Meerhout
Meerhout | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 51°08′N 05°05′E / 51.133°N 5.083°E | |
Country | Belgium |
Community | Flemish Community |
Region | Flemish Region |
Province | Antwerp |
Arrondissement | Turnhout |
Government | |
• Mayor | Nele Geudens (CD) |
• Governing party/ies | CD, VLD, Vlaams Belang |
Area | |
• Total | 36.54 km2 (14.11 sq mi) |
Population (2020-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 10,324 |
• Density | 280/km2 (730/sq mi) |
Postal codes | 2450 |
NIS code | 13021 |
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.
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 |
Year | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1947 | 1961 | 1970 | 1976 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 4531 | 5362 | 5871 | 6197 | 7189 | 7945 | 8567 | 8521 | |
Note: results as of 31/12 |
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
- ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.