Editing Bernissart

{{Short description|Municipality in Hainault Province, Belgium}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name=Bernissart
|native_name={{native_name|pcd|Bernissåt}}
|picture=Bernissart E1.JPG
|picture-legend=The neighbourhood of the Holy Virgin church.
|map=Bernissart Hainaut Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend=Location of Bernissart in [[Hainaut (province)|Hainaut]]
|arms=CommunesBelgique-Bernissart2001.svg
|flag=Flag of Bernissart.svg
|region={{BE-REG-WAL}}
|community={{BE-FR}}
|province={{BE-PROV-HT}}
|arrondissement=[[Arrondissement of Ath|Ath]]
|nis=51009
|pyramid-date=
|0-19=
|20-64=
|65=
|foreigners=
|foreigners-date=
|mayor=Roger Vanderstraeten ([[Socialist Party (Belgium)|PS]])
|majority=[[Socialist Party (Belgium)|PS]] - [[Reformist Movement|MR]]
|postal-codes=7320-7322
|telephone-area=069
|web=[http://www.bernissart.be/ www.bernissart.be]
|coordinates = {{coord|50|29|N|03|39|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
|population_total=11,878|population_demonym=|population_as_of=}}
'''Bernissart''' ({{IPA|fr|bɛʁnisaʁ}}; {{langx|pcd|Bernissåt}}) is a [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of [[Wallonia]] located in the [[Hainaut Province|province of Hainaut]], [[Belgium]]. 

On January 1, 2024, Bernissart had a total population of 11,878. The total area is 43.81&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, which gives a [[population density]] of 271 inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup>. 

The municipality consists of the following districts: [[Blaton]], Bernissart, [[Harchies]], [[Pommerœul]], and [[Ville-Pommerœul]]. 

==Geography==
===Location===

A well-known tourist municipality renowned for its numerous natural sites, Bernissart has an altitude ranging from 15 meters in the Harchies Marshes (a notable natural area) to 81 meters in the Stambruges Forest.

Located in a [[Belgium–France border|border area]], it shares its western boundary with [[Condé-sur-l'Escaut]], [[France]]. A part of Bernissart even extends onto French territory, forming a hamlet attached to this French municipality.

Bernissart is crossed by three main historical canals: Blaton-Ath in the north, Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes, and Pommerœul-Antoing in the center, which converge at an intersection in Blaton, earning it the nickname "Little Venice of Hainaut".<ref>{{cite web|title=The Blaton canals |url=https://bernissart.be/index.php/tourisme/patrimoine/canaux}}<!-- auto-translated from French by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> It is also traversed by the [[Pommerœul-Condé Canal|Pommerœul-Condé canal]] and, to the southeast near the [[European route E19|E19]] highway, by the [[Haine|Haine River]].

The municipality is well-served by the N50 road, the [[European route E42|E42]] and [[European route E19|E19]] highways, as well as railway line 78, which serves the three stations within its territory.

Thanks to this strategic location, Bernissart is just 22 km from [[Mons, Belgium|Mons]] and 24 km from [[Tournai]], at the crossroads of major road, rail, and waterway networks.

{{multiple image
 | align = center
 | direction = horizontal
 | header = Cartographic representation of the municipality
 | width = 160
 | caption_align = center
 | image1 =Bernissart OSM 01.png
 | caption1 = OpenStreetMap map
 | image2 =Bernissart OSM 02.png
 | caption2 = Topographic map
 | image3 =Bernissart OSM 03.png
 | caption3 = Smaller-scale map
}}

===Sections of the municipality===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
! # !! Name !! Area<br>(km²)<ref name="ref_auto_1">https://statbel.fgov.be/en/open-data/population-sector-statistics-10</ref> !! Population<br>(2020)<ref name="ref_auto_1" /> !! Population<br>per km² !! NIS Code
|-
| 1 || align="left" | Bernissart || 11.83 || {{formatnum:3329}} || 281 || 51009A0
|-
| 2 || align="left" | [[Harchies]] || 5.10 || {{formatnum:1771}} || 347 || 51009A1
|-
| 3 || align="left" | [[Pommerœul]] || 15.69 || {{formatnum:1796}} || 114 || 51009B0
|-
| 4 || align="left" | [[Ville-Pommerœul]] || 0.71 || 721 || {{formatnum:1019}} || 51009B1
|-
| 5 || align="left" | [[Blaton]] || 10.49 || {{formatnum:4234}} || 404 || 51009C
|}

== The ''Iguanodon'' mine ==

In 1878, dozens of ''[[Iguanodon]]'' skeletons were discovered in a coal mine, at a depth of 322 [[metre|m]] (1,056&nbsp;[[foot (length)|ft]]).<ref name=norman85>Norman, David B. (1985). "To Study a Dinosaur". The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: An Original and Compelling Insight into Life in the Dinosaur Kingdom. New York: Crescent Books. pp. 24–33. {{ISBN|0-517-46890-5}}.</ref> At the time, their proximity was considered proof that some [[dinosaur]]s were herd animals. They were mounted by [[Louis Dollo]] and set the standard that was followed for over a century. Nine of the twenty-nine skeletons are currently on display at the [[Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences]], and one at the Bernissart Museum. The two museums even made an error they acknowledge with humour: they displayed the skeletons "standing", suggesting that the dinosaurs were bipedal, which is not the case.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} Found alongside the ''Iguanodon'' skeletons were the remains of plants, fish, and other reptiles,<ref name=norman85/> including the crocodyliform ''[[Bernissartia]]''.<ref name=palmer99>Palmer, D. ed. (1999). ''The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals''. London: Marshall Editions. p. 100. {{ISBN|1-84028-152-9}}.</ref> The sediments are considered to belong to the [[Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation]].

==Economy==

The [[Zoning|industrial zoning]] of Bernissart is located in the territory of Harchies, bordering the Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes Canal and situated near the [[European route E42|E42]] highway and railway line 78. It hosts a wide variety of SMEs ( Small and Medium Enterprises ) operating in sectors such as waste management, construction, mechanics, public works, industry, and transportation. This zoning also includes the municipality's container park.

A project launched in 2023 by IDETA aimed to expand the zoning by clearing part of the Imbrechies Forest. However, due to public discontent and the opposition of Walloon Minister [[Willy Borsus]], the project was abandoned in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives, which are still under discussion.<ref>{{Cite web |language=fr |title=Abandon du projet d'agrandissement du zoning industriel de Bernissart |url=https://www.notele.be/it9-media141448-le-bois-d-imbrechies-est-sauve-ideta-abandonne-la-procedure-de-revision-de-plan-de-secteur-en-vue-de-l-extension-du-parc-d-activite-economique-d-harchies-bernissart.html |website=NoTele |accessdate=}}</ref>

==Politics and Administration==
===List of Mayors===

* Robert Van Ceunebroecke, from 1960 to 1991, (PS).
* Freddy Wattiez, from 1991 to 2006, (PS).
* Roger Vanderstraeten, from 2007 to present, (PS).

===Twin town===

* {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Feignies]], [[France]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Berni Infos |url=https://www.bernissart.be/bulletin-2021-4.pdf |pages=5}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
=== Demographics: Before the municipality merger ===

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 bar:1880 from:0 till: 1733
 bar:1890 from:0 till: 1974
 bar:1900 from:0 till: 2150
 bar:1910 from:0 till: 2392
 bar:1920 from:0 till: 2419
 bar:1930 from:0 till: 2615
 bar:1947 from:0 till: 2644
 bar:1961 from:0 till: 3214
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</timeline>
*<small>Source: DGS population census</small>
*<small>1970* : Annexation of Harchies</small>


=== Demographics: Merged municipality ===

Taking into account the former municipalities involved in the 1977 merger, the following demographic evolution can be drawn:

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 bar:1930 at: 11198 fontsize:S text: 11,198 shift:(-10,5)
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 bar:2024 at: 11878 fontsize:S text: 11,878 shift:(-10,5)

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<sub>''The figures from 1831 to 1970 include those from the merged municipalities.''</sub>
*<small>Source: [[Statistics Belgium|DGS]], from 1831 to 1981 = population censuses; from 1990 = number of inhabitants each {{date|January 1st}}</small><ref name="ref_auto_2">https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fstatbel.fgov.be%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Ffiles%2Fdocuments%2Fbevolking%2F5.1%2520Structuur%2520van%2520de%2520bevolking%2FPopulation_par_commune.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK</ref>

==Notable residents==
*[[Victor Martin (sociologist)|Victor Martin]], a [[Belgian Resistance]] member and academic sociologist who was sent to report on allegations of mass-murder of [[Jews]] in [[Poland]] for the resistance in 1943.
*[[Luce Irigaray]], a feminist philosopher and [[linguist]] who was born in Blaton in 1930.
*Ernest de Merode, holder of the title of Baron of Harchies. (1595-1677).<ref>Amédée le Boucq de Ternas, ''Recueil de la noblesse des Pays-Bas, de Flandre et d'Artois'', Douai, 1884, p. 235, [https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k3742772?rk=21459;2 lire en ligne].</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Iguanodon3 28-12-2007 14-20-18.jpg|One of the Bernissart ''Iguanodons'' on display at the [[Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences]].
File:Bernissart (Belgique - Province du Hainaut) — Machine à feu de Newcomen.jpg|Ancient Thomas [[Newcomen atmospheric engine|Newcomen]] engine building (1781) in Bernissart.
File:Puits Sainte Barbe a Bernissart - 02.jpg|Ancient Sainte-Barbe pit 3 of the coal mine in Bernissart, Belgium, where were found the remains of a herd of [[Iguanodon|iguanodons]] in 1878.
File:Gare Bernissart.jpg|Bernissart old station.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* "[https://web.archive.org/web/20050307044434/http://www.lhl.lib.mo.us/events_exhib/exhibit/exhibits/dino/dol1884.htm 17. The Bernissart Iguanodons, 1884]". Linda Hall Library. ''Paper Dinosaurs, 1824–1969''.
* {{in lang|fr}} [http://www.bernissart.be/ Official web site of Bernissart]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Bernissart
|N  = [[Beloeil, Belgium|Belœil]]
|E  = [[Saint-Ghislain]]
|S  = [[Hensies]]
|SW = [[Saint-Aybert]] ([[France|FR]]-[[Nord (French department)|59]])
|W  = [[Condé-sur-l'Escaut]] ([[France|FR]]-[[Nord (French department)|59]])
|NW = [[Péruwelz]]
}}
{{Hainaut}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Hainaut (province)]]