Neu-Moresnet Explained

Official Name:Neu-Moresnet
Other Name:Prussian-Moresnet
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Belgium
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Belgium
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Belgium
Subdivision Type1:Community
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Type3:Province
Subdivision Type4:Municipality
Subdivision Name4:Kelmis
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Coordinates:50.719°N 6.0239°W

Neu-Moresnet is a village and sub-municipality of Kelmis in the German-speaking community of the province of Liège, Wallonia, Belgium. The village was founded as Prussian-Moresnet (German: Preußisch-Moresnet) as part of the Lower Rhine Province. In 1919, after World War I, it was awarded to Belgium, and renamed Neu-Moresnet. In 1940, it was annexed by Nazi Germany, and in 1944, it was returned to Belgium. Neu-Moresnet was an independent municipality until 1977 when it was merged into Kelmis.[1]

History

Originally there were two villages in the area: Moresnet and Kelmis. In 1794, the area was conquered by Napoleon, and the villages became part of the Moresnet municipality.[2] In 1806, Jean-Jacques Dony received permission to look for zinc.[3] Dony founded the Vieille Montagne mine in the municipality, and became Europe's largest producer of zinc.[4]

In 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon, the borders of Europe were redrawn at the Congress of Vienna. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands and Kingdom of Prussia could not reach an agreement about the ownership of the zinc mine.[5] In 1816, a compromise was reached at the : the village of Moresnet was awarded to the Netherlands, Kelmis and the zinc mine became Neutral Moresnet, a Dutch–Prussian condominium, and the remainder was awarded to Prussia as Prussian-Moresnet.[5] In 1830, Belgium became an independent country, and the village of Moresnet became part of Belgium.[1]

On 28 June 1919, all three parts were awarded to Belgium by the Treaty of Versailles,[6] and Prussian-Moresnet was renamed Neu-Moresnet.[2] The treaty came into effect in 1920.[5] In 1940, Belgium was invaded by Nazi-Germany who merged Moresnet, Kelmis, Neu-Moresnet, and Hergenrath into Amt Moresnet as an integral part of Germany. In 1944, the villages were returned to Belgium.[2]

Neu-Moresnet remained an independent municipality until 1977 when it was merged into Kelmis.[1]

Neu-Moresnet is home to the Göhltal Museum which is dedicated to the political and historical peculiarities of the Moresnet region as well as minerals and flora of the region.[7]

Notable people

References

  1. Web site: De drie Moresnet sinds 1815 - Congres van Wenen. Royal Syndicat d'initiative K.V.V. - K.V.V.V.. nl,de,fr. 9 December 2021.
  2. Het vierde land. Neutraal-Moresnet, vondeling van Europa . Wim Meulenkamp . 1986. Maatstaf . nl. 65.
  3. Book: Duvergier. Jean Baptiste. Collection complète des lois, décrets, ordonnances, règlemens avis du Conseil d'état, publiée sur les éditions officielles du Louvre: de l'Imprimerie nationale, par Baudouin; et du Bulletin des lois; (de 1788 à 1830 inclusivement ... 1836. A. Guyot et Scribe. fr.
  4. Web site: The Vieille Montagne Zinc Mining Company - World Sites. Alston Moor Historical Society. 9 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Neutraal Moresnet: de vergeten ministaat . Erik Sweers. Historien. 9 December 2021. nl.
  6. Web site: Peace Treaty of Versailles - Articles 31 - 117 and Annexes. Brigham Young University . 9 December 2021.
  7. Web site: 19 maart 2017: "Neutralgebietes von Moresnet". Deutsch-Niederländischen Gesellschaft zu Aachen. 9 December 2021. nl, de.
  8. Web site: „Heintje“ goes China: Fernsehshow zur chinesischen Neujahrsfeier. Belgischer Rundfunk. 10 December 2009. 9 December 2021. de.
  9. Web site: Ma-a-ma, je bent de liefste van de hé-le wereld. 50+ in Nederland. 9 December 2021. nl.