Herentals

Herentals
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Herentals
Herentals Location in Belgium Location of Herentals in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates: 51°11′N 04°50′E / 51.183°N 4.833°E / 51.183; 4.833
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Turnhout
Government
• Mayor	Jan Michielsen (CD&V) (acting)
• Governing party/ies	N-VA, CD&V
Area
• Total	47.95 km2 (18.51 sq mi)
Population  (2020-01-01)[1]
• Total	28,272
• Density	590/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Postal codes	2200
NIS code	13011
Area codes	014
Website	www.herentals.be

Herentals (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦeːrəntɑls]) 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.^[2] The total area is 48.56 km² (18.75 sq mi). Saint Waltrude is the patron saint of the city.

Highlights

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.^[3] 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.

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 (pekes, "pee"-stekers) as a lock on the "Zandpoort", one of the great city gates in that time.

Notable people

• 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 (born 1933)
• Wout van Aert, professional cyclist (born 1994)
• Wim Eyckmans, racing driver (born 1973)

Gallery

• 
  Belfry of old town hall
• 
  Former Post office in the Market square
• 
  City gate
• 
  Bocholt-Herentals Canal
• 
  The old town hall and the Monument for the 'Farmers Rising'

References

External links

• Media related to Herentals at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website (in Dutch, English, and French)
• Local radio station with local news - Only available in Dutch
• Start Page - Only available in Dutch
• Toeristentoren Herentals - The tourist tower of Herentals