Lier (Dutch: [liːr] ⓘ; French: Lierre [ljɛʁ] ⓘ) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp.

Alternatively, the origin might be the Germanic words Ledo or Ledi, which both refer to a location near the confluence of rivers (in this case the Minor and Major Nete).

[4] The Lier beguinage was founded in 1258 and in 1998 was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Flemish Béguinages site.

The city notoriously selected the livestock market option, upon which the Duke is reported to have sighed: "Oh, those wretched sheep heads".

At the start of the WWI, King Albert and his Chiefs of Staff were temporarily headquartered in Lier, before retreating to Temse as German lines advanced.

Being part of the redoubt of Antwerp, the city suffered heavily under German artillery fire, leaving much of its medieval structures damaged beyond repair.

Most medieval-style structures that exist today (including the town hall and its belfry) are therefore replicas, built shortly after the War.

This expression originates from a booklet Felix Timmermans wrote in 1928, in celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of a neighbouring couple.

[13] The strong ties Lier had developed with the Belgian military ever since in 1888 artillery barracks were built, continued after the World Wars.

In 2004, Lier was the host for the third episode of Fata Morgana, the TV show in which Belgian celebrities gave a city or town several challenges.