Antwerp (province)
Encyclopedia
Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region
, also called Flanders, and of Belgium
. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands
and the Belgian provinces of Limburg
, Flemish Brabant
and East Flanders
. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp
. It has an area of 2867 km² and with nearly 1.7 million inhabitants it is the country's most populous province. The province consists of 3 Arrondissements
, Antwerp, Mechelen and Turnhout. The eastern part of the province comprises the main part of the Campine
region.
the region was part of the Frankish Empire, which was divided into several pagi
. The territory of the present day province belonged to several pagi of which the region around Antwerp belonged to the Pagus Renesium. The Pagus Toxandria
stretched from North Brabant
into the Campine
region. To the south there was the Pagus Bracbatinse and the Pagus Hasbaniensis
. In 843 the Carolingian Empire
of Charlemagne
was divided among his sons and the river Scheldt
became the border between West Francia and East Francia. In 974 Otto II
established the Mark County of Antwerp as a defence against the County of Flanders
.
In 1106, Henry V
granted the Mark County to Godfrey I of Leuven
. His descendants would from 1235 onwards become the Dukes of Brabant and the region itself was the northern part of the Duchy of Brabant
. In 1430 the Duchy became part of the County of Burgundy
until 1477 when it fell to the House of Habsburg. In 1713, at the end of the Spanish Succession War the region became part of the Austrian Netherlands until 1794, with in 1790 the short lived United States of Belgium
. On 1 October 1795 the former Austrian Netherlands were annexed by France
under the French Directory
.
The modern province was created as the Department of the two Netes
during the First French Empire
(when the Southern Netherlands
were part of France
). After the defeat of Napoleon, the territory became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
as the province of Antwerp. In 1830, after the Belgian Revolution
the province kept its name.
during the First French Empire
, the official and standard language of the Antwerp province is Dutch
, and the local dialect is Brabantian
.
with the Ruhr Area
in North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
. Both the Iron Rhine railroad and the E313
(King Baudouin highway) and E34
highway
connect Antwerp with the Ruhr Area.
The river Schelde, an important waterway
, connects the Port of Antwerp with the North Sea
. The Albert Canal
connects the Scheldt in Antwerp with the Meuse
and Liège. Other canals are the Canal Dessel
– Kwaadmechelen
, Schoten
– Turnhout – Dessel
, and Herentals
– Bocholt
which flows into the Nete canal.
Of the International E-road network
, the E313
, E19
, and E34
run through parts of the province. The Kennedy Tunnel
and the Liefkenshoek Tunnel
connect the highway network of the province with East Flanders
and Ghent
. In addition a new Oosterweelconnection
is under consideration.
The railroads connect the major cites of the province, such as Antwerp, Mechelen
, Herentals
, Turnhout and Mol
. The Iron Rhine connects Antwerp with Mönchengladbach
in Germany
. The new High Speed Train
connects Antwerpen-Centraal railway station with Brussels
(HSL 4
) and Amsterdam
(HSL-Zuid
) at high speed. Antwerp International Airport
, located in Deurne is a regional airport
.
, Turnhout, Herentals
and Lier
. The Campine region is becoming a popular destination for tourists searching for a quiet and relaxed weekend. Old farms were transformed into bed and breakfast-hotels, the restaurant and café business is very active and an ingenious network for bicycle tours has come to life the past few years. Here and there still up to several dozens acres of large heathland - and forests, such as the Kalmthoutse Heide (E: Kalmthout heathland) in Kalmthout
, the moors around Turnhout, the Liereman (Oud-Turnhout
) and the Prinsenpark in Retie
. In a number of villages one can still see the typical Campine langgevelboerderijen (E: long facade farms).
. Several research institutions are located in the province, such as the SCK•CEN
, the European Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
(IRMM) and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research
(VITO).
is the economic heart of the province. Until the agricultural crisis of 1880, the eastern part of the province was a largely agricultural region. The industrial development of the eastern part of the province, part of the Campine
region, started at the end of the 19th century when industry established itself in the region. The availability of cheap labor, new roads, canals, tramways and railroads such as the Iron Rhine, stimulated the settlement of new industry. Brick
making industry alongside the canals, paper and printing business in Turnhout. Non-ferrous metallurgy
in Balen-Nete, dynamite factories in Arendonk
and Balen
. Tobacco and cigar factories in Arendonk
and the first shoe factory in Herentals
. During the 1920s, the industrial expansion of the region continued with the radium
and copper
factories in Olen
, the glass factory in Mol-Gompel and the diamond industry in Grobbendonk
and Nijlen.
In the 20th century the first nuclear installation in Belgium
was established at the SCK•CEN
in Mol in 1962. The European Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
(IRMM), one of the EU Joint Research Centres, was founded in Geel
in 1957 as a result of the Treaty of Rome
. Innotek
is a technology centre located in Geel
and is part of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN). Industry in the Campine region of the province is mainly located alongside the E313
, the E34
and the Albert Canal
.
the Port of Antwerp
was expanded and on its premises several chemical factories and oil refineries
were established, such as Bayer
, BASF
, Monsanto Company. The chemical and petrochemical
industry is widely represented in the port region and comprises the world's second largest cluster of petrochemical industry, next to Houston
(USA). In 1967 Amoco Chemical Belgium N.V., now BP
, was founded in Geel
.
Pharmaceutical industry was founded in Beerse
in the sixties, with Janssen Pharmaceutica
and more recently with Genzyme
in Geel
. Soudal
(silicon
) in Turnhout and Ravago
(plastics) in Arendonk
became leading companies in their markets.
industry and trade is traditionally located in Antwerp. At the end of the 19th century Hendrik Cassiers founded the first diamond cutting company outside Antwerp, in Grobbendonk
. Hendrik Cassiers and Frans Dela Montagne laid the foundations of the diamond industry in the Campine region. The industry would settle in Nijlen, Herenthout
, Bevel
, Kessel, Vorselaar
and Berlaar
.
, which roots date back to 1796 when Pieter Corbeels
established his printing business in Turnhout. In 1833, Van Genechten N.V.
, Splichal N.V. in 1856, Mesmaekers Freres in 1859, Meses-Goris in 1872, L. Biermans in 1875, Poupaert in 1881, La Belgica N.V. in 1907, H. Proost & Co
in 1913 , J. Van Mierlo-Proost in 1918, Lityca in 1932 and Veloutex in 1951. More recently in 1970, Cartamundi
was established, a world leader in playing cards.
region became renowned for its non ferrous metallurgies. The Campine
region was scarcely populated in the 19th century and with the availability of canal
s, the Iron Rhine and cheap labor, several metallurgies
were established in the region. In 1888-1889 the metallurgy La Vieille Montagne
was founded in Balen-Nete
, close the Iron Rhine and the canal to Beverlo. The company had its roots in the exploitation of the zinc
mines of Moresnet.
The Union Minière du Haut Katanga
founded the Société Générale Métallurgique de Hoboken in Olen
, which was established along the Iron Rhine and the Albert Canal
. The factory produced radium
, cobalt
and copper
from the mines of the Union Minière in Katanga
, Belgian Congo
and Rhodesia
. Along the canal Turnhout-Schoten
the Métallurgique de la Campine was established in 1910 for the production of lead
and antimony
. In 1919 La Metallo-Chimique was established which specialized in the production of copper.
, was founded to extract the silica sand layers in Mol for industrial applications (glass
). In 1920 the glass bottle manufacture Beles Réunios was set up in Mol-Donk.
In 1921 a group of Belgian banks, the Mutuelle Mobilière & Immobilière, the Société Générale de Belgique
, the Banque de Bruxelles and the Financière de Transport together with the American group Libbey-Owens
founded the Cie Internationale pour la fabrication mécanique de Verre in Mol Gompel. In 1931, due to the economic crisis, the company merged into Glaces et Verres (Glaver). In 1961 Glaver would merge with Univerbel into Glaverbel.
factories were established in the region. In 1875, the Societe Anonyme d'Arendonk was established which premises would later become part of Ravago
. In 1881 La Forcite N.V. was established near Balen
, which was later acquired in 1920 by the Poudreries Réunies de Belgique (PRB). In 1887 a factory was founded near Herentals
, which was closed due to the vicinity to the city. The factories produced explosives for the mines
and quarries
. The factories in the province are now closed down.
processing industry was based on the wool from the sheep which were kept on the Campine
heath
. The centre of the textile industry in the province could be found in Turnhout. Wool processing companies such as Wolspinnerij Van Iersel, Spinnerij en Weverij Van Hoof and De Wollendekensfabriek Van Doren were located in Mol.
became the centre of the tobacco
industry. Additional factories were founded in Turnhout, Mol
, Geel
and Herentals
. After World War II
, the ALTO sigar factory was founded by Frans Van den Bergh
who would also play an important role at Janssen Pharmaceutica
.
The province is divided into three administrative arrondissement
s (arrondissementen in Dutch
) containing 70 municipalities :
Flemish Region
The Flemish Region is one of the three official regions of the Kingdom of Belgium—alongside the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region. Colloquially, it is usually simply referred to as Flanders, of which it is the institutional iteration within the context of the Belgian political system...
, also called Flanders, and of Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It borders on (clockwise from the North) the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the Belgian provinces of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
, Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
and East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp
Port of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...
. It has an area of 2867 km² and with nearly 1.7 million inhabitants it is the country's most populous province. The province consists of 3 Arrondissements
Arrondissements of Belgium
The federalized country Belgium geographically consists of 3 regions, of which only Flemish Region and Walloon Region are subdivided into 5 provinces each; the Brussels-Capital Region is neither a province nor is it part of one....
, Antwerp, Mechelen and Turnhout. The eastern part of the province comprises the main part of the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region.
History
During the early Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the region was part of the Frankish Empire, which was divided into several pagi
Pagus
In the later Western Roman Empire, following the reorganization of Diocletian, a pagus became the smallest administrative district of a province....
. The territory of the present day province belonged to several pagi of which the region around Antwerp belonged to the Pagus Renesium. The Pagus Toxandria
Toxandria
Toxandria is the classical name for a region between the Meuse and the Scheldt rivers in the Netherlands and Belgium. The name is also spelled Taxandria...
stretched from North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
into the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region. To the south there was the Pagus Bracbatinse and the Pagus Hasbaniensis
Hesbaye
Hesbaye or Haspengouw , is a region spanning the south of the Belgian province of Limburg, the east of the Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant, and the northwestern part of the province of Liège.The Limburgish portion contains the cities of Tongeren, Sint-Truiden, Bilzen and...
. In 843 the Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire
Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term which has been used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty in the Early Middle Ages. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany, and its beginning date is based on the crowning of Charlemagne, or Charles the...
of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
was divided among his sons and the river Scheldt
Scheldt
The Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
became the border between West Francia and East Francia. In 974 Otto II
Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto II , called the Red, was the third ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty, the son of Otto the Great and Adelaide of Italy.-Early years and co-ruler with Otto I:...
established the Mark County of Antwerp as a defence against the County of Flanders
County of Flanders
The County of Flanders was one of the territories constituting the Low Countries. The county existed from 862 to 1795. It was one of the original secular fiefs of France and for centuries was one of the most affluent regions in Europe....
.
In 1106, Henry V
Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry V was King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor , the fourth and last ruler of the Salian dynasty. Henry's reign coincided with the final phase of the great Investiture Controversy, which had pitted pope against emperor...
granted the Mark County to Godfrey I of Leuven
Godfrey I of Leuven
Godfrey I , called the Bearded, the Courageous, or the Great, was the landgrave of Brabant, and count of Brussels and Leuven from 1095 to his death and duke of Lower Lorraine from 1106 to 1129...
. His descendants would from 1235 onwards become the Dukes of Brabant and the region itself was the northern part of the Duchy of Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
. In 1430 the Duchy became part of the County of Burgundy
County of Burgundy
The Free County of Burgundy , was a medieval county , within the traditional province and modern French region Franche-Comté, whose very French name is still reminiscent of the unusual title of its count: Freigraf...
until 1477 when it fell to the House of Habsburg. In 1713, at the end of the Spanish Succession War the region became part of the Austrian Netherlands until 1794, with in 1790 the short lived United States of Belgium
United States of Belgium
The United States of Belgium, part of Brabant.In October, he invaded Brabant and captured Turnhout, defeating the Austrians in the Battle of Turnhout on October 27. Ghent was taken on November 13, and on November 17 the imperial regents Albert of Saxony and Archduchess Maria Christina fled Brussels...
. On 1 October 1795 the former Austrian Netherlands were annexed by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
under the French Directory
French Directory
The Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate...
.
The modern province was created as the Department of the two Netes
Deux-Nèthes
Deux-Nèthes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Belgium and the Netherlands. It is named after two branches of the river Nete. The southern part of its territory corresponds more or less with the present Belgian province Antwerp....
during the First French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
(when the Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
were part of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
). After the defeat of Napoleon, the territory became part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
as the province of Antwerp. In 1830, after the Belgian Revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
the province kept its name.
Prefects from 1800 until 1814
Prefects of the Department of the two NetesDeux-Nèthes
Deux-Nèthes is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Belgium and the Netherlands. It is named after two branches of the river Nete. The southern part of its territory corresponds more or less with the present Belgian province Antwerp....
during the First French Empire
First French Empire
The First French Empire , also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France...
- MarquisMarquisMarquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
Charles Joseph Fortuné d'Herbouville (1800–1805) - Charles Cochon (1805–1808)
- Marc René Marie de Voyer d'Argenson (1809–1813)
- BaronBaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
Jacques Fortunat de Savoye-Rollin (1813–1814)
Governors from 1815 until 1830
Governors of the province of Antwerp during the United Kingdom of the NetherlandsUnited Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
- Charles–Louis van Keverberg van Kessel (1815–1817)
- Pierre Joseph Pycke (1817–1820)
- Leonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de GisigniesLeonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de GisigniesLeonard Pierre Joseph, Viscount du Bus de Gisignies was a soldier and politician in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. He was born as Leonard Pierre Joseph Dubus, but on 14 June 1822, because of name multiplication, du Bus de Gisignies was added to his name...
(1820–1823) - André Charles Membrede (1823–1828)
- Edmond Charles Giullaume Ghislain de la Coste (1828–1829)
- Alexandre François Ghislain van der Fosse (1830)
Governors since 1830
Governors of the Belgian province of Antwerp- François de RobianoFrançois de RobianoCount François Xavier Jean–Marie de Robiano was a Belgian politician. He was the first governor of the province of Antwerp after the independence of Belgium in 1830.-Political career:...
(1830–1831) - Jean-François TielemansJean-François TielemansJean–François Tielemans was a Belgian lawyer and liberal politician. He was interim governor of the province of Antwerp from 7 April 1831 until 14 June 1831 and governor of the province of Liège from 4 June 1831 until 4 October 1832.-To 1830:Tielemans' parents belonged to the mercantile...
(1831) - Charles RogierCharles RogierCharles Latour Rogier was a Belgian liberal statesman and a leader in the Belgian Revolution of 1830. He became Prime Minister of Belgium on two separate occasions: from 1847 to 1852, and again from 1857 to 1868....
(1831–1832 and 1834–1840) - Henri de BrouckèreHenri de BrouckèreJonkheer Henri Ghislain Joseph Marie Hyacinthe de Brouckère was a Belgian nobleman and liberal politician. Born in Bruges, he was a magistrate, and a professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. His brother Charles was mayor of Brussels.He served as governor of Antwerp from 1840 to 1844, and of...
(1840–1844) - Jules MalouJules MalouJules Edouard Xavier Malou was a Belgian statesman, a leader of the clerical party.He was born at Ypres. He was a civil servant in the department of justice when he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies by his native constituency in 1841, and was for some time governor of the province of Antwerp...
(1844–1845) - Jan TeichmannJan TeichmannJean Théodore Frédéric Teichmann was a Belgian engineer and politician. He was governor ad interim of the province of Antwerp from 11 October 1833 until 3 August 1834 and governor from 10 November 1845 until 4 April 1862.-Political career:Jan Teichmann was ad interim Belgian minister of Interior...
(1845–1862) - Edward Pycke d'Ideghem (1862–1887)
- Charles du Bois de VroylandeCharles du Bois de VroylandeJonkheer Charles Louis du Bois de Vroylande was a Belgian lawyer and politician. He was governor of the province of Antwerp from 24 March 1887 until 30 December 1888.- Political career :...
(1887–1888) - Edward Osy de Zegwaart (1889–1900)
- Fredegand CogelsFredegand CogelsBaron Fredegandus Patricius Jospehus Maria Cogels was a Belgian politician and a member of the Meeting party...
(1900–1907) - Louis de Brouchoven de BergeyckLouis de Brouchoven de BergeyckCount Louis Charles Joseph Marie de Brouchoven de Bergeyck was a Belgian politician. He was governor of the province of Antwerp from 15 November 1907 until 14 March 1908.-Political career:...
(1907–1908) - Ferdinand de Baillet-LatourFerdinand de Baillet-LatourCount Ferdinand Charles Louis Antoine de Baillet–Latour was a Belgian politician. He was governor of the province of Antwerp from 14 March 1908 until 31 December 1912...
(1908–1912) - Gaston van de Werve de Schilde (1912–1923)
- Georges HolvoetGeorges HolvoetBaron Georges Josephus Lamoraldus Maria Gislemus Holvoet Baron Georges Josephus Lamoraldus Maria Gislemus Holvoet Baron Georges Josephus Lamoraldus Maria Gislemus Holvoet (Antwerp, 16 August 1874 – Elsene, 23 April 1967 was a Belgian lawyer and Roman Catholic politician...
(1923–1945) - Richard DeclerckRichard DeclerckRichard August François Declerck was a Belgian lawyer and politician. He was governor of the province of Antwerp from 7 January 1946 until 31 December 1966.-Political career:...
(1946–1966) - Andries KinsbergenAndries KinsbergenAndries Kinsbergen is a Belgian lawyer and liberal politician. He was governor of the Belgian province Antwerp from 1 January 1967 until 1 October 1993.-Education:...
(1967–1993) - Camille PaulusCamille PaulusCamille Paulus is a Belgian lawyer and liberal politician. He was governor of the Belgian province of Antwerp from 1 October 1993 until 30 April 2008.-Education:...
(1993–2008) - Cathy BerxCathy BerxCathy Berx is a Belgian Roman Catholic politician, jurist and governor of the province of Antwerp. Cathy Berx is married to Johan Meeusen, vice-rector and professor of European Law at the University of Antwerp, and has 2 children....
(since 2008)
Population
- 1846: 406,354
- 1856: 434,485
- 1866: 456,607
- 1880: 577,232
- 1890: 700,019
- 1900: 819,159
- 1910: 968,677
- 1920: 1,016,963
- 1930: 1,173,363
- 1947: 1,281,333
- 2008: 1,715,707
- 2010: 1,744,862
Language
As in all Flemish provincesFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, the official and standard language of the Antwerp province is Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
, and the local dialect is Brabantian
Brabantian
Brabantian or Brabantish, also Brabantic , is a dialect group of the Dutch language. It is named after the historical Duchy of Brabant which corresponded mainly to the Dutch province of North Brabant, the Belgian provinces of Antwerp and Flemish Brabant, as well as the institutional Region of...
.
Geography
- Highest point: Beerzelberg (55 m) located in the municipalityMunicipalityA municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
PuttePuttePutte is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Putte, Beerzel, Grasheide and Peulis. The town of Putte is around east of Mechelen. On January 1, 2006 Putte had a total population of 15,690...
. - Most important rivers: ScheldtScheldtThe Scheldt is a 350 km long river in northern France, western Belgium and the southwestern part of the Netherlands...
, RupelRupelThe Rupel is a tidal river in northern Belgium, right tributary of the Scheldt. It is about 12 km long. It flows through the Belgian province Antwerp. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Dijle and Nete, in Rumst. It flows into the Scheldt at Rupelmonde. Towns along the Rupel are...
, Grote Nete, Kleine Nete
Traffic infrastructure
The province has a network of roads, railroads, canals and rivers which provide a modern infrastructure. Historically, the traffic infrastructure was an important element of connecting the Port of AntwerpPort of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...
with the Ruhr Area
Ruhr Area
The Ruhr, by German-speaking geographers and historians more accurately called Ruhr district or Ruhr region , is an urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With 4435 km² and a population of some 5.2 million , it is the largest urban agglomeration in Germany...
in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Both the Iron Rhine railroad and the E313
European route E313
The European route E 313 is a road in Europe and a part of the United Nations International E-road network. Approximately long, it connects the Belgian port city of Antwerp to Liège, the commercial and industrial centre of Wallonia...
(King Baudouin highway) and E34
European route E34
The European route E 34 is a road in Europe and a part of the United Nations International E-road network. It connects Zeebrugge, the major seaport of Bruges, with Bad Oeynhausen, a German spa town located beside the River Weser at the eastern edge of North Rhine-Westphalia. At Bad Oeynhausen...
highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
connect Antwerp with the Ruhr Area.
The river Schelde, an important waterway
Waterway
A waterway is any navigable body of water. Waterways can include rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, and canals. In order for a waterway to be navigable, it must meet several criteria:...
, connects the Port of Antwerp with the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. The Albert Canal
Albert Canal
The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, named after King Albert I of Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Liège and the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. It has a depth of , a free height of and a total length of...
connects the Scheldt in Antwerp with the Meuse
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
and Liège. Other canals are the Canal Dessel
Dessel
Dessel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Dessel proper. On January 1, 2006 Dessel had a total population of 8,773 inhabitants...
– Kwaadmechelen
Kwaadmechelen
Kwaadmechelen is a hamlet of Ham, Belgium...
, Schoten
Schoten
Schoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schoten proper. On January 1, 2006 Schoten had a total population of 33,160. The total area is which gives a population density of 1,122 inhabitants per km². Schoten abuts the...
– Turnhout – Dessel
Dessel
Dessel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Dessel proper. On January 1, 2006 Dessel had a total population of 8,773 inhabitants...
, and Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
– Bocholt
Bocholt
There are two towns called Bocholt:* Bocholt, Germany* Bocholt, Belgium...
which flows into the Nete canal.
Of the International E-road network
International E-road network
The international E-road network is a numbering system for roads in Europe developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe . The network is numbered from E 1 up and its roads cross national borders...
, the E313
European route E313
The European route E 313 is a road in Europe and a part of the United Nations International E-road network. Approximately long, it connects the Belgian port city of Antwerp to Liège, the commercial and industrial centre of Wallonia...
, E19
European route E19
European route E 19 is long European route. Its route begins in the Netherlands, and ends in France, via Belgium. Cities it passes en route include:* Netherlands: Amsterdam - Den Haag - Rijswijk - Rotterdam - Breda...
, and E34
European route E34
The European route E 34 is a road in Europe and a part of the United Nations International E-road network. It connects Zeebrugge, the major seaport of Bruges, with Bad Oeynhausen, a German spa town located beside the River Weser at the eastern edge of North Rhine-Westphalia. At Bad Oeynhausen...
run through parts of the province. The Kennedy Tunnel
Kennedy Tunnel
The Kennedytunnel is an important road, rail and bicycle tunnel to the south of Antwerp under the Scheldt. The road tunnel forms a part of Highway R1, the not yet completed inner ring motorway surrounding the city. Opened to road traffic on 31 May 1969, and to rail traffic on 1 February 1970, ...
and the Liefkenshoek Tunnel
Liefkenshoek Tunnel
The Liefkenshoektunnel is a toll tunnel to the north of Antwerp under the River Schelde. The tunnel is a continuation of Highway R2, the ring motorway surrounding the city and harbour of Antwerp. In 2010 the tunnel was used by 6,373,894 vehicles...
connect the highway network of the province with East Flanders
East Flanders
East Flanders is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and in Belgium on the provinces of Antwerp, Flemish Brabant , of Hainaut and of West Flanders...
and Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
. In addition a new Oosterweelconnection
Oosterweelconnection
The Oosterweelconnection is a long running proposed construction project intended to complete the Antwerp Ring Road.Beheersmaatschappij Antwerpen Mobiel , a Flemish Government controlled body has, since 2001, proposed to connect the Expressweg near Blokkersdijk via a toll tunnel underneath the...
is under consideration.
The railroads connect the major cites of the province, such as Antwerp, Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
, Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
, Turnhout and Mol
Mol
-Places:* City Municipality of Ljubljana, known after the acronym MOL in Slovene language * Märkisch-Oderland, a rural district of Brandenburg, Germany* Mol, Belgium, a municipality in Belgium* Mol, Serbia, a town in Serbia...
. The Iron Rhine connects Antwerp with Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach
Mönchengladbach , formerly known as Münchengladbach, is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located west of the Rhine half way between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border....
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The new High Speed Train
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
connects Antwerpen-Centraal railway station with Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
(HSL 4
HSL 4
The HSL 4 is a Belgian high-speed rail line which connects Brussels to the Dutch border. 87 km long , it was scheduled for completion by 2007.Together with the HSL 1 to the French border and HSL-Zuid to Amsterdam, the line has shortened journeys between Brussels,...
) and Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
(HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid , is a 125 km-long high-speed railway line in the Netherlands to the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway...
) at high speed. Antwerp International Airport
Antwerp International Airport
Antwerpen International Airport is located 2 km from the city of Antwerp, Belgium. It is home to a maintenance hangar for CityJet. In 2005 it served about 105,937 passengers . In 2010, the airport served 162,840 passengers...
, located in Deurne is a regional airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
.
Tourism
The province harbors several historical cities, such as Antwerp, MechelenMechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
, Turnhout, Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
and Lier
Lier, Belgium
Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per...
. The Campine region is becoming a popular destination for tourists searching for a quiet and relaxed weekend. Old farms were transformed into bed and breakfast-hotels, the restaurant and café business is very active and an ingenious network for bicycle tours has come to life the past few years. Here and there still up to several dozens acres of large heathland - and forests, such as the Kalmthoutse Heide (E: Kalmthout heathland) in Kalmthout
Kalmthout
Kalmthout is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the village of Kalmthout. On January 1, 2007 Kalmthout had a population of 17,508. The total area is...
, the moors around Turnhout, the Liereman (Oud-Turnhout
Oud-Turnhout
Oud-Turnhout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Oud-Turnhout proper. On January 1, 2006 Oud-Turnhout had a total population of 12,653. The total area is 38.80 km² which gives a population density of 326 inhabitants per...
) and the Prinsenpark in Retie
Retie
Retie is a municipality located in the Campine region of the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Retie proper. On 1 January 2006 Retie had a total population of 10,321...
. In a number of villages one can still see the typical Campine langgevelboerderijen (E: long facade farms).
Education and research
The province is home to several educational institutions and the University of AntwerpUniversity of Antwerp
The University of Antwerp is one of the major Belgian universities located in the city of Antwerp. The name is sometimes abbreviated as UA.-History:...
. Several research institutions are located in the province, such as the SCK•CEN
SCK•CEN
SCK•CEN is the Belgian nuclear research centre located in Mol, Belgium. SCK•CEN is active in various areas of research and services in the nuclear sector.-Organisation profile:...
, the European Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements , located in Geel, Belgium, is one of the seven institutes of the Joint Research Centre , a Directorate-General of the European Commission ....
(IRMM) and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research
Flemish institute for technological research
The Flemish institute for technological research or VITO, is a research centre, located in Mol, Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium. The institute performs contract research and develops products and processes in the fields of energy, environment and materials, for both the public and the private sector...
(VITO).
Economy
The Port of AntwerpPort of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...
is the economic heart of the province. Until the agricultural crisis of 1880, the eastern part of the province was a largely agricultural region. The industrial development of the eastern part of the province, part of the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region, started at the end of the 19th century when industry established itself in the region. The availability of cheap labor, new roads, canals, tramways and railroads such as the Iron Rhine, stimulated the settlement of new industry. Brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
making industry alongside the canals, paper and printing business in Turnhout. Non-ferrous metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
in Balen-Nete, dynamite factories in Arendonk
Arendonk
Arendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Arendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Arendonk had a total population of 12,215. The total area is 55.38 km² which gives a population density of 221 inhabitants per...
and Balen
Balen
Balen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Balen proper and Olmen. On 1 January 2009 Balen had a total population of 20,643...
. Tobacco and cigar factories in Arendonk
Arendonk
Arendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Arendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Arendonk had a total population of 12,215. The total area is 55.38 km² which gives a population density of 221 inhabitants per...
and the first shoe factory in Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
. During the 1920s, the industrial expansion of the region continued with the radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
factories in Olen
Olen
Olen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality actually comprises 3 towns, situated on a north-south axis....
, the glass factory in Mol-Gompel and the diamond industry in Grobbendonk
Grobbendonk
Grobbendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp . The municipality comprises the towns of Bouwel and Grobbendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Grobbendonk had a total population of 10,747. The total area is 28.36 km² which gives a population density of 379 inhabitants per...
and Nijlen.
In the 20th century the first nuclear installation in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
was established at the SCK•CEN
SCK•CEN
SCK•CEN is the Belgian nuclear research centre located in Mol, Belgium. SCK•CEN is active in various areas of research and services in the nuclear sector.-Organisation profile:...
in Mol in 1962. The European Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements , located in Geel, Belgium, is one of the seven institutes of the Joint Research Centre , a Directorate-General of the European Commission ....
(IRMM), one of the EU Joint Research Centres, was founded in Geel
Geel
Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
in 1957 as a result of the Treaty of Rome
Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, officially the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, was an international agreement that led to the founding of the European Economic Community on 1 January 1958. It was signed on 25 March 1957 by Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany...
. Innotek
Innotek (Belgium)
Innotek is a technology centre located in Geel, in the Campine region of Belgium. It is a public private partnership between the Antwerp province and several organisations located in the Campine region of the province.-History:...
is a technology centre located in Geel
Geel
Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
and is part of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network (EBN). Industry in the Campine region of the province is mainly located alongside the E313
European route E313
The European route E 313 is a road in Europe and a part of the United Nations International E-road network. Approximately long, it connects the Belgian port city of Antwerp to Liège, the commercial and industrial centre of Wallonia...
, the E34
European route E34
The European route E 34 is a road in Europe and a part of the United Nations International E-road network. It connects Zeebrugge, the major seaport of Bruges, with Bad Oeynhausen, a German spa town located beside the River Weser at the eastern edge of North Rhine-Westphalia. At Bad Oeynhausen...
and the Albert Canal
Albert Canal
The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, named after King Albert I of Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Liège and the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. It has a depth of , a free height of and a total length of...
.
Chemical industry
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Port of Antwerp
Port of Antwerp
The port of Antwerp, in Belgium, is a port in the heart of Europe accessible to capesize ships. Antwerp stands at the upper end of the tidal estuary of the Scheldt. The estuary is navigable by ships of more than 100,000 Gross Tons as far as 80 km inland. The inland location means that the port...
was expanded and on its premises several chemical factories and oil refineries
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
were established, such as Bayer
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
, BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
, Monsanto Company. The chemical and petrochemical
Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum. Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained from other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas, or renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane....
industry is widely represented in the port region and comprises the world's second largest cluster of petrochemical industry, next to Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
(USA). In 1967 Amoco Chemical Belgium N.V., now BP
BP
BP p.l.c. is a global oil and gas company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest energy company and fourth-largest company in the world measured by revenues and one of the six oil and gas "supermajors"...
, was founded in Geel
Geel
Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
.
Pharmaceutical industry was founded in Beerse
Beerse
Beerse is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Beerse proper and Vlimmeren. On 1 January 2006 Beerse had a total population of 16,482. By the end of 2007, this number had risen to 16,757. The total area is 37.48 km² which gives a...
in the sixties, with Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica is pharmaceutical company, established in Belgium in 1953 by Paul Janssen. Its headquarters are located in Beerse, in the Campine region of the province of Antwerp, Belgium. It was created not as a subsidiary of a chemical factory but solely with the aim of conducting...
and more recently with Genzyme
Genzyme
Genzyme Corporation is a fully owned subsidiary of Sanofi-Aventis. Before its acquisition, Genzyme was an American biotechnology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2010, Genzyme was the world’s third-largest biotechnology company, employing more than 11,000 people around the world...
in Geel
Geel
Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
. Soudal
Soudal
Soudal is a Belgian company whose headquarter is located in Turnhout . The company has developed into one of the most important independent producers of silicone and caulks , Polyurethane-Foams and adhesives in Europe.Soudal has a consolidated turnover of 340 million USD, and the company...
(silicon
Silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. A tetravalent metalloid, it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon, the nonmetal directly above it in the periodic table, but more reactive than germanium, the metalloid directly below it in the table...
) in Turnhout and Ravago
Ravago
Ravago is a Belgian plastic producing company with its headquarters located in Arendonk, Belgium. The company is active in the distribution, resale, compounding and recycling service for plastic and elastomeric raw materials...
(plastics) in Arendonk
Arendonk
Arendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Arendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Arendonk had a total population of 12,215. The total area is 55.38 km² which gives a population density of 221 inhabitants per...
became leading companies in their markets.
Diamond
The diamondDiamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
industry and trade is traditionally located in Antwerp. At the end of the 19th century Hendrik Cassiers founded the first diamond cutting company outside Antwerp, in Grobbendonk
Grobbendonk
Grobbendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp . The municipality comprises the towns of Bouwel and Grobbendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Grobbendonk had a total population of 10,747. The total area is 28.36 km² which gives a population density of 379 inhabitants per...
. Hendrik Cassiers and Frans Dela Montagne laid the foundations of the diamond industry in the Campine region. The industry would settle in Nijlen, Herenthout
Herenthout
Herenthout is a municipality located in the province of Antwerp in Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Herenthout proper. On January 1, 2006, Herenthout had a total population of 8,361...
, Bevel
Bevel
A beveled edge refers to an edge of a structure that is not perpendicular to the faces of the piece. The words bevel and chamfer overlap in usage; in general usage they are often interchanged, while in technical usage they may sometimes be differentiated as shown in the image at right.-Cutting...
, Kessel, Vorselaar
Vorselaar
Vorselaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Vorselaar proper. On January 1, 2006 Vorselaar had a total population of 7,359. The total area is 27.62 km² which gives a population density of 266 inhabitants per km².-Famous...
and Berlaar
Berlaar
Berlaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Berlaar proper and Gestel . On January 1, 2006 Berlaar had a total population of 10,612. The total area is 24.57 km² which gives a population density of 432 inhabitants per km².-History:The...
.
Paper
The region around Turnhout became famous for its printing business, with companies such as BrepolsBrepols
Brepols was once one of the largest printing companies of the world and one of the main employers in Turnhout . Besides its printing business, Brepols is also active as a publisher...
, which roots date back to 1796 when Pieter Corbeels
Pieter Corbeels
Pieter Corbeels was a Belgian book printer and resistance leader. He commanded part of the Brabantine forces during a revolt against the French Revolutionary regime known as the Boerenkrijg ....
established his printing business in Turnhout. In 1833, Van Genechten N.V.
Van Genechten Packaging
Van Genechten Packaging is a Belgian printing company, located in Turnhout. It is one of the companies of the printing valley located around Turnhout, Belgium.-History:...
, Splichal N.V. in 1856, Mesmaekers Freres in 1859, Meses-Goris in 1872, L. Biermans in 1875, Poupaert in 1881, La Belgica N.V. in 1907, H. Proost & Co
Proost (company)
Proost International Book Production is a Belgian manufacturer and supplier for the book publishing industry. It is one of the companies of the printing valley around Turnhout, Belgium...
in 1913 , J. Van Mierlo-Proost in 1918, Lityca in 1932 and Veloutex in 1951. More recently in 1970, Cartamundi
Cartamundi
Cartamundi, also called Carta Mundi, is a Belgian company, based in Turnhout, that produces and sells board games, card games, collectible card games, packages and playing cards through its manufacturing and sales subsidiaries...
was established, a world leader in playing cards.
Metallurgies
While Wallonia was famous for its steel industry, the CampineCampine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region became renowned for its non ferrous metallurgies. The Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
region was scarcely populated in the 19th century and with the availability of canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
s, the Iron Rhine and cheap labor, several metallurgies
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
were established in the region. In 1888-1889 the metallurgy La Vieille Montagne
Vieille Montagne
Vieille Montagne is the name of a former zinc mine in Kelmis , a town in Belgium between Liège and Aachen. The mine's name is French for "the old mountain", and this is also reflected in its German name, Altenberg...
was founded in Balen-Nete
Balen
Balen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Balen proper and Olmen. On 1 January 2009 Balen had a total population of 20,643...
, close the Iron Rhine and the canal to Beverlo. The company had its roots in the exploitation of the zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
mines of Moresnet.
The Union Minière du Haut Katanga
Union Minière du Haut Katanga
The Union Minière du Haut Katanga was a Belgian mining company, once operating in Katanga, in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
founded the Société Générale Métallurgique de Hoboken in Olen
Olen
Olen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality actually comprises 3 towns, situated on a north-south axis....
, which was established along the Iron Rhine and the Albert Canal
Albert Canal
The Albert Canal is a canal located in northeastern Belgium, named after King Albert I of Belgium. It connects the major cities Antwerp and Liège and the Meuse and Scheldt rivers. It has a depth of , a free height of and a total length of...
. The factory produced radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
, cobalt
Cobalt
Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. It is found naturally only in chemically combined form. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal....
and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
from the mines of the Union Minière in Katanga
Katanga Province
Katanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
, Belgian Congo
Belgian Congo
The Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
and Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
. Along the canal Turnhout-Schoten
Schoten
Schoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schoten proper. On January 1, 2006 Schoten had a total population of 33,160. The total area is which gives a population density of 1,122 inhabitants per km². Schoten abuts the...
the Métallurgique de la Campine was established in 1910 for the production of lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and antimony
Antimony
Antimony is a toxic chemical element with the symbol Sb and an atomic number of 51. A lustrous grey metalloid, it is found in nature mainly as the sulfide mineral stibnite...
. In 1919 La Metallo-Chimique was established which specialized in the production of copper.
Glass
In 1872 the Sablières et Carrières Réunies (SCR), now SibelcoSibelco
Sibelco has over 245 production units worldwide and is the disputed market leader in the extraction, production and distribution of the main industrial minerals: quartz, cristobalite, nepheline syenite, plastic clay and olivine...
, was founded to extract the silica sand layers in Mol for industrial applications (glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
). In 1920 the glass bottle manufacture Beles Réunios was set up in Mol-Donk.
In 1921 a group of Belgian banks, the Mutuelle Mobilière & Immobilière, the Société Générale de Belgique
Société Générale de Belgique
The Société Générale de Belgique was one of the largest companies that ever existed in Belgium. It was founded in 1822 by William I, and existed until 2003, when its then sole shareholder, Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, merged it with Tractebel to form Suez-Tractebel.-History:As part of the terms of the...
, the Banque de Bruxelles and the Financière de Transport together with the American group Libbey-Owens
Libbey Owens Ford
The Libbey–Owens–Ford Company was a producer of flat glass for the automotive and building products industries both for original equipment manufacturers and for replacement use. The company's headquarters and main factories were located in Toledo, Ohio, with large float glass plants in Rossford,...
founded the Cie Internationale pour la fabrication mécanique de Verre in Mol Gompel. In 1931, due to the economic crisis, the company merged into Glaces et Verres (Glaver). In 1961 Glaver would merge with Univerbel into Glaverbel.
Dynamite
As the Campine region was sparsely populated several dynamiteDynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
factories were established in the region. In 1875, the Societe Anonyme d'Arendonk was established which premises would later become part of Ravago
Ravago
Ravago is a Belgian plastic producing company with its headquarters located in Arendonk, Belgium. The company is active in the distribution, resale, compounding and recycling service for plastic and elastomeric raw materials...
. In 1881 La Forcite N.V. was established near Balen
Balen
Balen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Balen proper and Olmen. On 1 January 2009 Balen had a total population of 20,643...
, which was later acquired in 1920 by the Poudreries Réunies de Belgique (PRB). In 1887 a factory was founded near Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
, which was closed due to the vicinity to the city. The factories produced explosives for the mines
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and quarries
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
. The factories in the province are now closed down.
Textile
Historically, woolWool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
processing industry was based on the wool from the sheep which were kept on the Campine
Campine
The Campine is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-western Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands...
heath
Heath (habitat)
A heath or heathland is a dwarf-shrub habitat found on mainly low quality acidic soils, characterised by open, low growing woody vegetation, often dominated by plants of the Ericaceae. There are some clear differences between heath and moorland...
. The centre of the textile industry in the province could be found in Turnhout. Wool processing companies such as Wolspinnerij Van Iersel, Spinnerij en Weverij Van Hoof and De Wollendekensfabriek Van Doren were located in Mol.
Tobacco
At the end of the 19th century ArendonkArendonk
Arendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Arendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Arendonk had a total population of 12,215. The total area is 55.38 km² which gives a population density of 221 inhabitants per...
became the centre of the tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
industry. Additional factories were founded in Turnhout, Mol
Mol
-Places:* City Municipality of Ljubljana, known after the acronym MOL in Slovene language * Märkisch-Oderland, a rural district of Brandenburg, Germany* Mol, Belgium, a municipality in Belgium* Mol, Serbia, a town in Serbia...
, Geel
Geel
Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum...
and Herentals
Herentals
Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071...
. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the ALTO sigar factory was founded by Frans Van den Bergh
Frans Van den Bergh
Baron Frans Van den Bergh was a Belgian business man, who founded the cigar factory Alto in Turnhout, Belgium and who would become one of the leading managers of Janssen Pharmaceutica. In addition to his success with Alto, he was by the marriage of his daughter Lea related to Margriet...
who would also play an important role at Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica
Janssen Pharmaceutica is pharmaceutical company, established in Belgium in 1953 by Paul Janssen. Its headquarters are located in Beerse, in the Campine region of the province of Antwerp, Belgium. It was created not as a subsidiary of a chemical factory but solely with the aim of conducting...
.
Administrative subdivisions
Arrondissement
Arrondissement is any of various administrative divisions of France, certain other Francophone countries, and the Netherlands.-France:The 101 French departments are divided into 342 arrondissements, which may be translated into English as districts. The capital of an arrondissement is called a...
s (arrondissementen in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
) containing 70 municipalities :
| Antwerp arrondissement: | Mechelen arrondissement: | Turnhout arrondissement: |
|
Berlaar Berlaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Berlaar proper and Gestel . On January 1, 2006 Berlaar had a total population of 10,612. The total area is 24.57 km² which gives a population density of 432 inhabitants per km².-History:The... Bonheiden Bonheiden is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Bonheiden proper and Rijmenam. On January 1, 2006 Bonheiden had a total population of 14,510... Bornem Bornem is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Bornem proper, Hingene, Wintam, Mariekerke and Weert. On January 1, 2006 Bornem had a total population of 20,064... Duffel Duffel is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp.The municipality comprises only the town of Duffel proper. On January 1, 2006 Duffel had a total population of 16,019... Heist-op-den-Berg Heist-op-den-Berg is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the villages of Booischot , Hallaar, Heist-op-den-Berg proper , Itegem, Schriek and Wiekevorst.-History:The 48-meter-high hill on which Heist would... Lier, Belgium Lier is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Lier proper and the village of Koningshooikt. On January 1, 2010 Lier had a total population of 33,930. The total area is 49.70 km² which gives a population density of 669 inhabitants per... Mechelen Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived... Putte Putte is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Putte, Beerzel, Grasheide and Peulis. The town of Putte is around east of Mechelen. On January 1, 2006 Putte had a total population of 15,690... Puurs Puurs is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. It is located in the Flemish Region. The municipality comprises the towns of Breendonk, Liezele, Kalfort, Ruisbroek and Puurs proper. On January 1, 2006 Puurs had a total population of 16,029... Sint-Amands Sint-Amands is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Lippelo, Oppuurs and Sint-Amands proper. On January 1, 2006 Sint-Amands had a total population of 7,781... Sint-Katelijne-Waver Sint-Katelijne-Waver is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver and Sint-Katelijne-Waver proper. On January 1, 2006 Sint-Katelijne-Waver had a total population of 19,577... Willebroek Willebroek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Blaasveld, Heindonk, Tisselt, Klein Willebroek and Willebroek proper. On January 1, 2006 Willebroek had a total population of 23,044... |
Arendonk Arendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Arendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Arendonk had a total population of 12,215. The total area is 55.38 km² which gives a population density of 221 inhabitants per... Baarle-Hertog Baarle-Hertog is a municipality belonging to the Belgian province of Antwerp, but for the biggest part located in the Netherlands province of North Brabant. The municipality only comprises the town of Baarle-Hertog proper. On January 1, 2006 Baarle-Hertog had a total population of 2,306... Balen Balen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Balen proper and Olmen. On 1 January 2009 Balen had a total population of 20,643... Beerse Beerse is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Beerse proper and Vlimmeren. On 1 January 2006 Beerse had a total population of 16,482. By the end of 2007, this number had risen to 16,757. The total area is 37.48 km² which gives a... Dessel Dessel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Dessel proper. On January 1, 2006 Dessel had a total population of 8,773 inhabitants... Geel Geel is a city located in the Belgian province of Antwerp which acquired the status of a city in the 1980s.It comprises Central-Geel which is constituted of 4 old parishes a/o towns : Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven and Elsum... Grobbendonk Grobbendonk is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp . The municipality comprises the towns of Bouwel and Grobbendonk proper. On January 1, 2006 Grobbendonk had a total population of 10,747. The total area is 28.36 km² which gives a population density of 379 inhabitants per... Herentals Herentals is a city and municipality located in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium, and in the Flemish province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Herentals proper and the towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. On January 1, 2006 Herentals had a total population of 26,071... Herenthout Herenthout is a municipality located in the province of Antwerp in Belgium. The municipality only comprises the town of Herenthout proper. On January 1, 2006, Herenthout had a total population of 8,361... Herselt Herselt is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Herselt proper, Ramsel, Blauberg, Bergom and Varenwinkel. On January 1, 2006 Herselt had a total population of 13,836. The total area is 52.32 km² which gives a population density of 264... Hoogstraten Hoogstraten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the city of Hoogstraten proper and the towns of Meer, Meerle, Meersel-Dreef, Minderhout and Wortel,... Hulshout Hulshout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Houtvenne, Hulshout proper and Westmeerbeek. On January 1, 2006 Hulshout had a total population of 9,167. The total area is 17.35 km² which gives a population density of 528 inhabitants... Kasterlee Kasterlee is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Kasterlee proper, Lichtaart and Tielen. On January 1, 2006 Kasterlee had a total population of 17,908. The total area is 71.56 km² which gives a population density of 250 inhabitants per... Laakdal Laakdal is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Eindhout, Veerle, Vorst and Vorst-Meerlaar . On January 1, 2006 Laakdal had a total population of 14,951. The total area is 42.48 km² which gives a population density of 352 inhabitants per... Lille, Belgium Lille is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Gierle, Lille proper, Poederlee and Wechelderzande. On January 1, 2006 Lille had a total population of 15,509. The total area is 59.40 km² which gives a population density of 261 inhabitants... Meerhout Meerhout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Meerhout proper. As of January 1, 2008 Meerhout had a total population of 9,578. The total area is 36.29 km² which gives a population density of 264 inhabitants per km²... Merksplas Merksplas is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Merksplas proper. On January 1, 2006 Merksplas had a total population of 8,173. The total area is 44.56 km² which gives a population density of 183 inhabitants per km².-External... Mol (Belgium) Mol is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Mol. On January 1, 2010 Mol had a total population of 34,113 inhabitants. The total area is 114.26 km² which gives a population density of 299 inhabitants per km².Mol is a popular holiday... Oud-Turnhout Oud-Turnhout is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Oud-Turnhout proper. On January 1, 2006 Oud-Turnhout had a total population of 12,653. The total area is 38.80 km² which gives a population density of 326 inhabitants per... Ravels Ravels is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Poppel, Ravels proper and Weelde. On January 1, 2006 Ravels had a total population of 13,762. The total area is 94.99 km² which gives a population density of 145 inhabitants per km²... Retie Retie is a municipality located in the Campine region of the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Retie proper. On 1 January 2006 Retie had a total population of 10,321... Rijkevorsel Rijkevorsel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the town of Rijkevorsel, Achtel, Sint-Jozef-Rijkevorsel and Gammel. On January 1, 2006 Rijkevorsel had a total population of 10,674. The total area is 46.79 km² which gives a population density of... Vorselaar Vorselaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the town of Vorselaar proper. On January 1, 2006 Vorselaar had a total population of 7,359. The total area is 27.62 km² which gives a population density of 266 inhabitants per km².-Famous... Vosselaar Vosselaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Vosselaar proper. On January 1, 2006 Vosselaar had a total population of 10,142. The total area is 11.85 km² which gives a population density of 856 inhabitants per km².There are 3... Westerlo Westerlo is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises seven towns:- Westerlo centrum - Oevel - Tongerlo - Heultje... |