Tielen
Encyclopedia
Tielen is a village in the province of Antwerp
in Flanders
, Belgium
. It is part of the municipality of Kasterlee
. The nearest town is the neighbouring town of Turnhout. Other neighbouring villages are Vosselaar
, Lichtaart, Poederlee, Lille
and Gierle
.
The borders of Tielen are marked by two rivers: The Aa and the Kaliebeek. Almost one third of the village is still covered with pine-woods, heath and swamps. Typical for the Kempen
area.
The rest of this 1.371 hectare village is mostly used for residential and agricultural purposes.
has doubled the population as shown below.
The largest part of the inhabitants are upper middle class nowadays, but through history, the largest part of the inhabitants were poor farmers.
The most famous inhabitant of Tielen was Baron Flor Peeters
(an important organist). Less famous is the bishop of Ghent
Lucas Van Looy
.
in 1977).
Other important buildings in Tielen are the 12th century watermill
and the 15th century castle (Tielenhof), which was the home of the lords of Tielen and its neighbouring village Gierle
until the French Revolution
.
People visit this village to go walking or bike-riding in nature and to enjoy the countryside.
Tielen is a vivid village with local pubs or bars and regular events of all sorts.
Far from the industrialised world, Tielen only has one factory. "Het IJsboerke" (The Ice Farmer) manufactures ice cream
and is the second biggest ice cream producer in Belgium. The factury is worth visiting, but in front of the buildings there are fountains worth seeing as well.
There's no real date to point out the foundation of Tielen. The oldest documents mentioning the village are from the 13th century, but most historians think the village is actually much older. The characteristics of the oldest settlements prove the village was founded by the Franks
when they colonized the area. Yet an even earlier settlement could be located where the castle of Tielen stands today.
In 1597 there was a battle in Tielen. It was called 'The battle near Turnhout' or 'The battle on Tielenheide
', this battle was between The Northern Netherlands
and the Spanish occupier of The Southern Netherlands, nowadays where we situate Belgium
.
The first years after World War II
, the British Army
had a military base in the village, in the surrounding villages people referred to Tielen as 'Little Britain'. This of course ended when the Belgian 3PARA took over the base.
In 1977, Tielen had not enough inhabitants to remain an independent municipality. It was fused into a larger municipality together with Kasterlee
and Lichtaart.
.
The village is near the E34
highway and has several bus connections.
Antwerp (province)
Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...
in Flanders
Flanders
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...
, 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 is part of the municipality of Kasterlee
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...
. The nearest town is the neighbouring town of Turnhout. Other neighbouring villages are Vosselaar
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...
, Lichtaart, Poederlee, Lille
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...
and Gierle
Gierle
Gierle is a village of about 4,200 inhabitants in the province of Antwerp in Flanders, Belgium. It is part of the municipality of Lille.Characterised by its 19th-century village center,which has an unusual circular shape, it is more known for its recreation park called "De Lilse Bergen" and its...
.
The borders of Tielen are marked by two rivers: The Aa and the Kaliebeek. Almost one third of the village is still covered with pine-woods, heath and swamps. Typical for the Kempen
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...
area.
The rest of this 1.371 hectare village is mostly used for residential and agricultural purposes.
Inhabitants
With not more than 3900 inhabitants (3886 - 2009-01-01), Tielen still has a strong community even though in the last 50 years urbanizationUrbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
has doubled the population as shown below.
Evolution of habitation
| Year | 1806 | 1816 | 1830 | 1846 | 1856 | 1866 | 1876 | 1880 | 1890 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of inhabitants | 852 | 772 | 860 | 973 | 1010 | 1008 | 1010 | 1009 | 1014 |
| Remarks:results on 31/12 | |||||||||
| Year | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1947 | 1961 | 1970 | 1976 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of inhabitants | 1057 | 1186 | 1328 | 1548 | 1984 | 2507 | 2854 | 2936 | |
| Remarks:results on 31/12 | |||||||||
The largest part of the inhabitants are upper middle class nowadays, but through history, the largest part of the inhabitants were poor farmers.
The most famous inhabitant of Tielen was Baron Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters
Flor Peeters was a Flemish composer, organist and teacher.-Biography:Born and raised in the village of Tielen , he was the youngest child in a family of eleven...
(an important organist). Less famous is the bishop of Ghent
Bishop of Ghent
The Bishop of Ghent is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gent, which comprises the entire province of East Flanders as well as the Antwerp municipalities of Zwijndrecht and Burcht. The current Bishop of Ghent is Mgr...
Lucas Van Looy
Lucas Van Looy
Lucas Van Looy is a Roman Catholic Bishop in Belgium.Van Looy was ordained a priest on September 12, 1970. He is a member of the Salesians of Saint John Bosco order....
.
Sights
The village has a small center which is triangular. It has a 19th century church, an old railway station and a beautiful town hall (nowadays the old town hall, since Tielen became a part of KasterleeKasterlee
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...
in 1977).
Other important buildings in Tielen are the 12th century watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
and the 15th century castle (Tielenhof), which was the home of the lords of Tielen and its neighbouring village Gierle
Gierle
Gierle is a village of about 4,200 inhabitants in the province of Antwerp in Flanders, Belgium. It is part of the municipality of Lille.Characterised by its 19th-century village center,which has an unusual circular shape, it is more known for its recreation park called "De Lilse Bergen" and its...
until the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
People visit this village to go walking or bike-riding in nature and to enjoy the countryside.
Tielen is a vivid village with local pubs or bars and regular events of all sorts.
Far from the industrialised world, Tielen only has one factory. "Het IJsboerke" (The Ice Farmer) manufactures ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
and is the second biggest ice cream producer in Belgium. The factury is worth visiting, but in front of the buildings there are fountains worth seeing as well.
History
The name "Tielen" no longer has a meaning in modern day Dutch (or Flemish) and it is not sure what it means. It could mean "a moist swampy area covered with small plants", "a river lock" or even "a row of houses next to a river"There's no real date to point out the foundation of Tielen. The oldest documents mentioning the village are from the 13th century, but most historians think the village is actually much older. The characteristics of the oldest settlements prove the village was founded by the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
when they colonized the area. Yet an even earlier settlement could be located where the castle of Tielen stands today.
In 1597 there was a battle in Tielen. It was called 'The battle near Turnhout' or 'The battle on Tielenheide
Battle of Turnhout (1597)
The Battle of Turnhout, 1597 occurred during the Eighty Years' War where Turnhout was in the border area between the Northern and Southern Netherlands. Though the town had not been walled, Turnhout was an important strategic town...
', this battle was between The Northern 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 Spanish occupier of The Southern Netherlands, nowadays where we situate 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...
.
The first years 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 British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
had a military base in the village, in the surrounding villages people referred to Tielen as 'Little Britain'. This of course ended when the Belgian 3PARA took over the base.
In 1977, Tielen had not enough inhabitants to remain an independent municipality. It was fused into a larger municipality together with Kasterlee
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...
and Lichtaart.
Accessibility
There's a railway station in Tielen and it has direct connections with Turnhout, Antwerp and BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
.
The village is near the E34
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...
highway and has several bus connections.