [[Malmedy]]. Following the [[Congress of Vienna]] in 1815, Eupen became part of the [[Prussia]]n [[Rhine Province]]. All Prussian possessions became part of the [[German Empire]] in 1871, while Eupen itself enjoyed its popularity as a spa town.

Records show that a weaver named 'Schunck' was established as early as 1776. His eldest son, Nikolaus Severin Schunck (1799–1865), had six sons, of whom the third oldest, Arnold, would later found the firm in Heerlen. The youngest son, Joseph, remained at the weaving mill and there is still a weaving mill in [[Kettenis]] run by descendants of Nikolaus. The company became the famous [[Schunck]].

===20th century===
After the [[First World War]], the 1919 [[Treaty of Versailles]] transferred Eupen and the nearby municipality of [[Malmedy]] from Germany to Belgium. The effect led to the formation of National Socialist groups in Eupen. From 1938 the Vesdre Dam was constructed (completed in 1950), creating [[Lake Eupen]]. In 1940, [[Nazi Germany]] invaded Belgium; in an attempt to reverse Versailles, Eupen and Malmedy were annexed to Germany. In September 1944, American forces reached Eupen which became a centre of fierce fighting in the [[Battle of the Bulge]].

In 1949, the left tower of the St Nikolaus Church burnt down. The city centre was affected by [[North Sea flood of 1953|flooding in 1953]]. Eupen merged with the [[Kettenis|municipality of Kettenis]] in 1976, amidst protest from that town.

In 1980, following a state reform ten years earlier, the [[German-Speaking Community of Belgium]] was established and Eupen was named as its capital.

==Climate==
Eupen has a cool [[oceanic climate]] with some continental influences due to it being elevated in comparison to most of Belgium. Eupen is also wetter and cloudier than [[Liège]] in the valley to the west, as a result of [[orographic lift]] due to the elevation change. As a result of this along with frequent winter frosts, Eupen gets a significant snowfall amount by Belgian standards. It also gets 16 ice days on average each year, as in the day staying below {{convert|0|C|F}}, along with 71 frost days.<ref name=MeteoBelgiumEupen/>

{{Weather box
|location = Eupen (1991–2020 normals)
|collapsed = 
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 
|Feb record high C = 
|Mar record high C = 
|Apr record high C = 
|May record high C = 
|Jun record high C = 
|Jul record high C = 
|Aug record high C = 
|Sep record high C = 
|Oct record high C = 
|Nov record high C = 
|Dec record high C = 
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = 3.9
|Feb high C = 4.8
|Mar high C = 8.6
|Apr high C = 13.0
|May high C = 16.8
|Jun high C = 19.8
|Jul high C = 21.8
|Aug high C = 21.5
|Sep high C = 17.7
|Oct high C = 13.0
|Nov high C = 7.9
|Dec high C = 4.5
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = 1.4
|Feb mean C = 1.8
|Mar mean C = 4.8
|Apr mean C = 8.2
|May mean C = 11.9
|Jun mean C = 14.9
|Jul mean C = 16.9
|Aug mean C = 16.6
|Sep mean C = 13.2
|Oct mean C = 9.5
|Nov mean C = 5.2
|Dec mean C = 2.1
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = -1.1
|Feb low C = -1.2
|Mar low C = 0.9
|Apr low C = 3.4
|May low C = 7.1
|Jun low C = 10.0
|Jul low C = 12.1
|Aug low C = 11.7
|Sep low C = 8.8
|Oct low C = 5.9
|Nov low C = 2.5
|Dec low C = -0.2
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = 
|Feb record low C = 
|Mar record low C = 
|Apr record low C = 
|May record low C = 
|Jun record low C = 
|Jul record low C = 
|Aug record low C = 
|Sep record low C = 
|Oct record low C = 
|Nov record low C = 
|Dec record low C = 
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 114.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 99.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 94.4
|Apr precipitation mm = 69.1
|May precipitation mm = 86.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 98.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 103.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 110.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 98.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 91.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 101.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 128.2
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 15.0
|Feb precipitation days = 13.6
|Mar precipitation days = 13.5
|Apr precipitation days = 11.0
|May precipitation days = 12.5
|Jun precipitation days = 12.1
|Jul precipitation days = 13.0
|Aug precipitation days = 12.6
|Sep precipitation days = 11.7
|Oct precipitation days = 12.9
|Nov precipitation days = 14.5
|Dec precipitation days = 16.9
|year precipitation days = 
|Jan sun = 53
|Feb sun = 74
|Mar sun = 123
|Apr sun = 173
|May sun = 193
|Jun sun = 197
|Jul sun = 205
|Aug sun = 197
|Sep sun = 150
|Oct sun = 107
|Nov sun = 60
|Dec sun = 44
|year sun = 
|source = [[Royal Meteorological Institute]]<ref name=MeteoBelgiumEupen>{{cite web|url=https://www.meteo.be/resources/climatology/climateCity/pdf/climate_INS63023_9120_nl.pdf|title=Klimaatstatistieken van de Belgische gemeenten|publisher=[[Royal Meteorological Institute]]|language=nl|accessdate=17 August 2023}}</ref>
}}

== Culture ==
[[File:St. Josef (Eupen) 22.jpg|thumb|Church of [[Saint Joseph]]]]
[[File:Eupen Rathaus Kapuzinerkirche 2009.jpg|thumb|City Hall of Eupen]]
* Rhenish [[Carnival]] occurring around [[Rosenmontag]].
* Municipal Museum, Gospertstrasse
* [[IKOB International Art Centre East Belgium|IKOB: Museum of Contemporary Art]]
* Permanent exhibition of paintings at the Christian Silvain Foundation
* [[Belgischer Rundfunk|BRF]]: Belgischer Rundfunk, is the public-service broadcasting organisation serving the [[German-speaking Community of Belgium]].

== Sport ==
[[File:Tribune 3 KAS Eupen.jpg|thumb|Kehrwegstadion]]
[[K.A.S. Eupen]], founded in 1945, is the city's main association football club and play at the 8,000-capacity [[Kehrwegstadion]]. In 2010, after winning a play-off, the side became the first club from the German-speaking Community to reach the country's top flight, then known as the Belgian Pro League. They were relegated after one season,<ref>[http://www.alltimesoccer.com/table/jupiler_pro_league/20110601 League table snapshot for Jupiler Pro League season 2010–11 as of Jun 01, 2011] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012011841/http://www.alltimesoccer.com/table/jupiler_pro_league/20110601 |date=12 October 2013 }}</ref> returning to the top level, now known as [[Belgian First Division A]], in 2016.

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category:People from Eupen}}

==See also==
* [[List of protected heritage sites in Eupen]]
* [[Belgian UFO wave]]
* [[Oehl]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.eupen.be Official Homepage]
* [http://www.eupen-info.be Tourist Info]
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Eupen}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Eupen
|N  = [[Lontzen]]
|NE = [[Raeren]]
|E  = [[Roetgen]] ([[Germany|DE]]-[[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]])<br/>[[Simmerath]] ([[Germany|DE]]-[[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]])
|SE = [[Monschau]] ([[Germany|DE]]-[[North Rhine-Westphalia|NW]])
|S  = [[Waimes]]
|W  = [[Baelen]]
|NW = [[Welkenraedt]]
}}
{{Municipalities in Liège}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Eupen| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Wallonia]]