Meerhout

Meerhout
Flag Coat of arms
Meerhout Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 51°08′N 05°05′E / 51.133°N 5.083°E / 51.133; 5.083
Country	Belgium
Region	Flemish Region
Community	Flemish Community
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Turnhout
Government
- Mayor	André Van Genechten (CD)
- Governing party/ies	CD, VLD, Vlaams Belang
Area
- Total	36.29 km2 (14 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2010)[1]
- Total	9,725
- Density	268/km2 (694.1/sq mi)
Demographics
- Foreigners	1,95% (1 January 2008)
Postal codes	2450
Area codes	014
Website	www.meerhout.be
Map of 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. In Meerhout some famous people have lived, like Kate Ryan (well known in France and Belgium, The UK, Turkey, Spain and the rest of western Europe).

Population

As of 1 January 2008, there are 9578 people living in Meerhout. 50.4% of them are men, 49.6% are women. Most people are older than 40.

Education

There are only 5 schools in Meerhout, these schools are both Pre- and Primary schools for children between the age of 3 and 12 years old.

There are secondary schools in the neighbourhood which are easily reachable by public transport or car/bicycle, in Geel, Mol, Diest and Tessenderlo.

Tourism

There is quite a lot of tourism in Meerhout. There are many beautiful routes, like the "drieprovincieënroute" (three provinces route), which is a cycling route going through the provinces of Antwerp, Vlaams Brabant and Limburg. There are also some B&Bs available, and most shopkeepers understand English. Meerhout is very popular among people from The Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. A lot of (older) English people visit Meerhout too because of "The Wing" and other memorial icons of WW2.

Evolution of the population

19th century

Year	1806	1816	1830	1846	1856	1866	1876	1880	1890
Population	2534	2845	3237	3633	3659	3664	3871	4043	4363
Note: results as of 31/12

20th century until reform

Year	1900	1910	1920	1930	1947	1961	1970	1976
Population	4531	5362	5871	6197	7189	7945	8567	8521
Note: results as of 31/12

After reform

Year	1977	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2006	2007	2008
Population	8521	8644	8790	9070	9190	9192	9317	9361	9463	9578
Note: results as of 01/01 - Source: National Institute of Statistics Belgium (NIS)

Notable inhabitants

• Kate Ryan (Female artist, won several awards, also well-known in France, and getting more famous in other countries all over Europe)
• Zjef Van Uytsel (Dutch singer, famous in the late 80's with his typical, Dutch music)

Trivia

• Kate Ryan lived in Meerhout
• Meerhout is a part of the Economic Network of the Albertkanaal (Albert Channel, named after King Albert 1)
• Zjef Van Uytsel had a famous quote: "Meerhout is een dorp als (g)een ander", which means "Meerhout is a village like (no) others.
• Meerhout has won the price of having the most beautiful center of the province of Antwerp. Listeners of the national radio station Radio 2 could vote.
• Meerhout had its own radio station, "MeerGoud" (MeerHout=>Meergoud, Goud means "Gold"), but they stopped broadcasting in 2006.

References

1. ^ Population per municipality on 1 January 2010 (XLS; 221 KB)

External links

• Official website (Dutch only)