Herentals
Template:Infobox Belgium municipality Herentals ({{#invoke:IPA|main}}) is a city in the province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. In 2022, Herentals had a total population of 28,455.<ref name="stat">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The total area is Template:Cvt. Saint Waltrude is the patron saint of the city.
HighlightsEdit
Herentals has some outstanding historical buildings, including the church and town hall; the town hall and its belfry is listed as one of the Belfries of Belgium and France, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The old city gates, the Bovenpoort (Northern gate) and Zandpoort (Western gate) are still standing, while the Nederpoort and Koepoort were torn down a long time ago.
The Hidrodoe science museum is located in Herentals. There is also a large chocolate factory located in Herentals, which is the only production facility in the world for Milka's Leo chocolate wafer bar.
Herentals is a centre of commerce in the region, although the cities of Geel and Mol are quite popular as well.
Herentals is twinned with IJsselstein, Netherlands. The inhabitants of the Campine region have common sobriquets 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 ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) as a lock on the "Zandpoort", one of the great city gates in that time.
Notable peopleEdit
- Nicolaes Francken, painter, founder of the Francken painting dynasty (1520–1596)
- Hendrik de Moy, father of Isabella Brant (1534–1610)
- Hieronymus Francken I, painter (c. 1540–1610)
- Frans Francken the Elder, painter (1542–1616)
- Ambrosius Francken I, painter (1544–1618)
- Charles-Auguste Fraikin, sculptor (1817–1893)
- Stefaan Vaes, mathematician (born 1976)
- Rik Van Looy, professional cyclist (1933–2024)
- Wout van Aert, professional cyclist (born 1994)
- Wim Eyckmans, racing driver (born 1973)
GalleryEdit
- Herentals belfort.jpg
Belfry of old town hall
- Postgebouw.JPG
Former Post office in the Market square
- P1020632 copyStadspoort Herentals.jpg
City gate
- Kanaal Bocholt-Herentals 2.jpg
Bocholt-Herentals Canal
- Herentals Lakenhalle & Boerenkrijgmonument 02.JPG
The old town hall and the Monument for the 'Farmers Rising'
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Commons category-inline
- Template:Official website Template:In lang
- Local radio station with local news - Only available in Dutch
- Start Page - Only available in Dutch
- Toeristentoren Herentals - The tourist tower of Herentals
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