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{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
|namefr           = Leeuw-Saint-Pierre
|picture          = Sint-Pieters-Leeuw aerial photo A.jpg
|picture-legend   =
|map              = Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Flemish-Brabant Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = The municipality in the Halle-Vilvoorde arrondissement<br>in the province of Flemish Brabant
|arms             = Blason Sint pieters Leeuw.svg
|flag             = Flag of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw.svg
|arrondissement   = [[Halle-Vilvoorde administrative Arrondissement|Halle-Vilvoorde]]
|nis              = 23077
|mayor            = Jan Desmeth ([[N-VA]])
|majority         = [[N-VA]], [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]
|postal-codes     = 1600-1602
|telephone-area   = 02
|web              = <small>[http://www.sint-pieters-leeuw.be/ www.sint-pieters-leeuw.be]</small>
|coordinates      = {{coord|50|47|N|04|15|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Sint-Pieters-Leeuw''' ({{IPA|nl|sɪnt ˌpitərs ˈleːu}}; {{langx|fr|Leeuw-Saint-Pierre}}, {{IPA|fr|lø sɛ̃ pjɛʁ|pron}}) is a [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] in the [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[Flemish Brabant]], in the [[Flemish region]] of [[Belgium]].

The municipality comprises the towns of [[Oudenaken]], [[Ruisbroek, Flemish Brabant|Ruisbroek]], [[Sint-Laureins-Berchem]], Sint-Pieters-Leeuw proper and [[Vlezenbeek]]. Sint-Pieters-Leeuw is located just outside the [[Brussels-Capital Region]], in the [[Payottenland]]. The municipality is a blend of parks, castles, meadows and gardens with the Coloma park as its green heart.

On 1 January 2018, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw had a total population of 34,025. The total area is {{convert|40.38|km2|abbr=on}}, which gives a [[population density]] of {{convert|842|PD/km2|abbr=on}}. It is a mostly a residential community with largely preserved rural areas and some industrial zones.<ref>[https://www.sint-pieters-leeuw.be/sites/default/files/gemeente/bevolking/documenten/Bevolkingsstatistiek-toestand-31122017.pdf Bevolkingscijfers Sint-Pieters-Leeuw]</ref> The official language of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw is [[Dutch language|Dutch]].

==History==
[[File:20080622 Coloma Sint-Pietersleeuw (037).jpg|left|thumb|Coloma Rose Garden]]
The municipality is one of the largest municipalities in [[Flemish Brabant]]. The rural settlement grew into a major residential and professional community. Sint-Pieters-Leeuw has a lengthy history behind it.

The oldest document dates back to the 9th century and is a deed of donation by 'dame Angela', a noblewoman from [[Province of Brabant|Brabant]], in which reference is made to a 'domain' of seven miles in length and one mile in width with a parent church and 9 subsidiary churches', donated to the chapter of Saint Peter in [[Deutz, Cologne]].

From 1236 onwards the domain belonged to the Land of [[Gaasbeek]]. In 1284 [[Henry I, Duke of Brabant]] and lord of Gaasbeek, granted a copy of the local penal code to the populace, which led the municipality to long remain the principal seat of a 'meierij' (Dutch for a district over which a mayor has jurisdiction) and a college of Aldermen.

In 1687 the fiefdom of Gaasbeek was publicly sold in various parts. By marriage or inheritance both the water castle of Coloma, currently the Municipal Cultural Centre, and the rights of the fiefdom as well as all manner of provisions (among others mills) became the possession of important nobles and courtiers such as Jan Karel Roose, member of the [[Great Council of Mechelen]] and Vital-Alex de Coloma, chamberlain of empress Maria-Theresia.

Since 1 January 1977 the former municipalities of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, [[Oudenaken]], [[Ruisbroek, Flemish Brabant|Ruisbroek]], [[Sint-Laureins-Berchem]] and [[Vlezenbeek]] have been joined to form a new administrative residential community.

==Economy==

[[Neuhaus (chocolatier)|Neuhaus]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neuhaus.be/en/contact.aspx|title=neuhaus contact|accessdate=2011-11-08}}</ref> an international exporter of fine Belgian [[chocolate]], is based in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, as well as [[Lindemans Brewery]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lindemans.be/start/contactus/nl?PHPSESSID=ceb02aadbcedad7f2ffe87fb75ba640b|title=Contacteer brouwerij Lindemans|accessdate=2011-11-08}}</ref> a [[brewery]] that produces [[lambic]]s, a distinctly Belgian type of beer.

Other companies with a headquarters or main plant in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw include [[Belle-Vue Brewery]], [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes-Benz Truck Center]], Vanden Borre, [[Avery Dennison|Printer Systems (Avery Dennison)]], a Material Plant and Reinforcement Steel Plant of [[Besix]] and DATS 24 (a subsidiary of [[Colruyt Group|Colruyt]]).

==Sights==
Attractions include:<ref>[http://www.sint-pieters-leeuw.be/content/content/record.php?ID=978 Attractions in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, sint-pieters-leeuw.be, retrieved August 28th, 2013]</ref>
* Coloma park with Coloma castle<ref>[http://discoveringbelgium.com/2013/06/18/coloma-rose-garden-sint-pieters-leeuw/ Discovering Belgium, Coloma Rose Garden, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw]</ref> 
* [[Rose garden]] and rose museum: besides the castle, the Coloma park has gained significant tourist attraction by the creation in 1995 of the Coloma Rose Garden. In the centre of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw bloom over 3,000 rose varieties from 25 different countries for a combined total of 300,000 flowers. Today it has become one of the most colourful natural areas in the Green Belt surrounding Brussels.<ref>[http://www.sint-pieters-leeuw.be/content/content/record.php?ID=981 Coloma Rose Garden, sint-pieters-leeuw.be, retrieved August 28th, 2013]</ref>
* The [[Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Tower]], sometimes called the [[Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie|VRT]]-tower, is a {{convert|300|m|ft|adj=mid|-tall}} transmitter tower. Built in 1996, it is the tallest free-standing structure in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.norkring.be/transmitter-park/sint-pieters-leeuw/ |title=Sint-Pieters-Leeuw |publisher=[[Norkring]] |accessdate=9 March 2013}}</ref>
* [[Witse|Witse-tree]], a tree known for being used in the popular [[crime drama]], Witse.
* Castle of Klein-Bijgaarden, castle of the family Wittouck
* Domain Groenenberg - [[Gaasbeek]], castle and park
* Zuunvallei, Natural landscape 
* Zobbroekvallei, Natural landscape
* Hof ten Brukom
* Hof ten Zellik
* Castle of Rattendaal
* Church of Our Lady
* Rats Castle
* Saint Peter's Church 
* Chapel of the Holy Cross 
* Chapel of Saint Magdalen 
* Chapel of Saint Roch

<gallery>
File:StPLKerk.jpg|Saint Peter's Church (15th century)
File:StPLColoma.jpg|Castle of Coloma,  currently the Municipal Cultural Centre
File:Maison de retraite des Pères de Scheut.JPG|Castle of Wittouck
File:VRT Toren, Belgium.jpg|[[Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Tower]]
</gallery>

==Famous inhabitants==
[[File:Jan Van Ruysbroeck.jpg|thumb|150px|Jan Van Ruusbroec]]
* [[Johannes Malderus]] (1563–1633), bishop of Antwerp
* [[Jan van Ruusbroec]] (ca. 1293-1381), theologian and mystic  
* [[Jef Jurion]] (born 1937), football player
* Prof. Baron [[Roger Van Overstraeten]] (1937-1999), professor
* [[Paul Van Himst]] (1943), Belgian footballer and coach
* [[Thomas Foket]] (born 1994), football player
* [[Youri Tielemans]] (born 1997), football midfielder
{{clear}}

== Twin Cities ==
* {{GER}}: [[Altenahr]] 
* {{NED}}: [[Someren]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.sint-pieters-leeuw.be Official website] - in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080407151049/http://www.geuzeinfo.com/home/index.php/Sint-Pieters-Leeuw Toerist info]}} - in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
*[http://www.sint-pieters-leeuw.eu News site] - in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
*[http://sites.google.com/site/leeuwsenatuurvrienden/ Info on nature reserves in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw]- in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Sint-Pieters-Leeuw
|N  = [[Dilbeek]], [[Anderlecht]] ([[Brussels-Capital Region|BRU]])
|E  = [[Drogenbos]]
|SE = [[Beersel]]
|S  = [[Halle, Belgium|Halle]]
|SW = [[Pepingen]]
|W  = [[Lennik]]
}}
{{Municipalities in Flemish Brabant}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Municipalities of Flemish Brabant]]