Street names

Street names

An overview of all explained street names of Leopoldsburg, Heppen and Camp Beverlo.

If there is a stamp under the street name, you can click on it to see some old postcards.

Street name
Information
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Florent De Keyser, born in Bierbeek on April 11, 1897, was in 1940 Warrent Officer (adjudant) of the police in Leopoldsburg. In 1944 he was arrested by the Germans as an agent with the secret service ‘Marc’. After a stay of 5 years in the prison of Sint-Gillis (Brussels) he was deported to Germany.
Warrent Officer De Keyser died in the concentration camp ‘Groß-Rosen’ on December 11, 1944.
The Bergstraat (Hillstreet) is located at the Zandberg (Sandhill). The back of the Zandberg used to be of reasonable height. It was a part of the dunes which reached from Hechtel over the Military Domain to ‘het Geleeg’.
Louis Bernheim (1861 – 1931) was, as a lieutenant-general, the commander of the 1st Army Divison during World War I. He was one of the orginasors of the defence of the Ijzerfront (front at the river Ijzer). Less fine was his strong anti-Flemish attitude*, by which he was hated by the Vlaamse Frontbeweging (Flemish Front-movement). As a result of his wish to be cremated, the debate about cremation was opened (at that time it was still forbidden by law) which was very much contested by the Catholics, among them cardinal Van Roey.(* At one time he refused to retrieve the bodies of two Flemish frontsoldiers, because one of them was a “flamingant” (= supporter of the Flemish Movement.)
General Alois Biebuyck (Sint-Eloois-Vijve 06/20/1860 – Elsene 01/28/1944)
During the mobilization (1914) he was a colonel, the very first commander of the newly formed 2nd Regiment Karabiniers. Under his command the regiment fought at Antwerp and Lier. While he was staying behind the river IJzer, he got three times hit by a bullet on one day. After an unfinished recovery of 7 months, he returned to the front. As a General-Major he had the command over the ‘Brigade Jagers te Voet’. He was also appointed to Aide-de-Camp of the King.
In 1916 he received the command over the 6th armydivision and later even the ‘Zuidelijke Groepering’ (Southern Grouping= French, Belgian and British units). He distinguished himself at Passendale, Moorslede and around the river Leie (1918). He was rewarded several decorations for his heroic behaviour.
AloisBiebuyck
Pieter Bruegel de Oudere (the old), born ca. 1525 and deceased in Brussels on September 5 1569. According to Carel Mander he was tought by Pieter Coecke van Aelst and Hiëronymus Cock, in Antwerp. He travelled in France, from the Swiss Alps to Italy; visited Rome, Napels, Messina and returned to Antwerp in 1553. After 1560 he moved to Brussels. He got married with Mayken Coecke, daughter of Pieter Coecke van Aelst and later with Maria Verhulst, alias Bessemers.The artistic career of Pieter Bruegel has been short. About fifty paintings of him are known. Most of them are signed and dated, the earliest are from the time he returned from Italy, although some were drawn before are during the trip. In these you can already see the great landscape painter he’ll become.PieterBrueghel
The Piron Brigade or officially Belgian 1st Infantry Brigade was established in the United Kingdom during World War II and was commanded by Jean-Baptiste Piron who in turn was commanded by the British 6th Airborne Division of the Canadian 1st Army. From August 28, 1944, the brigade fell under the British 49th Division of the British 2nd Army.

The brigade consisted of 2,200 Belgian and Luxembourg soldiers who fled (according to another source 2,500). The unit was trained in Tenby, Wales. She did not participate in the Normandy landings but landed in Arromanches and Courseulles-sur-Mer on August 7, 1944, and liberated Cabourg on August 21, Deauville on August 22, Trouville-sur-Mer on August 24, and Honfleur on August 25.

Afterwards, the brigade took part in the liberation of Belgium. On September 3 she crossed the border at Rongy and liberated the capital Brussels a day later. The soldiers were then given a few days' leave to visit their family.

Subsequently, the unit took part in the campaign in the Netherlands, especially on Walcheren and in Betuwe.
Willem Hendrickx, the first mayor of Heppen, was born in Diest in 1807. His parents were egg merchants, but allowed their son to study for several years, before entering their shop. When the military camp moved from Diest to Beverlo (1835), Willem also moved his commerce. He met Therese Theys in Heppen and got married with her in 1839.
The pastor gave Willem the advice to enter local politics. Since January 1846 he became town councilor in Beverlo and on Februari 23 he becamealderman. This made him the ideal man to become first mayor of Heppen.
Willem Hendrickx died in Heppen op August 28 1888. About his funeral on September 11 stories continued spreading for years. People wouldn’t quickly forget the ‘Zuipvaart van de oude Burgemeester’ (booze procession of the old mayor).
Hendrickx
A son of Charles Caïmo’s second marriage, Hypoliet, became a soldier. As lieutenant in the Artillery he went to the former Belgian Colony Congo. He died there in 1896. The Caïmolaan was named after him.
The street is named after Chapelié, Jean-Jacques Edouard. He was born in Marseille on October 13th 1792 and deceased in Ixelles on October 24th 1864. He was Lieutenant General and also the founder, Study Director and Commandant of the Military Academy from 1834 to 1863; the Vice Chief of the General Staff of the Army in 1832 until 1834. The strange thing is that the accent on the E got lost when naming the street.
Chazallaan
Chazal, Pierre Emmanuel Félix baron (Tarbes January 1 1808 – Uzos, in the neighbourhood of Pau, January 25 1892), Belgian general and politician, descended of a French family who moved to Brussels in 1814. In 1830 he ranged himself at the side of the anti-Dutch resistance and he was active in the Belgian Revolution. In 1844 he was naturalised Belgian. From 1847 to 1850 and from 1859 to 1866 he was Minister of War. During his second term of office he had the bill of Brialmont approved and executed. This made it possible that a large enclosure around Antwerp was build. In 1871 he was spokesman of a mixed military commission, which propagated the personal compulsory service. He retreated on his estate in Uzos in 1875. More info can be found in the article about his statue.
Couwenberghstraat

Named after Evariste Couwenbergh mayor of Leopoldsburg of June 30, 1898 to May 3, 1907. He was born in Diest on March 12, 1829 and died on May 3, 1907.
Charles Marie Pierre Albert Count de Broqueville (Postel (Mol), December 4, 1860 - Brussels, September 5, 1940) was the Belgian cabinet leader during the First World War (from June 17, 1911 to June 1, 1918) and Prime Minister from October 22, 1932 to 20 November 1934.
DelvauxlaanPaul Delvaux was born in Antheit on September 23, 1897 and deceased in Veurne on July 20 1994. He was a belgian painter and drawer, he studied at the Brussels Academy and his first works were realistic compositions (figures and landscapes). Around 1936 he started to make paintings which ware classical of shape and surrealistic in spirit. This under the influence of René Magritte and Giorgio de Chirico.
Delvauxs’ work can be found in the 'Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België' in Brussels, the 'Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten' in Antwerp, the museum of the 'Stichting Paul Delvaux' in Sint-Idesbald (Koksijde), the 'Musée des Beaux-Arts' in Bergen (Mons), the Museum 'Boijmans Van Beuningen' in Rotterdam, the Tate Gallery in London, the 'Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum' in Hannover and in het Museum of Modern Art in New York.
DelvauxPaul
EloiHelleboschStraatElie François Hellenbosch was the fourth mayor of Leopoldsburg (24/04/1885 until 1891).
He was born in Diest on December 1, 1843 and died in Leopoldsburg on August 28, 1910.
Emile Verhaeren (Sint-Amands, May 21, 1855 - Rouen (France), November 27, 1916) was a French-speaking Belgian author and a representative of Symbolism. He was a poet, wrote short stories, art criticism and drama. His work has been translated into 28 languages ​​(including English, Russian, German, Chinese and Japanese). Verhaeren made his debut in 1883 with Les Flamandes, a naturalistic collection inspired by the voluptuous scenes from Flemish painting of the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1886 Les Moines follows in the sphere of religious mysticism. From 1888 to 1891 he published his black trilogy: Les Soirs (1888), Les Débâcles (1888) and Flambeaux noirs (1891). The bundles, published bibliophile by Edmond Deman in Brussels, bathe in the dark, fin-de-siècle atmosphere of melancholy and self-torment. These are the years when Verhaeren suffers from neurasthenia.

As you can see, his first name was incorrectly written in the street name!
EnglebertAdanglaanBaker Englebert Adang was since 1870 town councillor and in 1882 he was elected as alderman. He was a member of the ‘library of the people’ an the ‘office of prosperity’. After his death in 1884 he left half of his belongings to the ‘office of prosperity’ by wil. To honour this the former Noorderlaan was renamed to Englebert Adanglaan.
EnsorlaanJames Ensor was born in Ostend on April 13 1860 and died there on November 19 1949. He was a belgian painter, drawer and etcherand an important representative of symbolism. As the son of a british father and belgian mother he grew up in a suburban enviroment; his grandmother had a little souvenirshop, which inspired him to make his stil lifes and masks.
Ensor also was a portraitist, caricaturist and a masterful drawer and etcher.
JamesEnsor
FAYT Leon ° Rouvroy 06-07-1873 was Major of the Engineer in the Camp of Beverlo.
His family also came to Leopoldsburg on 11/19/1919. However, they were not able to settle here and returned to Mons in 1920.
Fayt owned several plots of heathland on 't Geleeg. He gave it to the municipality of Bourg-Léopold. The municipality officially accepted this on January 15, 1938.
FerdinandVanBaelStraatFerdinand Van Bael was born in Genk on November 18, 1921. The young Fernand died on December 8, 1944 in the concentration camp ‘Groß-Rosen’ in Germany.FerdinandVanBael
Gaston OeyenstraatGaston Oeyen was mayor of Leopoldsburg from 16/12/1947 to 31/12/1970Gaston Oeyen
Gen_deKrahestraatGeneral de Krahe was one of the most beloved commanders of Infantry School. He was also one of the founders of the glorious ‘Grenswielrijdersbataljon’ (Border Cyclists Battalion).Generaal de Krahe
GenLemanStr
Gérard Mathieu Joseph Georges Leman was born in Liège on January 8 1851 and died there on October 17 1920.
During his military career as an officer, he was the taskmaster of His Majesty King I. He was responsible of the military education of the King.
During World War I he was the commander of the forts of Liège. He was determined to stop and delay the German push as long as possible.
In the build-up to this worldconflict he had over 18.000 workers, from the region of the sparkling city, working on the defence. For these works he got a warning finger on a ministerial level, because he caused the Belgian neutrality to end up.
‘In case of war this land will be extremely grateful, shouldn’t there be one you can get my stars’ was his laconic answer.
The forts proved their usefulness and could only be conquered due to the use of Big Bertha. During this battle General Leman got injured and was pulled, unconscious, from under the debris of the fort of Loncin and got imprisoned. He would stay in German until the end of the war.
Again his determintation drove him to demanding that in the report of his captivity it was mentioned that he hadn’t surrended, but was brought unconsciousness into captivity.
By his return into Liège he was received as a true hero.
GeneraalLeman
GeorgesLemmensStraatGeorges Lemmens was alderman in 1881. He was killed in 1918 on the battlefield of de Panne, where he served as a volunteer with the Carabiniers.
GOIRIS Antoine Joseph (° Leopoldsburg 09-07-1882 - † Ektshie (Equator) 17-09-1905)

Goiris was an agent of ABIR (Anglo Belgian Indian Rubber Company).
GuidoGezellestraatGuido Gezelle (Bruges May 1 1830 – Bruges November 27 1899) Belgian Dutch-speaking writer. He was one of the most important figures of the modern lyrics. He grew up as a gardeners son in a country side near Bruges. He carried inside of him the contradictory features of his cheerful, well-spoken father and his introvert, hyper-sensitive and scrupulous devouted mother. In 1854 he became a priest, ordained and appointed teacher in the minor-seminary of Roeselare, where he as a semi-paying pupil, burdened with porter service and groceries , made it through the higher humanityclasses (1846–1849) and where he had cherished the (never forfilled) dream of becoming a missionary in Great Britain.GuidoGezelle
The Heikapper (heath cutter) was a person who cut sod on the Lange Heuvelheide. These sods were used in the stable and as roof covering. The statue of the Heatch cutter is made of bluestone abd can be found at the roundabout of Heppen.
HendrikConsciencestraatHendrik Conscience (Antwerp December 3, 1812 – Elsene September 10 1883) was a Belgian Dutch-speaking writer. He became internationally famous.HendrikConscience
HenriVanGompelStraatHenri Van Gompel was born in Leopoldsburg on November 3, 1919. He died of typhoid in the Czech concentration camp ‘Theresienstadt’ on May 10, 1945.HenriVanGompel
HermanBijnensstraatHerman Bijnens was the second mayor of Leopoldsburg (08/08/1872 tot 18/05/1873).
He was born on September 11, 1831 and died on May 18, 1873.
This street, which is only a hundred meters long, was named after the very nearby Military Hospital .
Jacoletstraat
Serafien Jacolet was born in Diest on January 27, 1822. She remained unmarried and became 95-years old.
She, daughter of an family of small businessmen of Diest which settled down in Leopoldsburg, gave all her properties of Leopoldsburg to The Commission of Public Support after a dispute about a will.
For this welcome donation the villgae showed its gratitude in 1917 by naming a street after her.
Serafien left the village about five houses and 6 acres of ground.
Two houses in the Koningsstraat, a house on the Koning Albertplein (the former tax-collector’s office); an other house on the same square and a farm-house with surrounding grounds. The value of the total of properties was at that time estimated at 46.650 belgian franks. She never lived in Leopoldsburg herself.
Joannes 'Jean' Lenaerts (° Heppen August 30, 1920 † Neuengamme August 27, 1944) was a miner.
During the war, the miners had to endure hard: oppression by the Nazis, low wages, ...
At the end of 1943, Jean joined the partisans and, under the leadership of Albert Geerdens, Jean took part in various actions, in which locks, tracks and telephone lines were destroyed.
On August 16, 1944, he was arrested in inn Kuppens, Aschdonck in Heppen. He was taken to Breendonk and then to Neuengamme concentration camp, where he died on August 27, 1944.
JesperslaanOscar Jespers, born in Borgerhout on May 22 1887 and deceased in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe on December 1 1970, was a belgian sculptor. He was the brother of the painter Floris Jespers and went to the Academy and the Hoger Instituut voor Schone Kunsten in Antwerp. In 1927 he settled in Brussels and became teacher at the Hoger Instituut voor Architectuur en Sierkunsten (Ter Kameren, Brussels). From 1949 to 1957 he was teaching in the Jan van Eyckacademie in Maastricht and in 1961 host teacher at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He made his debut as impressionist and went through a cubist period from 1914 to 1918. From 1920 on he was an important pioneer of the flemish expressionism. Finally he turned back to a model that was more conciliated with nature. Jespers’ work can be found in the Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België in Brussels, the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten and the Openluchtmuseum voor Beeldhouwkunst Middelheim, both in Antwerp, the Museum of Modern Art in New York.OscarJespers
Jacobs Marie-Joseph (Mol 28-01-1861 - 1938) established himself as a brewer in 1894.
In the elections of 20-10-1907, as an independent newcomer to politics, he captured the mayor's sash.
He was mayor from 01-01-1908 to 06-01-1920.
During the difficult war years of World War I, he obtained loans from private individuals to obtain the necessary funds to pay out personnel and families who stayed behind, in order to meet their living needs.
KarmellaanAfter a hurricane had destroyed the first parish church on the military domain, a new church was inaugurated in November 1843, just outside the domain.

This church was build in a neoclassical style and had place for just 300 persons. This was not nearly enough for the numerous soldiers.

In 1906, after the new church (OLV Tenhemelopnemingkerk) was build, the little church was sold. It was used as a storage facility. In 1924 it was sold again to the sisters ‘karmelietessen’, who are still using the chapel today. The monastery, which was build next to thecahpel, is being used since 1924.

The foundation was realised under impuls of priest Poppe who at that time was also the spiritual director of the Centre d’ Instructions de Brancardiers et d’ Imfirmiers (C.I.B.I.). Mother (Mère) Jeanne de la Croix was the first prioress. More info can be found in this article.
Karmel
KeizerinCharlottelaan
Charlotte Marie Amélie Auguste Victoire Clémentine Léopoldine (Laken June 7, 1840 – Castle Boechout, Meise, January 19, 1927), empress of Mexico, princess of Belgium, only daughter of the Belgian king Leopold I, married Maximilian of Austria on July 27, 1857, who was the brother of emperor Frans Jozef. After her husband was shot down by followers of Juarez, her disease became worse (mental derangement); Leopold II assigned the Castle of Tervuren and after 1879 the Castle of Meise to his sister.KeizerinCharlotte
KoningAlbertIlaanAlbert I, Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad (Brussels April 8 1875 – Marche-les-Dames February 17 1934), third King of Belgians. He was entitled to the crown since his brother Boudewijn had died in 1891. On December 23 1909 he succeeded his uncle Leopold II – he was the first king to take the constitutional oath in both vernacular languages.
Albert found death while climbing a hill. He was married to Elisabeth on Oktober 2 1900, duchess of Bavaria, who gave him three children: Leopold, later to be Leopold III (November 3 1901), Karel, who became regent in 1944 (Oktober 10 1903) and Marie-José (August 4 1906).
KoningAlbertI
KoningAlbertI-plein
Albert I, Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad (Brussels April 8 1875 – Marche-les-Dames February 17 1934), third King of Belgians. He was entitled to the crown since his brother Boudewijn had died in 1891. On December 23 1909 he succeeded his uncle Leopold II – he was the first king to take the constitutional oath in both vernacular languages.
Albert found death while climbing a hill. He was married to Elisabeth on Oktober 2 1900, duchess of Bavaria, who gave him three children: Leopold, later to be Leopold III (November 3 1901), Karel, who became regent in 1944 (Oktober 10 1903) and Marie-José (August 4 1906).
KoningAlbertI
KoninginAstridpleinAstrid Sophie Louise Thyra (Stockholm November 17, 1905 – Küssnacht, Swiss, August 29, 1935). In 1926 she married the Belgian crown prince Leopold, later to be king Leopold III. She gave life to princess Joséphine-Charlotte (October 11, 1927), prins Boudewijn (September 7, 1930) and prins Albert (June 6, 1934). Queen Astrid was very much loved by the Belgian population. She died in a car crash.KoninginAstrid
KoninginElisabethlaanElisabeth Gabrielle Valérie Marie (Possenhofen July 25, 1876 – Brussels November 23, 1965) married Albert on Oktober 2, 1900, than crown prins of Belgium. She was familiar with medicin and became very popular during WW I, because of her care of the nursing of soldiers from the front of the Yser. After the war she expressed the same care in numerous of medical and philantropic foundations. Elisabeth showed interest as well in art and science In 1937 the first International Music Contest Eugène Ysaye took place, with patronage of the ‘Fondation Musicale Reine Elisabeth’, in 1950 this was extended to the famous International Music Contest Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. In 1939 she founded the Music Band Queen Elisabeth in Argenteuil.KoninginElisabeth
KoninginLouisa-MarialaanLouise Marie (Palermo April 3, 1812 – Ostend October 11, 1850) was the daughter of the French king Louis-Philippe. She married Leopold I, King of Belgians on August 9, 1832.KoninginLouisa-Maria
KoninginMarie-HenrietteLaanMaria Hendrika (Budapest August 23, 1836 – Spa September 19, 1902), daughter of archduke Jozef of Austria, from the House of Habsburg, married Leopold in 1853, who became Leopold II, King of Belgians in 1865. From 1893 she was living in Spa. KoninginMarie-Henriette
KOPS Joseph (° Leopoldsburg 11/19/1864 - † Dufile 09/07/1900).
Kops served as captain in command with the Public Power in Congo.
In 1898 Lieutenant Kops returns and the villager is offered a reception.
Leonard Geukens - A war hero from Heppen

Leonard Geukens was born in Heppen on June 4, 1894 in a family with three children. He studied at the College of Beringen and then became a horse dealer. When war broke out, as a class 4 conscript, he was called up to serve the country from September.

After his training, he was assigned to the 1st Regiment Karabiniers, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company and was registered as trunk number 60,670. His regiment had to defend the line Ieper-Steenstraete, along the river Ieperlee and the leper-Yser canal. During his first 43 months at the front, he was unharmed. Until the fateful morning of September 28, 1918 ...

During an attack, he was seriously injured, which did not prevent him from continuing to throw grenades at the Germans, who stubbornly resisted.

Geukens was transferred to the military hospital "L'Ocean" in Vinkem. On the day of the Armistice, on November 11, 1918, Leonard Geukens was allowed to leave the hospital and went on restoration leave. He was demobilized on October 7, 1919. As a token of thanks, he was promoted to sergeant on June 7, 1919.

Leonard Geukens died in the Military Hospital of Leopoldsburg on August 16, 1931.
LeonardMeesStraat Leonard Mees was the eighth mayor of Leopoldsburg (1923 until 1927).

He was born in Testelt on November 23, 1863 and died in Leopoldsburg on September 8, 1931.
MeesL
LeonardStraatHenri Joseph Leonard was the third (October 21 1873 until 1885) and fifth (March 12 1891 until March 5 1898) mayor of Leopoldsburg.

He was born in Rochefort on August 24, 1821 and died in Leopoldsburg on March 5, 1898.
LeonardH
LeopoldILaan Leopold I, fully: Leopold George Christiaan Frederik (Coburg December 16, 1790 – Laken December 10, 1865), first King of Belgians (1831–1865), son of duke Frans van Saksen-Coburg, from the House of Saksen-Coburg-Gotha. With his wife (his second marriage – August 9, 1832) Louise Marie, daughter of the French king Louis-Philippe, he had four children: Lodewijk Filips (1833–1834), later Leopold (II), Filips and Charlotte.KoningLeopoldI
LeopoldIILaanLeopold II, fully: Leopold Lodewijk Filips Marie Victor (Brussels April 9, 1835 – Laken December 17, 1909), second King of Belgians (1865–1909), son and throne continuator of Leopold I, from the House of Saksen-Coburg-Gotha.
His lifework is the foundation of the ‘Onafhankelijke Kongostaat’ (Independant Kongostate), of which he was recognised sovereign in 1885. The critisism on his policy and the materal difficulty to manage such a immense area, led eventually to the adoption of the Kongostate by Belgium on October 8, 1908.Out of Leopolds’ marriage (August 22, 1853) with archduchess Maria Hendrika van Oostenrijk four children were born: Louise (1858–1924), Leopold (1859–1869), Stéphanie (1864–1945) and Clémentine (1872–1955).
KoningLeopoldII
LeopoldIIILaanThe most beautiful avenue of Leopoldsburg was inaugurated, by King Boudewijn in 1985, and was named the Koning Leopold III-laan, to honour heis deceased father.Leopold III, complete: Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel (Brussels November 3, 1901 – Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe September 25, 1983), fourth king of Belgians (1934–1951), oldest son and throne continuator of King Albert I, from the House of Saksen-Coburg-Gotha. On November 8, 1926 he married prinses Astrid of Zweden (died in 1935).In 1941 Leopold married Lilian Baels. The notice of that marriage caused a lot of constirnation with the people. On July 16, 1951 he definitely stepped awau from the throne in favour of his son Boudewijn, but he kept the title of king.KoningLeopoldIII
LouisLecocqStraatLouis Napoleon Lecocq was the ninth mayor of Leopoldsburg (January 1927 until April 21 1938).

He was born in Leopoldsburg on April 21 1865 and died in Leopoldsburg on April 21, 1938.
LouisLecocq
LtCormeauMathieu Cormeau, zoon van onderwijzer Mathieu Cormeau, son of teacher Corneil Corneau, was a lieutenant in the 11th Linie-regiment when WW II started. He was killed at the age of 33, on May 20, 1940, during shelling of the village Sleidinge.

The French general Ferdinand Foch was commander of the Allied troops at the Western front, during the last part of WW I. Foch was chosen, by the allieds, to be supreme commander of the Allied troops, after the German offensive in 1918 and launched a whole number of counter-offensives which ultimately lead to the victory.
On the Military Domain used to be a prison, called ‘Malakoff’ (named after the bastion Sebastopol in Russia). This was the home of the detention company, also called the company ‘sans floche’. The prison was damaged by the German bombardments in May 1940 and was completely pulled down around 1950. More information can be found in this article.
Marcel Torfs was born in Leopoldsburg on June 14, 1921. During WW II he was deported to Germany. He died in Camp ‘Büchenwald’ on March 19, 1945.
Victor Léonard Michel (Ghent, January 8, 1851 - Brussels, December 4, 1918) was a Belgian soldier and Minister of War.
The mill was build in 1846 by the contractor Pieter Bemindt- Annemans. The mill was in action until 1935, then the sails were removed. From that point all, all activity in the mill was suspended. More info can be found in the article about the mill.
The person to whom the avenue was called is a certain Ferdinand Nicolay.
He was born on April 30, 1770 at Stavelot. He died in Brussels on Oktober 15, 1854. He never lived in Leopoldsburg, it’s not even certain that he ever staid in the village. The local archives are very unclear about this man.
Lambert Aerts (° Boorsem March 20, 1875 † Wijshagen October 12, 1937) was pastor in Heppen from 1915 until his death.
If you want to know more about the pastor, read this article.
Leo Jansen was born in Oostham in 1809. In 1834 he became priest and came to Heppen in 1838 as dean. A year later Heppen became because of his help an independent parish. He died in 1882 in his native town Oostham.
Father Asteer was born on July 20 1914 in Weelde as Gust SELS. He died at Leopoldsburg on November 25 1999. He build the church of Strooiendorp and would be a priest there for 46 years. You can find out more about father Asteer in this article.
Father Lemmens was born in Luttich on December 17, 1923. Miner-family Lemmens came to live in Heppen a few years later. After his ordination in 1948, he studied Chinese and medicine. He specialised in tropical diseases and went to the island Sulawezi in 1948, where he died of a heart-attack in 1974. More info can be found in this article of his memorial.
Priester Edward Poppe (1890 – 1924) was since 1922 de spiritual leader of the ‘Centre d’Instruction pour Brancardiers Infirmiers’ (Instruction Centre for Nurses) (C.I.B.I.). The C.I.B.I. was set up in Leopoldsburg so clergymen, who since 1921 had to fulfill military service, could follow the course of nurse. In 1924 he founded the Convent of ‘Karmel’.
Priest Poppe was beatified on Oktober 3, 1999 .
You can find more about Priest Poppe on an other website: click here
Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Marie Gustaaf (Brussels, September 7, 1930 - Motril, July 31, 1993), Duke of Brabant (1934–1950), Count of Hainaut (1930–1934), Prince of Belgium, ruled from 1950 to 1951 as royal prince and from 1951 to 1993 as king of the Belgians.
Ramskapelle (Nieuwpoort) is a polder village near the Ijzer (river). On october 15 Germans broke through the Belgian lines and occupied Ramskapelle. The 6 Linieregiment, supported by the French 16 Bataillon de Chasseurs à Pied, reconquered Ramskapelle op octover 30-31 1914. This deed allowed the Belgians to execute their strategy, the flooding of the plain of the Ijzerl. It gave the 6 Linieregiment the honourable mention on their flag, and Leopoldsburg a street name.
Romain Defeuter was born in Gent on September 18, 1901. With Marie-Louise Van Gaever he ran a pub, called ‘de floralie’ in the Koningstraat (Kingstreet). He was a member of the voluntary fire-department and later he became deputy officer of the police of Leopoldsburg.
During the war he united with the resistance movement ‘Bayard’. He was arrested by the Gestapo and shot in Antwerp on June 1944.
At the side-façade of the town hall a bronze memorial plaque was put to honour this brave fireman and policeman.
This name has 2 candidates after whom it is named:

Fernand du Roy de Blicquy (° Blicquy 12/15/1836 - † Watermael-Boitsfort 09/18/1913).
General Fernand du Roy de Blicquy (1836-1913)
In his record we read:
- Wing adjutant of the Count of Flanders (1870 -1905);
- Commander of the 2nd Regiment Gidsen from 1885 to 1886;
- Chief of Staff of the Cavalry (1891 - 1898):
- Commander of the 2nd Cavalry Division (1898-1902);
- Honorary Wing Adjutant to King Leopold II (1905-1909);
- Lieutenant General of the Cavalry.

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Baron General Albert du Roy de Blicquy . (° Brussels 06-12-1869 - † Brussels 09-09-1940).
Successively this baron became:
- Ordonnans Officer of the Count of Flanders (1898-1900).
- Orderly Officer of Prince Albert (1900-1909)
- Acting Adjutant General, Chief of the Military House of King Albert I and Envoy of the Military House of King Albert 11914-1918).
- Commander of the Department of the Grand Duke of King Albert I (1908-1918)
- First Officer of the Order of King Albert I, (1909-1917)
- Commander of the 1st Regiment Gidsen, (1917-1918)
- Commander of the 2nd Regiment Gidsen (1918-1920)
- Commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade (1920-1925)
- Commander of the Light Cavalry Division (1925-1926)
- Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division (1926-1928)
- Commander of the Cavalry Corps (1928-1929)
- Inspector General of the Gendarmerie (1929-1931)
- Honorary Jonker of King Albert I (1914-1934)
- Honorary Wing Adjutant to King Albert I (1917-1934)
- Honorary Wing Adjutant to King Leopold III (1934-1936)
- Lieutenant General of the Cavalry




Pieter Paul Rubens, born in Siegen, Nassau on June 28 1577 and deceased in Antwerp on May 30 1640. Rubens was a painter, drawer and diplomat, son of the lawyer and councillor Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelinckx.
On April 22 1915 Germans used for the first time poisonous gas in Steenstraete, a hamlet of Ypres. The chloric gas attack, which sturck especially French troops, took place in the sector of the Regiment Grenadiers until 1914 the “Beremutsen translated: bearskin hats”). Together with the French and Canadians, the Grenadiers succeeded to close the breach in the frontier. The honourable mention “Steenstraete” will be written on the flag of the regiment and Leopoldsburg will get a “Steenstraetelaan”.
Tabora, a city in the Tanzania. During WW I Tabora was part of German East-Africa (Tanganjika). During the campaign in East-Africa the allied forces (British, French and Belgians) had one’s hands full with with the German General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck. As part of a pincer movement the Belgian General Charles Tombeur, commander of the Forces Publiques, managed to conquer the city Tabora after being engaged in violent combat (September 1916). This battle is also a part of the movie “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”.
In 1888, 10 years after the first train, the first steam-tram drove from Bourg-Léopold to Bree. 2 years later there was also an connection with Maaseik.
The first tramline was put next to the ‘iron road’. This made Leopoldsburg an important junction on the tramline Beringen-Maaseik and on the railway Diest-Mol.
Hubert Anselme Vander Elst was the first mayor of Bourg-Léopold (18/12/1850 until 24/11/1871).
He was born in Meerhout on January 27, 1809 and died in Leopoldsburg on November 24, 1871.
His main merits were, besides the expansion of the village, also the organisation of education, the construction of metalled roads and the improvement of public health.
Antoon van Dyck was born in Antwerp on March 22 1599 and deceased in London on December 9 1641. Van Dyck was a painter and a etcher. With Rubens and Jordaens he made part of the painting school of Antwerp in the 17th century.
Victor Lemmens, born in Koersel on September 18, 1900, died in Brussels on October 8, 1942 as a victim of the nazi-regime. An interesting newspaper article can be found in this article.
Victor Swerts, born in Anseremme on September 9, 1886, died in the prison of Sint-Gillis (Brussels) on March 18, 1941 as a victim of the nazi-regime.
Between 1922 and 1942, Leopoldsburg had 2 velodromes. The environment of the velodrome was completely coordinated to provide riders and the public with every comfort.
More information about the cycling tracks of Leopoldsburg can be found in this article.
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