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Turnhout

Coordinates:51°19′N04°57′E/ 51.317°N 4.950°E/51.317; 4.950
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Turnhout
Municipality
Grote Markt
Grote Markt
Flag of Turnhout
Flag
Coat of arms of Turnhout
Coat of arms
Location of Turnhout
Map
Turnhout is located in Belgium
Turnhout
Turnhout
Location in Belgium
Location of Turnhout in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates:51°19′N04°57′E/ 51.317°N 4.950°E/51.317; 4.950
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceAntwerp
ArrondissementTurnhout
Government
• MayorPaul Van Miert (N-VA)
• Governing party/iesN-VA,CD&V,Vooruit,Groen
Area
• Total56.71 km2(21.90 sq mi)
Population
(2018-01-01)[1]
• Total44,136
• Density780/km2(2,000/sq mi)
Postal codes
2300
NIS code
13040
Area codes014
Websitewww.turnhout.be

Turnhout(Dutch pronunciation:[ˈtʏr(ə)nɦʌut]) is aBelgianmunicipalityand city located in theFlemishprovinceofAntwerp.The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. In 2021, its population was 45,874.[2]The total area is 56.06 km2(21.64 sq mi).[3]The agglomeration is much more populous, with 81,473 inhabitants.[4]It is known for itsplaying cardindustry, and houses the head office of the world's largest manufacturer ofplaying cards,Cartamundi.Turnhout is also thecapitalof the administrative district with the same name. The city council often promotes the city as "the capital of theKempenarea. "This designation is entirely unofficial, since theKempenarea is far larger than the Turnhout district and does not form an administrative unit.

Turnhout serves as the economic and cultural center for other communities in the immediate vicinity with more than 40 schools. There is also an important services sector with two hospitals, a two-stage theatre, an eight-screen cinema and one of the largest cultural centres of Belgium.

Turnhout is located at about 51.3 North and 4.9 East, 42 km (26 mi) from the centre ofAntwerp,30 km (19 mi) fromBredaandTilburg,40 km (25 mi) fromEindhoven.Thefootballclub of the city isK.V. Turnhout.

In reference to 2021 census, the population of Turnhout was recorded at 45,874[5]

History

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Turnhout originated on the crossroads of two major trade routes and in the protection of the hunting castle of theDukes of Brabantthat seems to have existed since 1110 or earlier. This hunting past is still reflected in the city'scoat of arms.The small community that developed obtained its Libertas as a "free city" fromHenry I, Duke of Brabantin about 1212.[6]In 1338, the privilege of organizing a market on Saturday was granted, a tradition that still holds today, the city could now hold an annual fair so that all the goods from the surrounding villages could be offered for sale in Turnhout.[7]In 1466, a traveler described the well-built houses and paved roads, and counted five churches.

Castle of the Dukes of Brabant in Turnhout

By the 16th century, Turnhout had become a wealthy commercial center. Unfortunately, the end of the century broughtwar,fire,confiscationsandepidemics.Suppression andinquisitionmade many progressive citizens to take refuge in theDutch Republic,leaving the land of Turnhout impoverished. The further history of Turnhout consists of a series of ups and downs. Many times, the city and surroundings were the playground ofarmies,resulting in two majorbattlesnamed after Turnhout: one in1597and one in1789are referred to asBattle of Turnhout.

In 1830, Belgium became independent, and Turnhout fell just south of the new border with the Netherlands. The period of peace between 1831 and 1914 saw the digging of thecanal(1846) and the construction of therailroad(1855).

In the lateMiddle Ages,Turnhout was a well-known center for theweavingof bedding articles and of thelinentrade. At the start of the 19th century, these trades were replaced by industries based on the use of paper.Pieter CorbeelsandPhilippus Jacobus Brepolsare considered to be the founders of this industry. Turnhout retains much of this industry today. Numerous graphics companies are located in the region, such asBrepols,Group Joos,Proost International Book Production,Van Genechten Packaging,and last but not leastCartamundi,the world market leader of theplaying cardindustry. In addition, the Belgian Centre for the Graphics Industry, and theFlemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication(Campus Blairon) are located in Turnhout.Soudal,whose headquarters is located in Turnhout, is one of the leading companies in sealants.

Postal history

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The Turnhout post office opened before 1830. It used postal code 122 with bars (before 1864), and 367 with points before 1874.[8]

Postal code since 1969: 2300.[9]

Sights

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Architectural sights worth visiting are the 12th centurycastleof theDukes of Brabant,theGothicchurch ofSt. Peter,thebeguinage(begijnhof) dating from the 13th century, the 14th century Gothic chapel of Theobald and the Taxandria museum housed in a prestigiousRenaissancemansion. Of particular interest is the Museum of the Playing Card. This is located in an old factory building downtown and houses a beautifully restored steam engine.

The beguinage was recognized byUNESCOas aWorld Heritage Sitein 1998.

The largest building in Turnhout is the Turnova tower, built in 2019. It is considered the first skyscraper in the city.

Sports

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  • Turnhout, church: Sint Pieterskerk
    Turnhout, church: Sint Pieterskerk
  • Turnhout, town hall
    Turnhout, town hall
  • Turnhout, train station
    Turnhout, train station
  • Turnhout, chapel
    Turnhout, chapel
  • Turnhout, water tower
    Turnhout, water tower

Notable residents

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Further information:Category:People from Turnhout
Filip Daems
Loena Hendrickx
Paul Janssen

Twin towns – sister cities

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Turnhout istwinnedwith:[13]

References

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  1. ^Statbel,WikidataQ12480
  2. ^"Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 13040".Statistics Belgium.Retrieved10 May2022.
  3. ^"Belgium: Major Cities and Municipalities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information".
  4. ^"Agglomerations (Belgium): Urban Agglomerations - Population Statistics, Charts and Map".
  5. ^"Cities and Municipalities in Turnhout (Antwerpen, Belgium) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information".www.citypopulation.de.Retrieved30 September2024.
  6. ^"A brief history of Turnhout".Taxandria VZW(in Dutch).Retrieved30 September2024.
  7. ^"A brief history of Turnhout".Taxandria VZW(in Dutch).Retrieved30 September2024.
  8. ^Catalogue Spécialisé des Oblitérations Belges, 1849-1910, Nationale en Internationale Postzegelmanifestaties Antwerpen (NIPA), Antwerp, 1999.
  9. ^Liste des Numéros Postaux, Administration des Postes, Bruxelles 1969.
  10. ^"Marcel Hendrickx, l'ancien bourgmestre de Turnhout est décédé à l'âge de 85 ans".RTBF(in French). 27 October 2020.
  11. ^"Cornelis Simonsz. Oomius".University of Amsterdam.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2021.Retrieved11 December2021.
  12. ^"Maijcken van Bracht".University of Amsterdam.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2021.Retrieved11 December2021.
  13. ^"Zustersteden"(in Dutch). Turnhout.Retrieved12 January2023.
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