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Meerhout

Coordinates: 51°08′N 05°05′E / 51.133°N 5.083°E / 51.133; 5.083
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Meerhout
Flag of Meerhout
Coat of arms of Meerhout
Location of Meerhout
Map
Meerhout is located in Belgium
Meerhout
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; 5.083
Country Belgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceAntwerp
ArrondissementTurnhout
Government
 • MayorNele Geudens (CD)
 • Governing party/iesCD, VLD, Vlaams Belang
Area
 • Total
36.54 km2 (14.11 sq mi)
Population
 (2020-01-01)[1]
 • Total
10,324
 • Density280/km2 (730/sq mi)
Postal codes
2450
NIS code
13021
Area codes014
Websitewww.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
Year 1806 1816 1830 1846 1856 1866 1876 1880 1890
Population 2534 2845 3237 3633 3659 3664 3871 4043 4363
Note: results as of 31/12
20th century until reform
Year 1900 1910 1920 1930 1947 1961 1970 1976
Population 4531 5362 5871 6197 7189 7945 8567 8521
Note: results as of 31/12
After reform
Year 1977 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007 2008
Population 8521 8644 8790 9070 9190 9192 9317 9361 9463 9578
Note: results as of 01/01 - Source: National Institute of Statistics Belgium (NIS)

Tourism

There is quite a lot of tourism in Meerhout.[citation needed] Tourist routes include 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 popular among people from the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland.[citation needed] Some (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 travel to Meerhout to go to Groezrock, one of the world's largest punk rock festivals.[citation needed]

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. ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.