Editing Tildonk

{{refimprove|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
| name                    = Tildonk
| image_skyline           = Sint Jan-Baptist church Tildonk.jpg
| image_caption           = Saint John the Baptist Church
| imagesize               = 250x210px
| image_flag              = 
| flag_size               = 120x100px
| image_shield            = 
| shield_size             = 100x100px
| pushpin_map             = Belgium
| pushpin_label           = Tildonk
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location in Belgium
| coordinates = {{coord|50|56|N|4|38|E|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = Belgium
| subdivision_type1       = [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|Region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Flemish Region]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium|Community]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Flemish Community]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Provinces of Belgium|Province]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Flemish Brabant]]
| subdivision_type4       = [[Arrondissements of Belgium#Administrative|Arrondissement]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[Leuven administrative Arrondissement|Leuven]]
| subdivision_type5       = [[Municipalities of Belgium|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name5       = [[Haacht]]
| area_total_km2          = 
| population_footnotes    = 
| population_total        = 
| population_as_of        = 
| population_density_km2  = auto
| postal_code_type        = Postal codes
| postal_code             = 3150
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Belgium|Area codes]]
| area_code               = 
| website                 = 
| footnotes               = {{hidden | header = Location of Haacht in Flemish Brabant | content = [[File:Haacht Flemish-Brabant Belgium Map.svg|250x250px]]| contentstyle = text-align: center; }}
}}

'''Tildonk''' is a village located in the [[Belgium|Belgian]] province of [[Flemish Brabant]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place//@50.933333,4.633333,12z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0!5m1!1e4?hl=en | title=Google Maps }}</ref> and, since 1977, is part of the [[Municipalities of Belgium|municipality]] of [[Haacht]], together with [[Wespelaar]], [[Wakkerzeel]] and [[Kelfs]].  It has a total area of 7.31&nbsp;km².

==History==
Traces of civilization have been found from the period of around 3000 BCE between the hamlet Hambos and adjacent Kelfs. Later there was a [[Gaul|Gallic]] settlement at about the same location.  The oldest mention of Tildonk occurred in 1107 in the family name of Reinerus de ''Thieldunck''.

The name ''Tildonk'' is the joining of 2 medieval words: ''til'' (forest) and ''donk'' (elevation). During the 12th century the knights van Tildonk, pledged to the [[Duke of Brabant]], lived in two [[Motte-and-bailey|mottes]]: Oudenborg and  Nieuwenborg (where the current Kasteeltje is located). Tildonk was elevated to the title of [[count]]y in 1699 as part of the fiefdom of Charles L'Archier. Later it came into the hands of the noble [[Lalaing family#Counts of Lalaing-Thildoncq|house of Lalaing]]. Count Maximilian de Lalaing was the most prominent de Lalaing lord of Tildonk.

Since 1750, Tildonk is traversed by the [[Leuven]]-[[Rupel]] canal and, since 1837, by the [[Mechelen]]-Leuven railroad line.

In 1821, the priest Joannes Cornelius Martinus Lambertz started the [[Ursulines]] convent that later became the "mother convent" of numerous new institutions spread over 4 continents. The convent was renowned for its international school.  The stylish [[Art Nouveau]] hall for parties was used as a setting in various films.

==Protected cultural heritage==
* The village centre (convent, church, cemetery, rectory)
* The [[Canal lock|lock]] and lock house
* The farm of de Lalaing (Kasteeltje)
* The Our Lady of Comfort Chapel (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Troostkapel)

==Coat of arms==
In 1967, the municipality of Tildonk took over the escutcheon of the noble family de Lalaing: ''an oval escutcheon of gules with 10 united diamonds of silver, placed 3, 3, 3 and 1, the escutcheon held by two golden griffins looking backwards, topped with a crown of 3 fleurons separated by 3 groups of 3 pearls''.

==Further reading on Tildonk==
Gordts J., ''Tilloenk vruger'', Tildonk, 2006.

==References==
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{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Flemish Brabant]]