Beersel

Beersel (Dutch: [ˈbeːrsəl] (listen)) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Alsemberg, Beersel proper, Dworp, Huizingen and Lot. On 1 January 2006 Beersel had a total population of 23,433. The total area is 30.01 km² which gives a population density of 781 inhabitants per km². It is close to Brussels; Beersel is approximately 12 km southwest of the center of the city.

Beersel
Municipality
Beersel Castle, one of the municipality's notable monuments
Flag Coat of arms
Beersel Location in Belgium Beersel in the Province of Flemish Brabant
Coordinates: 50°46′N 04°18′E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Flemish Brabant
Arrondissement	Halle-Vilvoorde
Government
• Mayor	Hugo Vandaele (CD&V)
• Governing party/ies	CD&V/N-VA, SP.A/Groen!
Area
• Total	30.01 km2 (11.59 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)[1]
• Total	25,069
• Density	840/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Postal codes	1650, 1651, 1652, 1653, 1654
Area codes	02
Website	www.beersel.be

Beersel is perhaps best known for the "Kasteel van Beersel" (Beersel Castle), built between 1300 and 1310 by Jan II, the Duke of Brabant, as a defense for Brussels. Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474), a notable 15th century Franco-Flemish composer, was likely born in Beersel.

Beersel is known for its boterham met plattekaas en radijzen (sandwich with white cheese and radishes), usually served with a geuze beer, and for its mandjeskaas (literally 'basket cheese'), which is a white cheese stored in little baskets. Beersel also has two traditional, authentic geuze breweries, Oud Beersel and 3 Fonteinen.