Turnhout | |
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 Grote Markt | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Turnhout in the province of Antwerp | |
 Interactive map of Turnhout | |
  Turnhout Location in Belgium | |
| Coordinates:51°19′N04°57′E / 51.317°N 4.950°E /51.317; 4.950 | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Community | Flemish Community |
| Region | Flemish Region |
| Province | Antwerp |
| Arrondissement | Turnhout |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Hannes Anaf (Vooruit) |
| • Governing parties | Vooruit,N-VA,CD&V |
| Area | |
• Total | 56.71 km2 (21.90 sq mi) |
| Population (2018-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 44,136 |
| • Density | 778.3/km2 (2,016/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 2300 |
| NIS code | 13040 |
| Area codes | 014 |
| Website | www.turnhout.be |
Turnhout (Dutch pronunciation:[ˈtʏr(ə)nɦʌut]) is aBelgianmunicipality and city located in theFlemishprovince ofAntwerp. The municipality comprises only the city of Turnhout proper. In 2021, its population was 45,874.[2] The total area is 56.06 km2 (21.64 sq mi).[3] The agglomeration is much more populous, with 81,473 inhabitants.[4] It is known for itsplaying card industry, and houses the head office of the world's largest manufacturer of playing cards,Cartamundi. Turnhout is also thecapital of the administrative district with the same name. The city council often promotes the city as "the capital of theCampine area".
Turnhout serves as the economic and cultural center for other communities in the immediate vicinity with more than 40 schools. There is also an important services sector with two hospitals, a two-stage theatre, and an eight-screen cinema.
Turnhout is located 42 km (26 mi) from the centre ofAntwerp, 30 km (19 mi) fromBreda andTilburg, 40 km (25 mi) fromEindhoven. Thefootball club of the city isK.V. Turnhout.
In reference to the 2021 census, the population of Turnhout was recorded at 45,874.[5]
Turnhout originated on the crossroads of two major trade routes and in the protection of the hunting castle of theDukes of Brabant that seems to have existed since 1110 or earlier. This hunting past is still reflected in the city'scoat of arms. The small community that developed obtained its Libertas as a "free city" fromHenry I, Duke of Brabant in about 1212.[6] In 1338, the privilege of organizing a market on Saturday was granted, a tradition that still holds today, the city could now hold an annual fair so that all the goods from the surrounding villages could be offered for sale in Turnhout.[7] In 1466, a traveler described the well-built houses and paved roads, and counted five churches.
By the 16th century, Turnhout had become a wealthy commercial center. Unfortunately, the end of the century broughtwar,fire,confiscations andepidemics. Suppression andinquisition made many progressive citizens to take refuge in theDutch Republic, leaving the land of Turnhout impoverished. The further history of Turnhout consists of a series of ups and downs. Many times, the city and surroundings were the playground ofarmies, resulting in two majorbattles named after Turnhout: one in1597 and one in1789 are referred to asBattle of Turnhout.
In 1830, Belgium became independent, and Turnhout fell just south of the new border with the Netherlands. The period of peace between 1831 and 1914 saw the digging of thecanal (1846) and the construction of therailroad (1855).
In the lateMiddle Ages, Turnhout was a well-known center for theweaving of bedding articles and of thelinen trade. At the start of the 19th century, these trades were replaced by industries based on the use of paper.Pieter Corbeels andPhilippus Jacobus Brepols are considered to be the founders of this industry. Turnhout retains much of this industry today.[citation needed] Numerous graphics companies are located in the region, such asBrepols,Group Joos,Proost International Book Production,Van Genechten Packaging, and last but not leastCartamundi, the world market leader of theplaying card industry. In addition, the Belgian Centre for the Graphics Industry, and theFlemish Innovation Center for Graphic Communication (Campus Blairon) are located in Turnhout.Soudal, whose headquarters is located in Turnhout, is one of the leading companies in sealants.
The Turnhout post office opened before 1830. It used postal code 122 with bars (before 1864), and 367 with points before 1874.[8]
Postal code since 1969: 2300.[9]
Architectural sights worth visiting are the 12th centurycastle of theDukes of Brabant, theGothic church ofSt. Peter, thebeguinage (begijnhof) dating from the 13th century, the 14th century Gothic chapel of Theobald and the Taxandria museum housed in a prestigiousRenaissance mansion. Of particular interest is the Museum of the Playing Card. This is located in an old factory building downtown and houses a beautifully restored steam engine.
The beguinage was recognized byUNESCO as aWorld Heritage Site in 1998.
The largest building in Turnhout is the Turnova tower, built in 2019. It is considered the first skyscraper in the city.
The city does not have its own airport. The nearest airports are:
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Hammelburg, Germany
Hanzhong, China
Gödöllő, Hungary
Vânători (Mișca), Romania
Places adjacent to Turnhout | |
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