Boekel Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Boekel

Boekel town hall

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in North Brabant

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

34.52 km² (13.33 sq mi)

• Land

34.51 km² (13.32 sq mi)

• Water

0.01 km² (0.004 sq mi)

Elevation

16 m (52 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

10,107

• Density

293/km² (760/sq mi)

• Uden-Veghel

175,119

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

5427–5428

Area code

0492

Dutch Topographic map of Boekel, June 2015

Boekel is a municipality and a town located in the southern Netherlands. It is a place with a rich history and a welcoming community.

What's in a Name?
Towns and Villages
Boekel's Story
- Early Days
- Under New Rulers
Famous People from Boekel
Gallery
See also

What's in a Name?

The name Boekel has an interesting past. For a long time, people thought it was linked to a forest belonging to some old lords named Boc.

However, experts now believe the name comes from Beukeloo. This word means a type of beech forest. So, Boekel might have been named after the beech trees that grew there long ago.

Towns and Villages

The municipality of Boekel includes a few different places:

Boekel (the main town)
Huize Padua
Venhorst

Boekel's Story

Early Days

Boekel started as a small settlement in the Middle Ages. It was a place with several farms.

In the 13th century, Boekel was part of an area called Uden. In 1233, Uden separated from the Land van Cuijk. Uden, along with Herpen, formed a governing unit called a heerlijkheid. This was like a small territory ruled by a lord.

Around 1313 or 1314, the lord of Herpen sold or leased rights to the common lands. These lands were often marshy or barren. This allowed the people of Boekel and Volkel to use these areas.

Under New Rulers

In 1324, the heerlijkheid of Uden, which included Boekel, became part of the Land of Ravenstein. This area was ruled by the House of Valkenburg until 1396.

In 1339, a special court called the Heikantsgericht was created. It covered Uden, Boekel, and Zeeland. Two of its seven members were from Boekel.

Later, in 1397, the Duke of Brabant took control of Herpen, Ravenstein, and Uden. The area then came under the rule of Neuburg-Palts in 1629. Under their rule, people in the area had religious freedom. This meant they could practice their own religion.

Because nearby areas were under the control of the States-General (the government of the Netherlands at the time), the Land of Ravenstein felt a bit "foreign." The religious freedom here was good for Catholics. Catholics from Erp even built a church near the border with Boekel.

This freedom also led to religious groups settling in the Land of Ravenstein. In 1741, a group called the Brothers Penitent came to Boekel. They started what is now the Psychiatric Hospital Huize Padua.

Over the years, there were some disagreements about the borders between Boekel, Uden, and Gemert. These border disputes were settled in 1663 and 1729.

Famous People from Boekel

Many interesting people have come from Boekel:

Hans Gruyters (1925 in Boekel – 1980) was a Dutch person known for his adventurous life.
Leontien van Moorsel (born 1970 in Boekel) is a famous Dutch retired racing cyclist. She won four gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
Mirella van Melis (born 1979 in Venhorst) is a retired female track and road racing cyclist.
Hannes van Asseldonk (born 1992 in Boekel) is a Dutch racing driver.