Editing Schoten (section)

==History==
[[File:Kasteel van Schoten.jpg|thumb|left|Schoten castle]]

===Early Middle Ages===
The history and usage of the name Schoten may have come from the name given to the wooden dividing walls (''schot'' in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]) that were driven in the ground to separate private property.  The [[Christianization]] of the area dates from the end of the 7th century, under the influence of Abbot [[Ursmarus]], of [[Lobbes Abbey]], which owned property here.

In the 12th century, the territory was under the political authority of the lords of [[Breda]], then of the lords of [[Bergen-op-Zoom]].  Religiously, it was administered by the Villers Abbey.

===16th century until today===
Already by the beginning of the 16th century, well-off burghers and merchants from neighboring Antwerp built castles in Schoten as secondary residences.  The local community succeeded, however, in maintaining its rural [[Campine]] character until well into the 19th century.  Industry first developed on the border with [[Merksem]], later along the [[Albert Canal]].  Much of the rest of the town's territory was kept green and was again used by neighboring Antwerp residents for building extensive villas such as ''Koningshof'' and ''Schotenhof''.  Today about 30% of Schoten's territory still consists of forested areas, a great achievement given its location only {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=on}} away from the center of Antwerp.