Editing Turnhout (section)

==History==
Turnhout originated on the crossroads of two major trade routes and in the protection of the hunting castle of the [[Duke of Brabant|Dukes of Brabant]] that seems to have existed since 1110 or earlier. This hunting past is still reflected in the city's [[coat of arms]]. The small community that developed obtained its Libertas as a "free city" from [[Henry I, Duke of Brabant]] in about 1212.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A brief history of Turnhout |url=https://www.taxandriavzw.be/a-brief-history-of-turnhout.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Taxandria VZW |language=nl}}</ref> In 1338, the privilege of organizing a market on Saturday was granted, a tradition that still holds today, the city could now hold an annual fair so that all the goods from the surrounding villages could be offered for sale in Turnhout.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A brief history of Turnhout |url=https://www.taxandriavzw.be/a-brief-history-of-turnhout.html |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Taxandria VZW |language=nl}}</ref> In 1466, a traveler described the well-built houses and paved roads, and counted five churches.

[[File:Kasteel van de Hertogen van Brabant.jpg|thumbnail|left|Castle of the Dukes of Brabant in Turnhout]]
By the 16th century, Turnhout had become a wealthy commercial center. Unfortunately, the end of the century brought [[war]], [[fire]], [[confiscation]]s and [[epidemic]]s. Suppression and [[inquisition]] made many progressive citizens  to take refuge in the [[Dutch Republic]], leaving the land of Turnhout impoverished. The further history of Turnhout consists of a series of ups and downs. Many times, the city and surroundings were the playground of [[army|armies]], resulting in two major [[battle]]s named after Turnhout: one in [[Battle of Turnhout (1597)|1597]] and one in [[Battle of Turnhout (1789)|1789]] are referred to as [[Battle of Turnhout (disambiguation)|Battle of Turnhout]].

In 1830, Belgium became independent, and Turnhout fell just south of the new border with the Netherlands. The period of peace between 1831 and 1914 saw the digging of the [[Dessel–Turnhout–Schoten Canal|canal]] (1846) and the construction of the [[railroad]] (1855).

In the late [[Middle Ages]], Turnhout was a well-known center for the [[weaving]] of bedding articles and of the [[linen]] trade. At the start of the 19th century, these trades were replaced by industries based on the use of paper. [[Pieter Corbeels]] and [[Philippus Jacobus Brepols]] are considered to be the founders of this industry. Turnhout retains much of this industry today. Numerous graphics companies are located in the region, such as [[Brepols]], [[Group Joos]], [[Proost International Book Production]], [[Van Genechten Packaging]], and last but not least [[Cartamundi]], the world market leader of the [[playing card]] industry. In addition, the Belgian Centre for the Graphics Industry, and the [[Flemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication]] (Campus Blairon) are located in Turnhout. [[Soudal]], whose headquarters is located in Turnhout, is one of the leading companies in sealants.

=== Postal history ===
The Turnhout post office opened before 1830. It used postal code 122 with bars (before 1864), and 367 with points before 1874.<ref>Catalogue Spécialisé des Oblitérations Belges, 1849-1910, Nationale en Internationale Postzegelmanifestaties Antwerpen (NIPA), Antwerp, 1999.</ref>

Postal code since 1969: 2300.<ref>Liste des Numéros Postaux, Administration des Postes, Bruxelles 1969.</ref>