NAMUR, a large, rich, and very strong town of the Netherlands, capital of the county of Namur, with a strong castle, several forts, and a bishop's see. It contains 15,400 inhabitants. The most considerable forts are, Fort William, Fort Maese, Fort Coquelet, and Fort Espinor. The castle is built in the middle of the town, on a craggy rock. It was besieged by King William in 1695, who took it in the sight of an army of 100,000 French, though there were 16,000 men in the garrison. It was ceded to the house of Austria
Nan-king. in 1713, but taken by the French in 1746; and restored by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was again taken by the French in 1794, and remained in their possession till 1814, when it was ceded to the king of the Netherlands. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Maese and Sambre, in E. Long. 4. 57. N. Lat. 50. 25.