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Lommel
St. Peter in Chains Church
St. Peter in Chains Church
Flag of Lommel
Flag
Coat of arms of Lommel
Coat of arms
Lommel is located in Belgium
Lommel
Lommel
Location in Belgium
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province Limburg
Arrondissement Maaseik
Area
 • Total 102.37 km2 (39.53 sq mi)
Population
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 • Total Lua error in Module:Wd at line 1,575: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Postal codes
3920
Area codes 011
Website www.lommel.be

Lommel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlɔməl]) is a municipality and a city in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Kempen city has about 34,000 inhabitants and is part of the electoral district and the judicial district Lommel Neerpelt.

Besides residential town of Lommel also has a number of nature reserves, such as the nature reserve De Watering, the Lommel Sahara, and numerous forests and heathlands. Lommel is the third shopping city in Belgian Limburg with a commercial and shopping center De Singel. Importantly, the silver sand that is mined here for the benefit of the glass industry. Some sand mining quarries are transformed into nature reserves and recreational areas, including Lommel Sahara.

The city of Lommel is the watershed of the basins of the Scheldt, and Meuse, and within these basins Nete Dommel respectively.

Language

Lommelse Sahara (3)
Lommelse Sahara

The dialect of Lommel is, despite its location in Limburg, part of the East Brabantian, not the Limburgish dialects, reflecting the particular history of the city.

Etymology

The name comes from Lommel Loemelo. Loem means moist, swampy and Lo is forest or woodland.

Demographic development

All historical data relating to the current municipality, including towns such as arose after the merger of January 1, 1977.

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1846 2,486 —    
1866 3,009 +0.96%
1880 3,042 +0.08%
1890 3,252 +0.67%
1900 4,431 +3.14%
1910 7,022 +4.71%
1920 7,811 +1.07%
1930 9,666 +2.15%
Year Pop. ±% p.a.
1947 13,487 +1.98%
1961 17,923 +2.05%
1970 21,984 +2.30%
1981 25,412 +1.33%
1990 27,427 +0.85%
2000 30,433 +1.05%
2010 32,917 +0.79%
2015 33,852 +0.56%

Sporting events

Since 2017 the European Open a Snooker ranking tournament of the World Snooker Tour took place in Lommel.

Lommel is home to the Belgian Motocross Grand Prix, part of the Motocross World Championship. The track at Lommel is among the most famous in the motocross world and is known for its deep and unforgiving sand surface. Notable motocross racers such as Jeffrey Herlings and Ryan Villopoto have said that Lommel is the most physically demanding motocross track to ride in the world, and many top European motocross riders live in or around the city to hone their skills at the track.

Notable people

  • Kevin Hulsmans, road bicycle racer
  • Peter Luykx, federal representative
  • Peter Maes, former footballer, coach of Sporting Lokeren
  • Roy Meeus (born 1989), professional footballer
  • Wim Mennes, footballer
  • Pieter Mertens, road bicycle racer
  • Steve Ramon, motocross world champion
  • Kathleen Smet, triathlete
  • Dirk Swartenbroekx, DJ Buscemi
  • Johan Vansummeren, road bicycle racer
  • Marcel Vanthilt, musician, TV presenter
  • Louis Vanvelthoven, honorary-mayor, former chairman of the Flemish Parliament
  • Peter Vanvelthoven, mayor, former Belgian Minister for Employment and Informatisation
  • Steven Van Broeckhoven, windsurfer, two-time champion on the European Freestyle Pro Tour
  • Stefano Marzo, footballer
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