Editing Turnhout


{{use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox Belgium municipality
|name             = Turnhout
|picture          = Turnhout - Grote Markt, 2022-03-31, pic01.jpg
|picture-legend   = Grote Markt
|map              = Turnhout Antwerp Belgium Map.svg
|map-legend       = Location of Turnhout in the province of Antwerp
|arms             = Turnhout wapen2.svg
|flag             = Flag of Turnhout.svg
|region           = {{BE-REG-FLE}}
|community        = {{BE-NL}}
|province         = {{BE-PROV-AN}}
|arrondissement   = [[Arrondissement of Turnhout|Turnhout]]
|nis=13040
|pyramid-date=
|0-19=
|20-64=
|65=
|foreigners= 
|foreigners-date= 
|mayor            = Hannes Anaf ([[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]])
|majority         = [[Vooruit (political party)|Vooruit]],[[New Flemish Alliance|N-VA]], [[Christian Democratic and Flemish|CD&V]]
|postal-codes     = 2300
|telephone-area   = 014
|web              = [http://www.turnhout.be www.turnhout.be]
|coordinates      = {{coord|51|19|N|04|57|E|region:BE|display=inline,title}}
}}
'''Turnhout''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈtʏr(ə)nɦʌut}}) is a [[Belgium|Belgian]] [[Municipalities in Belgium|municipality]] and city located in the [[Flemish Region|Flemish]] [[Provinces of Belgium|province]] of [[Antwerp (province)|Antwerp]]. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. In 2021, its population was 45,874.<ref name="stat">{{cite web|url=https://statbel.fgov.be/sites/default/files/files/opendata/bevolking/sectoren/OPENDATA_SECTOREN_2021.xlsx |title=Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 13040 |website=Statistics Belgium |access-date=10 May 2022 }}</ref> The total area is {{cvt|56.06|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.citypopulation.de/Belgium-Mun.html| title = Belgium: Major Cities and Municipalities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information}} </ref> The agglomeration is much more populous, with 81,473 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.citypopulation.de/php/belgium-agglo.php| title = Agglomerations (Belgium): Urban Agglomerations - Population Statistics, Charts and Map}} </ref> It is known for its [[playing card]] industry, and houses the head office of the world's largest manufacturer of [[playing card]]s, [[Cartamundi]]. Turnhout is also the [[Capital (political)|capital]] of the administrative district with the same name. The city council often promotes the city as "the capital of the [[Campine|Kempen]] area." This designation is entirely unofficial, since the [[Campine|Kempen]] area is far larger than the Turnhout district and does not form an administrative unit.

Turnhout serves as the economic and cultural center for other communities in the immediate vicinity with more than 40 schools. There is also an important services sector with two hospitals, a two-stage theatre, an eight-screen cinema and one of the largest cultural centres of Belgium.

Turnhout is located at about 51.3 North and 4.9 East, {{cvt|42|km}} from the centre of [[Antwerp]], {{cvt|30|km}} from [[Breda]] and [[Tilburg]], {{cvt|40|km}} from [[Eindhoven]]. The [[football (soccer)|football]] club of the city is [[K.V. Turnhout]].

In reference to 2021 census, the population of Turnhout was recorded at 45,874<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities and Municipalities in Turnhout (Antwerpen, Belgium) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/belgium/antwerpen/13000__turnhout/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>

==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>

==Sights==
Architectural sights worth visiting are the 12th century [[castle]] of the [[Duke of Brabant|Dukes of Brabant]], the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] church of [[St. Peter]], the [[beguinage]] (begijnhof) dating from the 13th century, the 14th century Gothic chapel of Theobald and the Taxandria museum housed in a prestigious [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] mansion. Of particular interest is the Museum of the Playing Card. This is located in an old factory building downtown and houses a beautifully restored steam engine.

The beguinage was recognized by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1998.

The largest building in Turnhout is the Turnova tower, built in 2019. It is considered the first skyscraper in the city.

== Sports ==

* [[KFC Turnhout]], a [[Association football|football]] club
* [[White Caps Turnhout]], an [[ice hockey]] club
* [[Rugbyclub Turnhout|RC Turnhout]], a [[Rugby union|rugby]] club

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:Turnhout, Sint Pieterskerk foto15 2010-10-03 13.10.JPG|Turnhout, church: Sint Pieterskerk
Image:Turnhout, stadhuis foto4 2010-10-03 13.03.JPG|Turnhout, town hall
Image:Turnhout, treinstation foto7 2010-10-03 13.41.JPG|Turnhout, train station
Image:Turnhout, kerk7 foto1 2010-10-03 12.50.JPG|Turnhout, chapel
Image:Turnhout, watertoren foto3 2010-10-03 13.33.JPG|Turnhout, water tower
</gallery>
==Notable residents==
{{Further|:Category:People from Turnhout}}
[[File:Filip Daems.jpg|140px|thumb|Filip Daems]]
[[File:2018 EC Loena Hendrickx 2018-01-20 21-17-05 (4).jpg|140px|thumb|Loena Hendrickx]]
[[File:Beerse Statue Paul Janssen 070225.JPG|140px|thumb|Paul Janssen]]
* [[Marc de Bonte]], kickboxer (born 1990)
* [[Philippus Jacobus Brepols]], founder of [[Brepols]] (1778–1845) 
* [[Sven Breugelmans]], motocross world champion (born 1979)
* [[Pieter Corbeels]], printer and a leader of the ''Boerenkrijg'' (1755–1799)
* [[Filip Daems]], footballer (born 1978)
* [[Koen De Bouw]], actor (born 1964)
* [[Bart Dockx]], professional cyclist for [[UCI ProTeam]] [[Predictor-Lotto]] (born 1981)
* [[Didier de Chaffoy de Courcelles]], scientist and businessman (born 1952)
* [[François du Four]], printer and mayor (1871–1945)
* [[Paul Geerts]], comics artist, successor of [[Willy Vandersteen]] as artist and author for the [[Spike and Suzy]] comics (born 1937)
* [[Gaspar Gevartius]], jurisconsult of Antwerp and philologist (1593–1666)
* [[Joris Hendrickx]], [[2009 Sidecarcross world championship|2009 Sidecarcross world champion]] (born 1983)
* [[Loena Hendrickx]], figure skater (born 1999)
* [[Marcel Hendrickx]], politician and former Mayor (1935–2020)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/info/societe/detail_marcel-hendrickx-l-ancien-bourgmestre-de-turnhout-est-decede-a-l-age-de-85-ans?id=10618204|title=Marcel Hendrickx, l'ancien bourgmestre de Turnhout est décédé à l'âge de 85 ans|date=27 October 2020|work=RTBF|language=French}}</ref>
* [[Constant Janssen]], father of Paul Janssen and founder of the ''N.V. Producten Richter'' (1895–1970)
* [[Paul Janssen]], pharmacologist, founder of [[Janssen Pharmaceutica]] (1926–2003)
* [[Flor Joosen]], businessman, well known for his [[caviar]] business (born 1952) 
* [[Micha Marah]], singer, Eurovision representative in 1979 (born 1953)
* [[Aloïs Michielsen]], chairman of the board and former CEO of [[Solvay (company)|Solvay]] (born 1942)
* Cornelis Oomius, Calvinist preacher (c. 1576–1653), father of Calvinist theologian [[Simon Oomius]] (1630–1706)<ref>{{cite web |title=Cornelis Simonsz. Oomius |url=http://www.vondel.humanities.uva.nl/ecartico/persons/50778 |publisher=University of Amsterdam |access-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211211203306/http://www.vondel.humanities.uva.nl/ecartico/persons/50778 |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Greet Minnen]], tennis player (born 1997)
* [[Hendrik Peeters]], sculptor (1815–1869)
* [[Jozef Simons]], writer (1888–1948)
* [[Lieve Slegers]], long-distance runner (born 1965)
* [[Jan Renier Snieders]], physician and writer (1812–1888)
* [[Paul Stoffels]], co-founder of [[Tibotec]] and [[Virco]] (born 1962)
* [[Chika Unigwe]], writer (born 1974)
* [[Hans Van Alphen]], decathlete, 4th place in the [[London 2012 Olympics]] (born 1982)
* Maijcken Van Bracht, wife of [[Jan van de Velde the Elder]] and mother of [[Jan van de Velde]] (1620–1662)<ref>{{cite web |title=Maijcken van Bracht |url=http://www.vondel.humanities.uva.nl/ecartico/persons/11172 |publisher=University of Amsterdam |access-date=11 December 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211211172114/http://www.vondel.humanities.uva.nl/ecartico/persons/11172 |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Albert Van Dyck]], painter (1902–1951)
* [[Geert van Turnhout]], composer (c. 1520–1580)
* [[Jan van Turnhout]], composer (c. 1545–1618)
* [[Cornelis Verdonck]], composer of the late [[Renaissance]] (1563–1625)
* [[Frans Vermeyen]], footballer (born 1943)

==Twin towns – sister cities==
Turnhout is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Zustersteden|url=https://www.turnhout.be/zustersteden|publisher=Turnhout|language=nl|access-date=2023-01-12}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Hammelburg]], Germany
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Hanzhong]], China
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Gödöllő]], Hungary
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Mișca|Vânători (Mișca)]], Romania

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.turnhout.be Official website] - Available only in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
*[http://www.gazetvanturnhout.be Gazet van Turnhout] - Internetkrant van de Turnhoutse stadsregio - In Dutch only

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Turnhout
|North     = [[Baarle-Nassau]] ([[Netherlands|NL]]-[[North Brabant|NB]])
|Northeast = [[Ravels]]
|East      = [[Oud-Turnhout]]
|South     = [[Kasterlee]]
|West      = [[Merksplas]]<br />[[Beerse]]<br />[[Vosselaar]]
|Northwest = [[Baarle-Hertog]]
}}
{{Municipalities in Antwerp}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Turnhout| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Antwerp Province]]
[[Category:Populated places in Antwerp Province]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Belgium]]