Herentals

Herentals
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Herentals Location in Belgium
Location of Herentals in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates: 51°11′N 04°50′E / 51.183°N 4.833°ECoordinates: 51°11′N 04°50′E / 51.183°N 4.833°E
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Turnhout
Government
• Mayor	Jan Peeters (sp.a)
• Governing party/ies	sp.a, CD&V
Area
• Total	48.56 km^2 (18.75 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2013)[1]
• Total	27,368
• Density	560/km^2 (1,500/sq mi)
Postal codes	2200
Area codes	014
Website	www.herentals.be

Herentals (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦeːrəntɑls]) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071. The total area is 48.56 km² (18.75 sq mi) which gives a population density of 537 inhabitants per km². Saint-Waldetrudis is the patron saint of the city.

Herentals is often referred to as the capital of the Campine region. Herentals has some outstanding historical buildings, including the church, town hall and the old city gates; Bovenpoort, the Northern gate, and Zandpoort, the Western gate. There used to be a Nederpoort and Koeienpoort as well, but those have been torn down a long time ago. The Hidrodoe science museum is located in Herentals. There is also a large chocolate factory located in Herentals.

Herentals is also the centre of commerce in the region, although the cities of Geel and Mol are quite popular as well.

Herentals is twinned with Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire in France, Alpen in Germany and Ijsselstijn in the Netherlands. The inhabitants of the Campine region have common soubriquets that are particular to their towns; people from Herentals are referred to by the colloquialisms "Klokkenververs" (meaning "bell painters") and "Peestekers" (Which comes from the old story about the farmers of the town using carrots (pekes, "pee"-stekers as a lock on the "zandpoort" (one of the great gates in that time)

Gallery

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  Belfry of old town hall

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  Post office

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  City gate

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  Bocholt-Herentals Canal

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References

1. Population per municipality on 1 January 2013 (XLS; 607.5 KB)

External links

• Media related to Herentals at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (Dutch), (English), (French)
• Local radio station with local news - Only available in Dutch
• Start Page - Only available in Dutch
• KSA Group in Herentals - Only available in Dutch
• YouthClub - Only available in Dutch
• Boyscouts 1ste Kempen - Only available in Dutch
• KWB Herentals - local Christian Workers Movement - Only available in Dutch
• Short Mat Bowls Club Herentals - Only available in Dutch