The village derives its name from the Indo-European words 'eud-' (water) en 'baki' (stream). One of the first mentions dates back to the 12th century, as Itrebecche. In 1176 the village was mentioned as Itterbecca.
History
Itterbeek used to be part of the allodium of Sint-Pieters-Leeuw. During the 9th century, it became subject to the chapter of Cologne. Itterbeek gained some importance in the 13th century when the area, despite the presence of vassals of the family van der Aa, came under the power of Gaasbeek and formed the so-called Nieuw Land van Gaasbeek together with Dilbeek and Sint-Martens-Bodegem. Judicial power was exercised by a bench of aldermen.
Around 1244, Itterbeek became a separate parish, as part of the diocese of Cambrai. The oldest seal of Itterbeek, used in 1309, consists of a star and the words “S. Scabinorum de Itterbeka”. On a second seal, used around 1380, a crowned lion carrying a double rook is seen. The escutcheon of Itterbeek is derived from this seal.
With 4487 inhabitants and her 541 hectares, Itterbeek is the fourth largest submunicipality of Dilbeek, after Dilbeek proper, Groot-Bijgaarden and Schepdaal. The village of Sint-Anna-Pede (and a small part of Sint-Gertrudis-Pede) also lie within the borders of the submunicipality of Itterbeek.
The Bruegelmuseum: 12 large reproductions of landscapes by Pieter Brueghel, who came to the area looking for inspiration.
The seventeen bridges: a concrete viaduct 520m in length and 28m high across the valley of the Pedebeek. Sixteen of the bridges are part of the viaduct, while the seventeenth bridge lies under one of the arches.
