Soignies

Soignies
Sougniye (Picard)
Zinnik (Dutch)
The Saint-Vincent collegiate church [fr] (10th century) and the square on the "Place Verte"
The Saint-Vincent collegiate church [fr] (10th century) and the square on the "Place Verte"
Flag of Soignies
Coat of arms of Soignies
Location of Soignies
Map
Soignies is located in Belgium
Soignies
Soignies
Location in Belgium
Location of Soignies in Hainaut
Coordinates: 50°34′N 04°04′E / 50.567°N 4.067°E / 50.567; 4.067
Country Belgium
CommunityFrench Community
RegionWallonia
ProvinceHainaut
ArrondissementSoignies
Government
 • MayorFabienne Winckel (PS)
 • Governing party/iesPS, MR, Ecolo
Area
 • Total111.27 km2 (42.96 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total27,603
 • Density250/km2 (640/sq mi)
Postal codes
7060-7063
NIS code
55040
Area codes065/067
Websitewww.soignies.be

Soignies (French pronunciation: [swaɲi] ; Dutch: Zinnik, pronounced [ˈzɪnɪk]; Picard: Sougniye; Walloon: Sougniye) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.

It consists of the following districts: Casteau, Chaussée-Notre-Dame-Louvignies, Horrues, Naast, Neufvilles, Soignies and Thieusies. Casteau is known worldwide because SHAPE, the military headquarters of NATO, has been based at the village since 1967.

The name of Soignies comes from the Latin word suniacum, which means "on the Senne". The spring of the Senne is near Soignies. After Soignies, the river flows through Brussels.

Soignies is also well known for its blue limestone (from the Carrières du Hainaut) and its glass industry (Durobor).

  1. ^ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.