Asse 5.66

Asse is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. It comprises the towns of Asse proper, Bekkerzeel, Kobbegem, Mollem, Relegem and Zellik. On January 1, 2006, Asse had a total population of 29,191. The total area is 49.64 km² which gives a population density of 588 inhabitants per km².HistoryAsse was probably inhabited by the Celtic tribe of the Nervii. The name itself probably comes from a pre-Celtic word meaning "water" . It was probably inhabited from an early date; stone tools have been found in various locations. The fertility of the soil and the relief which rises above the wetter plains of present-day Flanders would also suggest that his would have been an early area of settlement.From the middle of the first century, a Roman military road connected it to the capital of the Roman province of Nervii in Bavay . It continued northwards as far as the naval port at present-day Rumst, with various side roads to the East and West. It is possible that there was a Roman military camp to the south east of the present town centre in what is now known as "borgstad", though its role has not been clearly proven.