Valkenswaard

Valkenswaard (pronunciation ) is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands, in the Metropoolregio Eindhoven of the province of North Brabant. The municipality had a population of 30,910 in 2019 and spans an area of 56.49 km2 (21.81 sq mi) of which 1.48 km2 (0.57 sq mi) is water.

Valkenswaard
Municipality
Church in Valkenswaard
Flag
Coat of arms
Location in North Brabant
Coordinates: 51°21′N 5°28′E
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceNorth Brabant
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorAnton Ederveen (CDA)
Area
 • Total56.49 km2 (21.81 sq mi)
 • Land55.01 km2 (21.24 sq mi)
 • Water1.48 km2 (0.57 sq mi)
Elevation25 m (82 ft)
Population
 (January 2019)[4]
 • Total30,910
 • Density562/km2 (1,460/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Valkenswaarder / Valkenswaardenaar
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
5550–5556
Area code040
Websitewww.valkenswaard.nl

The name Valkenswaard stems from its history of falconers, who caught wild falcons there; valk is Dutch for "falcon". It lay on a route where falcons migrated south each year. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, Valkenswaardian falconers were active at many European courts, in which falconing was a beloved pastime. Valkenswaard's falcon-catching area has now been built over and falcons are no longer caught there.

In the 19th and 20th century, a number of large cigar factories were founded in Valkenswaard, the two most renowned of which being Willem II and Hofnar.

A Second World War cemetery containing 220 British soldiers was created near Valkenswaard in October 1944. It is now maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The spoken language is Kempenlands (an East Brabantian dialect, which is very similar to colloquial Dutch).[5]

The Eurocircuit Valkenswaard is a motorsport racetrack that has hosted the European Rallycross Championship and the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Population centres

Topography

Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Valkenswaard, June 2015

Partner municipalities

Notable people born in Valkenswaard
Linda Williams, 1981
  • Henk van den Breemen (born 1941) a retired Dutch military officer
  • Pieter van Geel (born 1951) a retired Dutch politician
  • Linda Williams (born 1955) a Dutch singer, participated in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest
  • Ine Gevers (born 1960) a Dutch curator of contemporary art, writer and activist
  • Jeroen Mettes (1978-2006) a Dutch poet, essayist and blogger
  • Dominique van Hulst (born 1981), singer, known by her stage name Do[6]

Sport
  • Notariskantoor Valkenswaard
  • Pintenwipper standbeeld Martinusplein Dommelen
  • Winnaar 2008 - Buurtschap Hazestraat - Flying pirates on music
  • Valkenswaard Zuil van de Eendracht Erich Reischke

References
  1. "Samenstelling college van B&W" [Members of the board of mayor and aldermen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Valkenswaard. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  2. "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. "Postcodetool for 5554DA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  4. "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. Jos & Cor Swanenberg: Taal in stad en land: Oost-Brabants, ISBN 9012090105
  6. IMDb Database retrieved 20 November 2019
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