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Diest (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈdist] (listen)) is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. Situated in the northeast of the Hageland region, Diest neighbours the provinces of Antwerp to its North, and Limburg to the East and is situated around 60 km from Brussels. The municipality comprises the city of Diest proper and the towns of Deurne, Kaggevinne, Molenstede, Schaffen and Webbekom. As of January 1, 2006, Diest had a total population of 22,845. The total area is 58.20 km² which gives a population density of 393 inhabitants per km².

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Diest
Municipality
Diest City Hall
Flag Coat of arms
Diest Location in Belgium Diest in the Province of Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°59′N 05°03′E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Flemish Brabant
Arrondissement	Leuven
Government
• Mayor	Christophe De Graef (Open Diest)
• Governing party/ies	Open Diest, Diest Solidair en Democratisch (DDS)
Area
• Total	58.20 km2 (22.47 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	23,824
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Postal codes	3290, 3293, 3294
Area codes	013 - 011
Website	www.diest.be

History

Between 1499 and 1795 the town was controlled by the House of Nassau (as were Breda in the Netherlands, Dillenburg in Germany and Orange in France) which was also the family of the Princes of Orange who at the end of the Napoleonic Wars became in 1815 the kings and queens of the Netherlands after the termination of the Dutch republic at the hands of revolutionary forces in 1795. The most famous representative of the House of Orange was William I of Orange-Nassau. Also known as William the Silent (1533-1584), who led the revolt of the United Provinces against Spain. His son Philip William - who unlike his father remained a pious Catholic throughout his life - is buried in Diest. In his will Philip William commanded that the city's parish church of Saint Sulpice should celebrate a yearly Requiem Mass for his soul.

Diest is surrounded by high ramparts, which are partially preserved.

Attractions

The Grote Markt (Grand Square) is the central square of Diest and is surrounded by picturesque houses from the 16th to 18th Century. The city hall, which was designed in the 18th century by Willem Ignatius Kerricx, is also located here. In its basement is located the city museum. Exhibits in the museum include the armour of Philip of Orange and a portrait of René of Orange-Nassau and his wife Anna of Lorraine.

The church of St. Sulpitius is also located on the Grote Markt. It was built in 1417-1534 from brown sandstone, typical of this period. The grave of Philip of Orange can be found here. After the death of his father William I of Orange-Nassau, he became Lord of the city. In the turret on the church a famous carillon made by Pieter Hemony in 1671.

Town Centre: The house "Hof van Nassau" in the centre is worth a visit, along with the Gothic church of Our Lady (built 1253-1288) which has an impressive pulpit and high altar. In the Sint Jan Berchmansstraat is the "Gulden Maan" , the house where St. John Berchmans was born.

The Citadel of Diest is the only brick citadel left in Flanders. The citadel was built between 1845 and 1843 on the Allerheiligenberg. The construction of the Citadel was the dominant final piece in the transformation of Diest into a fortified city, as the city walls and gates had been built prior. The whole structure is purely geared towards military functionality, with the only embellishment being the bluestone gate in neoclassical style.[2]

Twin towns – sister cities

Diest is twinned with:

• Buren (Netherlands)
• Breda (Netherlands)
• Steenbergen (Netherlands)
• Dillenburg (Germany)
• Orange (France)

Notable people from Diest

• Saint John Berchmans (1599–1621), Jesuit seminarian, born in Diest, canonized in 1888
• Martin Valvekens (1604–1682) Franciscan friar, historian
• Luís Cruls (1848-1908), astronomer
• Timmy Simons, footballer, played 82 times for the Belgian national team (as of March 24, 2011)
• Baron Bob Stouthuysen (b. 10 March 1929), businessman
• Omer Vanaudenhove (1913–1994), liberal politician
• Peter van Diest, writer, probable author of the play Elckerlijc
• Liliane Saint-Pierre, singer
• The Scabs, rock band of the 1980s and 1990s
• Philip William, Prince of Orange is buried in the church of Saint Sulpice
• Marleen Renders, Olympic athlete
• Marieke Vervoort, paralympic athlete
• Bruno Versavel, football player

Images

• 
  Saint Sulpitius church
• 
  Entrance to the beguinage
• 
  Great market
• 
  "Monumental" houses
• 
  inner moat citadel

References

External links

• "Diest" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). 1911.
• Official website - Only available in Dutch
• Bookwork about Diest - Only available in Dutch

На других языках

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- [en] Diest

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[ru] Дист (город)

Дист (нидерл. Diest) — город и коммуна в Бельгии, в провинции Фламандский Брабант в регионе Фландрия. Дист расположен на северо-востоке провинции, на границе природных регионов Хагеланд и Де-Кемпен. На востоке Дист граничит с провинцией Лимбург.

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