Geel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Geel
Municipality
The 'Markt' in Geel with the Church of Sint-Amands
Flag Coat of arms
Geel Location in Belgium
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Turnhout
Area
• Total	109.85 km2 (42.41 sq mi)
Population  (2018-01-01)Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
• Total	Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Postal codes	2440
Area codes	014
Website	www.geel.be

Geel is a city and municipality in Belgium. It is located in the Antwerp province. Geel became a city in the 1980s.

The city includes a central area with four old towns: Sint-Amand, Sint-Dimpna, Holven, and Elsum. Around the center are other towns like Ten Aard, Bel, and Larum. In 2021, Geel had about 40,781 people living there. The total area of Geel is about 109.85 square kilometers.

Geel is famous for its special way of caring for people with mental health needs. This idea came from its patron saint, Saint Dymphna, who was from Ireland.

History of Geel

Early Days and Middle Ages

People have lived in the Geel area since the Iron Age. The name Geel comes from a German word meaning "yellow." It has been used since the early Middle Ages.

By the mid-1200s, Geel was already a small village. Around this time, a priest named Petrus wrote a story about Dymphna. She was an Irish woman who came to Geel. This story made many people visit Geel. Because of this, the number of people living there grew a lot. In 1374, there were 2,136 inhabitants.

In the 1100s, the land around Geel belonged to the Grimbergen Abbey. Later, different noble families owned it. These noble lords or ladies were in charge of the community. But they promised loyalty to the Dukes of Brabant. Geel got some form of local government in the early 1200s.

For many centuries, Geel's history was linked to the Duchy of Brabant. The city's economy depended on raising sheep for cloth. They also grew flax to make and sell linen. A building for selling cloth was built in the early 1400s. This building later became the city hall.

The Eighty Years' War caused a lot of damage to Geel. It hurt the economy, buildings, and churches. The textile industry got better and lasted until the early 1800s. But farming became the main part of the economy. Geel was also known for its Latin School. Students came from far away to prepare for the Catholic University of Leuven.

From the French Revolution to Today

In 1795, the Duchy of Brabant ended. Geel became part of a French area called Deux-Nèthes. This area is now the Antwerp province. Before, nobles and church leaders were in charge. Now, a mayor led the town. The mayor had to answer to the people.

Geel played an active part in the Belgian Revolution of 1830. Because of this, King Leopold II gave Geel an honorary flag. In the 1800s, several new churches were built for different communities.

A very important event in Geel's history was the battle of Geel in September 1944. This was one of the toughest fights during the liberation of Belgium. Geel and the nearby villages were finally freed on September 23. But many soldiers and civilians lost their lives.

Geel's Special Way of Care

Geel is famous for its unique way of caring for people with mental health needs. This method is called "de-institutionalization." It means that instead of staying in a hospital, patients live with local families. This helps them feel more like part of a family and a community.

This special care began with the story of Saint Dymphna. She came to Geel from Ireland in the 600s. The first hospital in Geel for mental health care started in the 1200s. Patients would go into town during the day and return to the hospital at night.

At first, this care was based on religious beliefs. It was organized by church leaders. But by the 1700s, families directly took in patients. Geel's reputation grew, and more patients came. This also helped the city's economy. Even Vincent van Gogh's father thought about sending his son to Geel in 1880.

The number of patients living with families reached its highest point in 1938. There were 3,736 patients then. A hundred years earlier, there were only 700.

Many places around the world looked at Geel's method. But it was often seen as too new to try. It was only in the early 1900s that other places started to use similar ideas. Today, a modern mental health center is where the old hospital used to be. About 500 patients still live with families in Geel.

One reason this model works well is that patients live with people who are not their family. This can create a calm environment. It avoids strong emotions or criticism that might happen with family members. Also, people with mental illness are allowed to live freely. They are not labeled as "broken" or always "recovering."

Places to See in Geel

• The market square is the main spot in the city. It has the Sint-Amands church and nice cafes. The oldest part of the city hall is from the 1600s.
• Near the market, the Sint-Dimpna church marks where Saint Dymphna was buried.
• Geel is located along the Nete river. It is in the Campine region, which has forests and sand dunes.
• De Zegge is a nature reserve. It belongs to the same group that owns the Antwerp Zoo.
• Other attractions include a field of orchids and a very old linden tree. There are also three windmills and a military cemetery. You can visit museums like a clock museum, a lamp museum, and an old bakery. The Saint-Alexis college has beautiful Art Nouveau art on its walls.

Geel train station

Education in Geel

Geel is an important center for education in the region. It has many basic schools and high schools. There are also campuses for higher education. These include Thomas More University College and KU Leuven.

The European School, Mol is also nearby, in the town of Mol.

What Geel Does for Work

Geel is a center for farming, industry, and business. It also provides medical and educational services to nearby towns.

Many companies have sites in Geel. These include a chemical factory for Janssen Pharmaceutica. There is also a production site for the biotech company Genzyme. Geel is home to the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements. This is one of the scientific institutes of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.

Other important centers in Geel are Innotek, a technology center, and CIPAL. The town also has the Information Centre for Dangerous Goods (BIG).

Sports and Fun Events

• Geel used to have a football club called K.F.C. Verbroedering Geel. It later joined with a club from a nearby village. The new club is called Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout.
• The Reggae Geel festival is one of the biggest reggae festivals in Europe. It usually happens in early August, just outside the city center.

Famous People from Geel

• Maarten Peeters, painter and publisher (1500–1566)
• Eddy Bertels, footballer (1932–2011)
• Patrik Vankrunkelsven, doctor and politician (born 1957)
• Eddy Voordeckers, footballer (born 1960)
• Ludo Dierckxsens, racing cyclist (born 1964)
• Anja Daems, radio and television presenter (born 1968)
• Marc Goossens, race car driver (born 1969)
• Natalia, singer (born 1980)
• Jef Neve, composer (born 1977)
• Kathleen Aerts, singer (born 1978)
• Filip Daems, footballer (born 1978)
• Jan Heylen, racecar driver (born 1980)
• Sepp De Roover, footballer (born 1984)
• Kevin Strijbos, motocross racer (born 1985)
• Kirsten Flipkens, tennis player (born 1986)
• Tobe Leysen, footballer (born 2002)
• Fedde Leysen, footballer (born 2003)

Geel's International Friends

Geel is twinned with two other towns. This means they are like sister cities.

•  Ireland: Tydavnet, County Monaghan, Ireland
•  Germany: Xanten, Germany

See also

In Spanish: Geel para niños