Meerhout
Meerhout | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
Location of 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 | |
| Country |  Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | Antwerp |
| Arrondissement | Turnhout |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nele Geudens (CD&V) |
| • Governing party/ies | CD (CD&V) |
| 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. In 2021, Meerhout had a total population of 10,279.[2] 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, Flemish 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 Inhabitant
- Kate Ryan (Female artist, won several awards, also well known in France, and getting more famous in other countries all over Europe)
References
- ^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
- ^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 13021". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
External links
| International | |
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| Geographic | |
