page_title: Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
section_title: Rural beginnings
hierarchical_section_title: Molenbeek-Saint-Jean / History / Rural beginnings
caption_attribution_description: English: 1592 painting by Pieter Brueghel II of Saint John’s Dancers on their way to Meulenbeeck (near Brussels) during the annual procession on the Feast Day of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. After a lost work of Pieter Bruegel I.
context_page_description: Molenbeek-Saint-Jean or Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, often simply called Molenbeek, is one of 19 municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region. Located in the western part of the region, it is bordered by the City of Brussels, from which it is separated by the Brussels–Charleroi Canal, as well as by the municipalities of Anderlecht, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Dilbeek, Jette and Koekelberg. The Molenbeek brook, from which it takes its name, flows through the municipality. In common with all of Brussels’ municipalities, it is legally bilingual.
  As of 1 January 2014, Molenbeek had a population of 94,854 inhabitants. It is densely populated, at 16,357/km², twice the average of Brussels. Its upper area is greener and less densely populated.
  In 2015, Molenbeek gained international attention as the base of Islamist terrorists, who carried out attacks in both France and Belgium. The municipality's then-mayor described it as "a breeding ground for violence". In early 2016, Molenbeek held a reputation as a safe haven for jihadists in relation to the support shown by some residents towards the bombers who carried out the Paris and Brussels attacks.
context_section_description: As early as the 9th century, Molenbeek was the site of a church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. In the early Middle Ages, Molenbeek was known for its miraculous well of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, which attracted thousands of pilgrims.
  The village was made part of Brussels in the 13th century. As a result, Molenbeek lost a lot of its land to its more powerful neighbour. In addition, its main church was dismantled in 1578, leading to further decline. The town's character remained mostly rural until the 18th century.
caption: Saint John's Dancers in Molenbeeck' (1592) by Pieter Brueghel II
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