Official Name: | Rijkhoven |
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 Name1: | Flemish Community |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Limburg |
Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name3: | Bilzen |
Area Total Km2: | 4.71 |
Population As Of: | 2021 |
Population Footnotes: | [1] |
Population Total: | 1,370 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Timezone: | CET |
Coordinates: | 50.8333°N 36°W |
Rijkhoven is a village in the Bilzen municipality of the Limburg province in the Flemish Community of Belgium.
The village was first mentioned in 1076 as Rudenchoven. It used to be part of the County of Loon. In 1220 the chapel of Alden Biesen was given to the Teutonic Order who establish a commandery. In 1870, Rijkhoven became an independent municipality.[2] In 1971, the municipality merged with Kleine- en Grote-Spouwen into Spouwen. In 1977, Spouwen merged into Bilzen.[3]
The Alden Biesen Castle is located near the village, and was the commandery of the Teutonic Order. The current building has been constructed between the mid-16th century and the late 18th century.[4]