Sambreville

Sambreville

“Warm” Sambreville, as its own inhabitants call it, lives up to its status as the second most densely populated municipality in the Province of Namur. It has a great many services and facilities to offer its residents, as well as being easy to access which makes living here feel easy and pleasant. Spreading out around the River Sambre (the clue is in its name), but also fed into by the Biesme, Sambreville has a rich past of industry and glassmaking but it has also managed to keep up with the times. The charm of this town in the East of the Metropolitan Area is sure to win you over in no time at all.

Address : Grand Place – 5060 Sambreville

With its rich industrial past (primarily renowned for its glassmaking), Sambreville also had its own coal mine which was active for almost a century. The municipality has managed to keep hold of the dynamic legacy inherited from the past, although it is now a semi-residential and rural area. Today it is one of the 7 Belgian towns officially recognised as Martyr Towns, following a massacre committed in Tamines during the German invasion of 1914, which left 383 victims and around a further hundred people injured.

A municipality with a rich past…

With its rich industrial past (primarily renowned for its glassmaking), Sambreville also had its own coal mine which was active for almost a century. The municipality has managed to keep hold of the dynamic legacy inherited from the past, although it is now a semi-residential and rural area. Today it is one of the 7 Belgian towns officially recognised as Martyr Towns, following a massacre committed in Tamines during the German invasion of 1914, which left 383 victims and around a further hundred people injured.

…resolutely forward-looking

The municipality is busy making plans for the future and has come up with an ambitious town planning project: an in-depth study has been carried out by a top team of specialists. The aim is to keep all of the town’s many current projects balanced and in sync.

One of the priorities among these many developments is the economy, as well as the living environment. One such development is the mixed neighbourhoods which are all looking towards the waterfront and which promotes gentle mobility, linking the Sambre and downtown, and there will even be an “intergenerational park”: an urban haven where citizens can relax in complete peace of mind and safety.

A multicultural and dynamic municipality

Given the many different nationalities represented in Sambreville, the town is cosmopolitan, unique, multicultural and is rich in its diversity. There is no shortage of opportunities to get out and meet the locals. In addition to its regional cultural centre, Sambreville is home to a theatre, which has recently undergone a total renovation, and which is truly a regional flagship for the performing arts. The Quai de Scène, just opposite Auvelais train station, plays host to many cultural events. Sporting enthusiasts are not overlooked either: two indoor sports halls, a swimming pool that is in the process of being renovated and many other facilities where local teams meet to train. Finally, a municipal sports council has been set up in order to coordinate the municipality’s sports policy.

A whole host of associations are active in the area and work in a wide range of fields (helping vulnerable people, helping foreigners to integrate, helping people into work or training, folklore, senior citizens’ associations, youth clubs, etc.), which all combine to make Sambreville particularly welcoming and friendly.

Several folklore groups also give meaning to the adjective ‘warm’ which always seems to be mentioned in connection with Sambreville: the famous Tamines carnival and the Auvelais parade which delight families year in, year out.

With its rural feel, yet with all the services you would expect of a major conurbation, between its laid-back way of life and full-throttle festivities, Sambreville will amaze you with its many complementary qualities.

Advantages

Practical matters

  • Quick access to the E42
  • Under 20 minutes by car to Charleroi and 30 minutes to Namur
  • 2 SNCB railway stations (at Tamines and Auvelais)
  • An industrial and shopping complex (the “Pré des Haz”) and two economic activity areas (“Sainte Eugénie” and “Bonne espérance”)
  • Tourist board
  • 3 crèches and a drop-in centre
  • A primary school in each village (with two offering language immersion)
  • 3 secondary schools
  • A school for industry and commerce
  • Val de Sambre Regional Hospital

Living

 

  • Semi-urban municipality, very green
  • Nurtured by two rivers: the Sambre and the Biesme
  • Property: a wide range to choose from, for all types of profiles
  • Compact urban centre with shops and services
  • Villages with a rural feel

Free time

  • CRAC’S, regional cultural centre
  • Libraries
  • Games library
  • Public digital space
  • Many sports clubs (martial arts, badminton, diving, tennis, dance, cycling…)
  • Municipal pool (currently undergoing renovation)
  • Youth centre
  • Youth clubs
  • Many different associations
  • 3 academies of Music and Fine Arts