Bilzen

The arms from 1819 The arms from 1840-1989	BILZEN Country : Belgium Province : Limburg Additions: 1977 Beverst 1977 Eigenbilzen 1977 Hoelbeek 1977 Martenslinde 1977 Mopertingen 1970 Hees 1970 Rosmeer 1977 Munsterbilzen 1977 Spouwen 1970 Grote-Spouwen 1970 Kleine-Spouwen 1970 Rijkhoven 1977 Waltwilder Loading map... {"minzoom":false,"maxzoom":false,"mappingservice":"leaflet","width":"250px","height":"250px","centre":false,"title":"","label":"","icon":"","lines":[],"polygons":[],"circles":[],"rectangles":[],"copycoords":false,"static":false,"zoom":7,"defzoom":14,"layers":["OpenStreetMap"],"image layers":[],"overlays":[],"resizable":false,"fullscreen":false,"scrollwheelzoom":true,"cluster":false,"clustermaxzoom":20,"clusterzoomonclick":true,"clustermaxradius":80,"clusterspiderfy":true,"geojson":"","clicktarget":"","imageLayers":[],"locations":[{"text":"","title":"","link":"","lat":50.87010000000000076170181273482739925384521484375,"lon":5.51949999999999985078602549037896096706390380859375,"icon":""}],"imageoverlays":null}

Official blazon
Dutch	(1819) in de lengte door midden gedeeld, het eerste deel van lazuur, beladen met vier dwarsbalken van goud, het tweede mede van lazuur, beladen met een boom, staand eop een terras, alles van goud. (1840) Van boven af in twee gedeeld, het 1e (oud Looz), met tien gulden en roode strepen overtrokken, het tweede (Bilzen) van goud met eenen groenen gebladerden boom, op eenen groenen heuvel. (1989) Gedeeld 1. gedwarsbalkt van tien stukken van goud en van keel 2. in zilver een geplante beuk van sinopel.
English	blazon wanted

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on November 10, 1819, changed on February 26, 1840 and confirmed on June 6, 1989.

Bilzen received city rights in 1386 and in the new city two courts were held, one for the County Loon, one for the Diocese of Liège, as the area originally was part of the County Loon within the Diocese of Liège.

The oldest known seals date from the 14th century and already show a shield with the bars of the County Loon, and a beech tree, for the older name of the city, Beukenbilzen (to distinguish the town from nearby Eigenbilzen and Munsterbilzen), beuk meaning beech.

In the 14th and 15th century the seals showed arms which included the local patron saint, St. Martin. The saint disappeared again in the early 18th century from the seals. In 1819 the arms were granted in the Dutch national colours, as the mayor did not specifiy colours on the application. This was corrected in 1840 after the Belgian independence. The arms were confirmed in 1989.

Image gallery

The arms in the Koffie Hag/Café Hag albums +/- 1930
The arms on a police badge (source)
The arms on a road sign (2019)
The arms on a Roulertas Confiserie label
Arms on a municipal cover 1988

Literature: Servais, 1955

Belgium heraldry portal

This page is part of the Belgium heraldry portal	Heraldry of the World
Civic heraldry: National arms of Belgium Arms of provinces and communities Arms of cities and towns Heraldic literature of Belgium Total pages in the Belgium section : 6,368 of which images : 5,138	Other heraldry: Ecclesiastical heraldry Military heraldry Educational heraldry Institutional heraldry Corporate heraldry Collector's items Heraldic postcards Heraldic stamps Personal arms