Overijse

Overijse (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈoːvərɛisə]) is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is a suburb of the wider Brussels metropolitan area. The municipality comprises the town of Overijse proper, and the communities of Eizer, Maleizen, Jezus-Eik, Tombeek and Terlanen. On January 1, 2023, Overijse had a total population of 25,962. The total area is 44.99 km2 (17.37 sq mi), which gives a population density of 549/km2 (1,420/sq mi). Overijse is surrounded by an extensive woodlands (Sonian Forest), with paths for walking and cycling. The official language of Overijse is Dutch. The municipality is home to a minority of French-speaking residents and, according to a 2023 census, to 4,389 expatriates including 716 Dutch, 402 French, 389 Romanians, 306 Polish and 281 Germans. In 1952, Albert Lootvoet, a local brewer started brewing Leffe beer. The Leffe beers were brewed in Overijse from 1952 until 1977, when the Artois breweries bought out the local brewer.