Jette

History

Neolithic tools and remains of a Gallo-Roman villa have been found on the territory of Jette, proving the old age of the first settlements in this area. The fact that its first church was dedicated to Saint Peter also indicates early Christianisation. During the Middle Ages, parts of the territory were feudal dependencies of the Duchy of Brabant. Under the duke's protection, Dieleghem Abbey was founded in 1095 by the Bishop of Cambrai and administered by Augustinian canons. In 1140, the Abbey's monks switched to the rules of the Premonstratensian order. In the 13th century, the Abbey possessed half of the municipality's territory and played an important social and economic role until the French Revolution. During the Ancien Régime, Jette was part of the town of Merchtem, located in modern-day Flemish Brabant. In the 17th century, during the period of the Spanish Netherlands, the Finance Minister under Archdukes Albert and Isabella acquired and refurbished the old 12th-century Rivieren Castle in the village of Ganshoren, near Jette. In 1654, the minister's son made this estate into a barony, then five years later, into a county, which included Jette and several neighbouring villages. In the 1790s, the regime that was put in power by the French Revolution curtailed the religious freedoms drastically. The monks were expelled from the Abbey in 1796, and most of the buildings demolished the following year. Only the abbot's house was kept as a leisure house. In 1841, Ganshoren split from Jette. During the following decades, what remained of Jette gradually lost its rural character to become a suburb of Brussels. Its population, which was of around 10,000 in 1900 grew to more than 40,000 in 1971.

Most-observed species

• Yellow-legged hornet

  Vespa velutina Lepeletier, 1836 · Insecta
  32,780
• Rose-ringed Parakeet

  Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) · Aves
  22,737
• Egyptian Goose

  Alopochen aegyptiaca (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  21,246
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,475
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  10,992
• Ring-necked Pheasant

  Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  9,246
• Harlequin ladybird, Asian ladybird, Asian ladybeetle

  Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) · Insecta
  9,015
• Box tree moth

  Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) · Insecta
  6,266

Most recent

• M 2.9 — 2018-05-25
  1 km S of Reppel, Belgium
• M 2.8 — 2008-12-20
  1 km WSW of Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
• M 3.3 — 2008-09-13
  3 km SSE of Florennes, Belgium
• M 2.8 — 2008-09-12
  1 km NNW of Court-Saint-Étienne, Belgium
• M 2.7 — 2008-08-09
  1 km SW of Ottignies, Belgium
• M 2.6 — 2008-08-09
  0 km NW of Ottignies, Belgium