- Olen, Belgium
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Olen 
Flag
Coat of armsLocation in Belgium
Olen, BelgiumCoordinates: 51°09′N 04°51′E / 51.15°N 4.85°E Country Belgium Region Flemish Region Community Flemish Community Province Antwerp Arrondissement Turnhout Government - Mayor Marcel Bellens (CD&V) - Governing party/ies CD&V, 01 Area - Total 23.17 km2 (8.9 sq mi) Population (1 January 2010)[1] - Total 11,749 - Density 507.1/km2 (1,313.3/sq mi) Postal codes 2250 Area codes 014, 03 Website www.olen.be Map of Olen, Belgium
Olen is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality actually comprises 3 towns, situated on a north-south axis.
- South of the motorway E313 and the Albertkanaal (canal) is Olen proper, also called Olen-St-Martinus (Saint-Martins parish).
- Between the Albertkanaal and Olen-station (railroad from Antwerp to Neerpelt and Hasselt) is the town of Boekel, also called Achter-Olen (Behind-Olen) or Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Olen (parish).
- North of the railroad is the town of St-Jozef-Olen (parish), also called Olen-Fabrieken (Olen-Factory, actually a refinery along the old canal Herentals-Bocholt, that was at its origin).
On January 1, 2009 Olen had a total population of 11,655. The total area is 23.10 km².
Contents
In history of Uranium mining
In the 1920's and 1030's the Union Minière du Haut Katanga company, operating in the then Belgian colony of Congo, had a virtual monopoly of the world uranium market (holding most of the deposits known at the time). The uranium mined in Congo was mostly transported to the UMHK refinery for uranium ore which was located in Olen. Some 1200 tonnes of uranium stored at the Olen refinery were captured by the Germans during the invasion and occupation of Belgium in 1940, and only recovered by US troops at the end of the war.
Notable people
- Walter van den Broeck (b. Olen 28 March 1941), writer
References
- ^ Population per municipality on 1 January 2010 (XLS; 221 KB)
External links
- Official website - Information available in Dutch, limited information available in English and French
Antwerp Aartselaar · Antwerp · Boechout · Boom · Borsbeek · Brasschaat · Brecht · Edegem · Essen · Hemiksem · Hove · Kalmthout · Kapellen · Kontich · Lint · Malle · Mortsel · Niel · Ranst · Rumst · Schelle · Schilde · Schoten · Stabroek · Wijnegem · Wommelgem · Wuustwezel · Zandhoven · Zoersel · Zwijndrecht
Mechelen Berlaar · Bonheiden · Bornem · Duffel · Heist-op-den-Berg · Lier · Mechelen · Nijlen · Putte · Puurs · Sint-Amands · Sint-Katelijne-Waver · WillebroekTurnhout Arendonk · Baarle-Hertog · Balen · Beerse · Dessel · Geel · Grobbendonk · Herentals · Herenthout · Herselt · Hoogstraten · Hulshout · Kasterlee · Laakdal · Lille · Meerhout · Merksplas · Mol · Olen · Oud-Turnhout · Ravels · Retie · Rijkevorsel · Turnhout · Vorselaar · Vosselaar · WesterloCategories:- Municipalities of Antwerp
- Antwerp geography stubs
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