Kelmis’ history
First official mention of Kelmis and Hergenrath in 1280. The name “Kelmis“ is the Germanic form of the Roman “Calaminis“ meaning “at the Calamine stones“ and was formed no later than the 8th century, during the time of the Carolingians. The mining of calamine has been documented since 1344. Philipp of Burgundy decided the fight about utilization rights between the Reichsstadt Aachen and Brabant-Limburg in 1439, to his benefit. From then on, until 1794, this area was subject to the Duchy of Limburg, first for Burgundy, then the Spaniards and, from 1703 on, for the Austrian Habsburger.
From 1794 to 1815 it was French, but remained neutral after the Vienna Congress, because of disagreements with Moresnet. The Contract of Versailles, dated 1919, allocated neutral Moresnet to Belgium. Since then, the community is Belgian, except for the period from 1940 to 1945, when it was German.
