Teralfene

Teralfene is a village in the municipality of Affligem, Belgium. It has an area of 244 ha (602.94 acres). The other communities in Affligem are Hekelgem and Essene.

Name[edit]

The name "Teralfene" originates from the brook Alfene (now called the Bellebeek) which flows into the Dender. The oldest reference to the village is Iuxta Alfnam (+- 1142)

History[edit]

During the post-Carolingian period, Teralfene belonged to the shire of Brabant. As from 1056 it was part of a German fief that was granted to the counts of Flanders (the so-called Imperial Flanders). During the French period (1796-1815) Teralfene was part of the Dijle-territory. During the Dutch period (1815-1830), this department was transformed to the province South Brabant by Willem I of Orange. Until the end of 1976, Teralfene was an independent municipality.

Politics[edit]

List of mayors[edit]

This list contains the known mayors of Teralfene until the merger into Affligem.

1797: Joannes Van Nieuwenhove (agent municipal)
1798: Jean Baptiste Vaerman (agent municipal)
1799: Jean Verhaevert (agent municipal)
1800-1803: Mathias Gruber (acting mayor, from Asse)
1804-1808: Adrien Joseph De Bisschop
1809-1811: Jean Baptiste Vaerman
1812-1829: Jan Baptiste Van Nieuwenhove
1830-1835: Adriaan Frans Asselman
1836-1860: Ferdinand Van Den Plas
1861-1898: Nicolaas Van Den Plas
1899- : Egied Bosteels
1900-1911: Josephus Bernardus Van Nieuwenborgh
1912-1920: Jean Baptiste Callebaut
1921-1938: Alfons Van Vaerenbergh
1939-1940: Eugeen Bosteels
1941-1944: Alfons De Bisschop
1944-1946: Eugeen Bosteels
1947-1952: Jozef Van Vaerenbergh
1953-1970: Edmond Geeraerts
1971-1976: Frans Van Den Borre

Political parties[edit]

Before Teralfene became part of Affligem, two political parties were prominent at the local level: the Dries and the Daal-party, each named after an area of the village. Both parties originated from a disagreement over an inheritance, and divided Teralfene since 1850. The Daal and Dries parties had about equal power, and election victories switched constantly for over 100 years.

After the merger into Affligem, other parties (CVP, SP, VU and PVV) gained popularity, and the Daal and Dries parties dissolved.

Demographics[edit]

19th century[edit]


Year	1806	1816	1830	1846	1856	1866	1876	1880	1890
number of inhabitants	697	737	903	1.062	1.135	1.231	1.337	1.420	1.494

20th century until 1976 (year of merger into Affligem)[edit]


Year	1900	1910	1920	1930	1947	1961	1970	1976
number of inhabitants	1.714	1.983	2.063	2.344	2.618	3.138	3.363	3.540