NEERIJSE

The origin of the name Neerijse is neither French nor Germanic. Rather, the entomological roots are believed to be Celtic. The suffix "isca" is believed to have its roots in the Celtic language, where it signifies water, such as the nearby Isje River. The prefix is thought to relate to the Overijse Lake in the Isje valley.

The historical account of Neerijse can be traced back to the 8th century. In 733 AD, upon his entry into the Benedictine Monastery of Corbie, built 657, Adelarus, a grandson from the famous Karel Martel (676-741), was granted governance over the territory of Neerijse, and the French monastery therein. The grant was ended in 1114 by Pope Pascalus II, when the region of "Nerisca" and St. Peter's Abbey from Corbie was ended.

In 1155 the Bishop of Kamerijk bestowed the right of patronage for the parish of Neerijse on the Abbey of Corbie. The 2 Romanesque towers on the church date to about 1200 AD. The church was rebuilt in about 1550 and again in 1635 after fires destroyed the building. Due to its prestigious position, St. Peters Church in Neerijse served as the primary parish for much of the surrounding area. In fact, until the middle of the 13th century the town of Huldenberg was an auxiliary parish of Neerijse. Loonbeek remained close to the parish in Neerijse, until the 1800's.

The residents of Neerijse were specifically charged with the upkeep of the duchy castle for the Ducal City of Leuven. In exchange for this, Duke Hendrik I (1190-1235) bestowed, in 1211 AD, on the citizens special privileges, including an exemption from the tithing of grain and a death tax. The town of Neerijse was largely destroyed in 1635 when the city was plundered by the French troops. It was during this action that the earlier church records were lost in a fire. In 1644, King Philip IV of Spain bestowed control of the region on Albert Bouwends vanderBoyen, at that time the lord of the manor at Langerode, a hamlet in the commune of Neerijse. In the beginning of the 18th century the barony of Neerijse came through marriage to the family d'Overschie.

last updated 4/27/06