Tienen

Tienen is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It lies in the central part of the country and serves as an administrative, economic, and cultural center for the surrounding rural area.

The town has medieval origins and developed as a market town. In the 19th and 20th centuries it grew rapidly due to industrialization, most notably the sugar industry, which established a large refinery that shaped the town's economy and identity for decades. The sugar refinery remains a defining landmark in the historical memory of Tienen, though the sector has declined in recent decades.

Today, the economy is more diversified, with services, education, and light manufacturing contributing to local employment. The municipality comprises the town of Tienen and several surrounding villages, and it maintains a range of historic and cultural sites.

Culturally, Tienen preserves a number of religious and civic monuments, including historic churches and a town hall, as well as markets and museums that reflect its industrial past. The town also hosts local events and markets that contribute to its regional role.

For transportation, Tienen is served by a railway station on regional lines and has road connections to major Belgian cities, linking it with Brussels, Leuven, and Liège.