Hoegaarden

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HOEGAARDEN

Province : Vlaams-Brabant
Additions : 1977 Meldert, Outgaarden

Official blazon

(1819) Van lazuur beladen met een uitgestrekten regter arm omhangen met een flenon en houdende een bisschopsstaf alles van goud.
(1838) D'azur à un dextrochère, mouvant du flanc senestre, tenant une crosse d'évêque, le bras revêtu d'un fanon, le tout d'or.
(1985) In lazuur een geklede rechtervoorarm met manipel, houdende een bisschopsstaf, het geheel van goud.

Origin/meaning

The arms were granted on September 15, 1819, May 29, 1838, and again on september 2, 1985.

The arms are based on the historical seals of the town. All seals known since 1289 show the arm holding a crosier. The symbol itself is likely derived from the fact that the village was in Medieval times a possession of the Prince-Bishops of Liège. In 1288 it was mentioned that the local council had no seal, but the Prince-Bishop granted a seal in 1289. The new symbol on the seal symbolised the power of the bishops over the village.