Belgische Gemeentewapens - Armories communales de Belgique Belgian Civic Heraldry

HERVE

Province : Liège
Additions : 1977 Battice, Bolland, Chaineux, Charneux, Grand-Rechain, Julémont, Xhendelesse

Origin/meaning :
The arms were officially granted on February 12, 1980 and before on February 14, 1842 and March 30, 1819.

The arms show the arms of the Duchy of Limburg, held by the local patron saint, St. John Baptist. The oldest seal of the city is known from the 13th century and already shows the lion of Limburg. The town remained part of Limburg until 1813 when several parts of Limburg were added to the new province of Liège.

The patron saint appeared on the local seal in the 16th century, with the letters H and E. At the end of the 18th century the local seal combined the saint with the small shield of Limburg. This combination has not changed since. As in 1819 the colours of the field and the saint were not known, the Dutch government granted the arms in the Dutch colours of gold and blue. After the independence of Belgium the arms were re-granted, but the colours remained unchanged.

In 1819 and 1842 the arms were granted with a crown, but the crown was not granted in 1980.

The arms as granted in 1842.	The arms as shown in the Coffee Hag albums (1930s)
The old arms (with 'broken' lion) as seen in the town (source)

Literature : Servais, 1955

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