Herentals Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Herentals

Flag	Coat of arms

Herentals

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Turnhout

Area

• Total

48.56 km² (18.75 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

2200

Area codes

014

Herentals is a cool city located in the Antwerp province in Belgium. It's not just one big city; it also includes the smaller towns of Morkhoven and Noorderwijk. In 2022, about 28,455 people lived here. The city covers an area of about 48.56 square kilometers. The patron saint of Herentals is Saint Waltrude.

Discovering Herentals' History
Famous People from Herentals
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Herentals' History

Herentals is home to some amazing old buildings. These include a beautiful church and the historic town hall. The town hall has a special bell tower, called a belfry. This belfry is so important that it's listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's recognized globally for its unique history and architecture.

Old City Gates

Long ago, Herentals had strong city gates to protect it. Two of these old gates are still standing today. They are the Bovenpoort, which means Northern gate, and the Zandpoort, which is the Western gate. Sadly, the Nederpoort and Koepoort were taken down a long time ago.

Science and Sweets

If you love science, you can visit the Hidrodoe science museum in Herentals. It's a great place to learn and explore. Herentals is also famous for its large chocolate factory. This factory is the only place in the world that makes the Milka Leo chocolate wafer bar!

Local Nicknames

People from the Campine region, where Herentals is located, have fun nicknames for their towns. People from Herentals are sometimes called "Klokkenververs", which means "bell painters." They are also called "Peestekers". This nickname comes from an old story. It says that farmers from the town once used carrots (called pekes in Dutch) as a lock for the Zandpoort city gate!

Twin City Connection

Herentals is connected to another city far away. It is twinned with IJsselstein in the Netherlands. This means the two cities have a special friendship and often share cultural events.

Famous People from Herentals

Many talented people were born or lived in Herentals. Here are a few of them:

Nicolaes Francken (1520–1596): A famous painter who started a family of painters.
Hendrik de Moy (1534–1610): He was the father of Isabella Brant.
Hieronymus Francken I (c. 1540–1610): Another painter from the Francken family.
Frans Francken the Elder (1542–1616): Also a painter, part of the Francken family.
Ambrosius Francken I (1544–1618): Yet another painter from this artistic family.
Charles-Auguste Fraikin (1817–1893): A well-known sculptor.
Rik Van Looy (born 1933): A professional cyclist.
Wim Eyckmans (born 1973): A racing driver.
Stefaan Vaes (born 1976): A mathematician.
Wout van Aert (born 1994): A professional cyclist, famous for his achievements.