Ottenburg Explained

Ottenburg is a village in the municipality of Huldenberg in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium, close to the language border.^{[1] [2]} The prehistoric earthwork, a long barrow known as de Tomme, is located here, identified in 2021 by archaeologists as the oldest such monument known in the Low Countries.^[3]

During the period of French occupation (1795–1815), Ottenburg was known as Ottenbourg and was in the department of the Dyle.^[4]

Paul Splingaerd (1842–1906), who became a mandarin in China, lived in Ottenburg in his youth.

Notes and References

1. Jozef Spae, Mandarijn Paul Splingaerd, Koninklijke Academie voor Overzeese Wetenschappen, Verhandelingen van de Klasse voor Morele en Politieke Wetenschappen, vol. 49-1, 1986, p. 9 (online version)
2. https://www.huldenberg.be/en/tomme-walk-ottenburg Huldenberg.be: Ottenburg (Tomme walk)
3. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/07/12/mysterie-opgelost-de-tomme-in-ottenburg/ VRT NWS.be: Mysteries ontrafeld: de Tomme in Ottenburg is het oudste monument van de Lage Landen. 16 July 2021
4. Oudiette, Charles (an VII) [1798/99]: "Ottenbourg" in Le département de la Dyle ou première partie du dictionnaire géographique et topographique des neuf départements de la Belgique, p. 137. Bruxelles: Armand Gaborria (online version)