Kaatsheuvel
| Kaatsheuvel | |
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| — Municipality — | |
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 Kaatsheuvel
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| Coordinates: 51°40′N 5°04′E / 51.667°N 5.067°E | |
| Country |  Netherlands |
| Province | North Brabant |
| Population (1 January 2007) | |
| • Total | 16,600 |
| • Density | 706/km2 (1,828.5/sq mi) |
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
Kaatsheuvel is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant, situated along highways N261 and N628. With a population of roughly 16,600, it is the largest village in and the capital of the municipality of Loon op Zand, which also consists of the villages of De Moer and Loon op Zand. As Kaatsheuvel is a municipality capital, it has a town hall located in the town centre.
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[edit] Etymology
Kaatsheuvel is a combination of the words Kaats and Heuvel, Heuvel being the Dutch word for "hill". The etymology of Kaats is less clear. One theory regarding the origin of the name is that it originates from St. Catharina, a popular saint at the time. Another theory holds that the early inhabitants of Kaatsheuvel were well known for playing a game called kaatsspel on a hill nearby. However, the most likely explanation is thata man named Hendrik Cets lived on a hill where Kaatsheuvel now stands in the 17th century, and over time this place came to be known as Cetsheuvel, and eventually Kaatsheuvel.
[edit] Economy
Historically, the economy of Kaatsheuvel was primarily dependent on the shoe industry, and some companies, such as Bunnies Kinderschoenen, still have their headquarters located in Kaatsheuvel. In the 1950s, then mayor Van der Heijden wanted to attract other industries to the burgeoning village in order to secure its economic future. To this end a theme park, called The Efteling, was completed on 31 May 1952, and tourism gradually replaced the shoe industry as the major economic draw of the city. The economy of Kaatsheuvel was further bolstered by Ben Mandemakers, when he established his now famous Mandemakers Keukens.
[edit] Location
Kaatsheuvel is situated near the municipalities of Waalwijk and Drunen. It is also close to the cities Tilburg, 's-Hertogenbosch, and Breda.
[edit] People born in Kaatsheuvel
- Marius van Amelsfoort (1930–2006), Dutch politician
- Anne Govaert (1983- ), Krezip
- Jacqueline Govaert (1982- ), Krezip
