Houthalen-Helchteren

Houthalen-Helchteren
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Houthalen-Helchteren
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Limburg
Arrondissement	Maaseik
Government
• Mayor	Alain IJzermans (sp.a)
• Governing party/ies	sp.a, CD&V
Area
• Total	78.23 km2 (30.20 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)
• Total	30,623
• Density	390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Postal codes	3530
NIS code	72039
Area codes	011, 089
Website	www.houthalen-helchteren.be

Houthalen-Helchteren (Limburgish: Hôtele-Helichtre) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. Houthalen-Helchteren consists of: Houthalen-centrum, Houthalen-Oost, Helchteren, Sonnis, Laak, Meulenberg and Lillo. On January 1, 2006, Houthalen-Helchteren had a total population of around 31.000. The total area is 78.27 km² which gives a population density of 383 inhabitants per km².

Geography

Helchteren is located near the watershed between the Meuse and the Scheldt. In the immediate vicinity the Dommel (which flows to the Meuse near Den Bosch), the Grote Nete (which flows to the Scheldt) and the Neer (that joins the Meuse just south of Roermond) all originate.

History of Helchteren

Helchteren could have become famous in 1702 when, during the War of the Spanish Succession, a French Army under Boufflers faced an alliance army under Marlborough. A battle could have ensued, but instead it came to the not so famous cannonade of Helchteren. The cannonade itself is however a seldom occurring event in military history.

Notable people

• Ingrid Daubechies (born in Houthalen on 17 August 1954) physicist and mathematician.
• Nemo (Belgian band) was founded here in 1991.

External links

• Media related to Houthalen-Helchteren at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website - Information available in Dutch and limited information available in English.
• Helchteren at the Spanish Succession - Information about the cannonade at Helchteren in 1702.
• Digital Archive Marburg - Maps of the cannonade at Helchteren in 1702.