Meerhout

Meerhout
Municipality

Flag
Coat of arms
Meerhout
Location in Belgium
Location of Meerhout in the province of Antwerp
Coordinates: 51°08′N 05°05′E / 51.133°N 5.083°E / 51.133; 5.083Coordinates: 51°08′N 05°05′E / 51.133°N 5.083°E / 51.133; 5.083
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province Antwerp
Arrondissement Turnhout
Government
 • Mayor André Van Genechten (CD)
 • Governing party/ies CD, VLD, Vlaams Belang
Area
 • Total 36.29 km2 (14.01 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2017)[1]
 • Total 10,256
 • Density 280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Postal codes 2450
Area codes 014
Website www.meerhout.be

Meerhout (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmeːrɦʌu̯t]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Meerhout proper. As of January 1, 2008, Meerhout had a total population of 9,578. The total area is 36.29 km² which gives a population density of 264 inhabitants per km². In Meerhout some famous people have lived, like Kate Ryan (well known in France and Belgium, The UK, Turkey, Spain and the rest of western Europe).

Meerhout is a part of the Economic Network of the Albertkanaal (Albert Canal, named after King Albert 1).

Demographics

As of 1 January 2008, there are 9578 people living in Meerhout. 50.4% of them are men, 49.6% are women. Most people are older than 40.

19th century
Year180618161830184618561866187618801890
Population253428453237363336593664387140434363
Note: results as of 31/12
20th century until reform
Year19001910192019301947196119701976
Population45315362587161977189794585678521
Note: results as of 31/12
After reform
Year1977198019851990199520002005200620072008
Population8521864487909070919091929317936194639578
Note: results as of 01/01 - Source: National Institute of Statistics Belgium (NIS)

Tourism

There is quite a lot of tourism in Meerhout. There are many beautiful routes, like the "drieprovincieënroute" (three provinces route), which is a cycling route going through the provinces of Antwerp, Vlaams Brabant and Limburg. There are also some B&Bs available, and most shopkeepers understand English. Meerhout is very popular among people from The Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. A lot of (older) English people visit Meerhout too because of "The Wing" and other memorial icons of WW2. Every year, around the last week-end of April around 30'000 people from all over the world travel to Meerhout to go to Groezrock, one of the world's largest punk rock festivals.

Education

There are only 5 schools in Meerhout, these schools are both Pre- and Primary schools for children between the age of 3 and 12 years old.

There are secondary schools in the neighbourhood which are easily reachable by public transport or car/bicycle, in Geel, Mol, Diest and Tessenderlo.

Sports

A cyclo-cross competition is held in October.

Media

Meerhout had its own radio station, "MeerGoud" (MeerHout=>Meergoud, Goud means "Gold"), but it ceased broadcasting in 2006.

Notable inhabitants

  • Kate Ryan (Female artist, won several awards, also well known in France, and getting more famous in other countries all over Europe)
  • Zjef Van Uytsel (Dutch singer, famous in the late 80's with his typical Dutch music)

References

  1. ↑ Population per municipality as of 1 January 2017 (XLS; 397 KB)
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