Kelmis

Kelmis (French: La Calamine) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège, named for the historical deposits of calamine (zinc ore) nearby. As of 2011, the population was 10,881; the area is 18.1 square kilometres (7.0 sq mi) and the population density is 601.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,557/sq mi).[2]

Kelmis
Municipality
View of Kelmis
Flag
Coat of arms
Kelmis
Location in Belgium
Location of Kelmis in the province of Liège
Coordinates: 50°42′N 06°00′E
CountryBelgium
CommunityGerman-speaking Community
RegionWallonia
ProvinceLiège
ArrondissementVerviers
Government
 • MayorLuc Frank
 • Governing party/iesPFF
Area
 • Total18.12 km2 (7.00 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total11,061
 • Density610/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postal codes
4720–4728
Area codes087
Websitewww.kelmis.be

The municipality consists of the following sub-municipalities: Kelmis proper, Hergenrath, and Neu-Moresnet.

The territory around the Vieille Montagne zinc mine in Kelmis was a neutral condominium of the Netherlands and Prussia (later Belgium and Germany) from 1816 to 1919 as Neutral Moresnet, with the Mayor of Kelmis being nominated by two commissioners from the neighbouring countries. Although there were attempts by locals at making it evolve into a fully independent microstate, all of them were thwarted and it remained under double-sovereignty and neutrality until its eventual annexation by Belgium after World War I.

In the nineteenth century a Low Dietsch dialect was spoken in Kelmis. Today Kelmis is German speaking. It has facilities for French speaking and is one of the nine municipalities of the German‑speaking Community of Belgium.

Church in the centre of Kelmis

See also

References
  1. "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. "Votre commune en chiffres: La Calamine" (PDF) (in French). SPF Economie. 2012. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2016.
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