Malle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Malle
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Malle Location in Belgium
Country	Belgium
Community	Flemish Community
Region	Flemish Region
Province	Antwerp
Arrondissement	Antwerp
Area
• Total	51.99 km2 (20.07 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	2390
Area codes	03
Website	www.malle.be

Malle is a town in Belgium, located in the Campine region of the Antwerp province. It's made up of two villages: Oostmalle and Westmalle. In 2021, about 15,620 people lived in Malle. The total area of the town is about 52 square kilometers.

History of Malle

Early Beginnings

The name Malle might come from an old word for a wide plain. It could also mean a place where the Franks (an ancient Germanic people) held their law meetings. These meetings were called a Mallum.

The name Malle first appeared in records in 1194. At that time, the bishop of Kamerijk gave the altars of Malle and Vorsele to a church group in Antwerp. Originally, Oostmalle, Westmalle, and Zoersel were all part of one area called Malle. This area was part of the County of Toxandria.

Oostmalle's history goes back to the Roman Empire. A settlement was built there along a Roman road that went from Utrecht to Bavay.

During the Middle Ages (from 476 to 1492), Oostmalle was part of the Duchy of Brabant. It was ruled by local lords. Westmalle's history also began before 1100. Records mention a home for the Duke of Brabant's representative there.

Malle Splits Up

In the early 1200s, Malle was divided. Oostmalle became part of the County of Breda. Westmalle and Zoersel stayed with the Duchy of Brabant.

Around 1300, the rights to rule Oostmalle were split between two families. Later, these rights went to the Lords of Berchem. Between 1431 and 1464, Willem van Berchem built a castle in Oostmalle. By the end of the 1500s, the van Renesse family owned all the ruling rights for Oostmalle.

From 1500s to 1700s

During this time, the villages in the Campine region often faced attacks. Foreign soldiers caused a lot of damage and brought diseases like the Bubonic plague. Oostmalle suffered greatly from the plague between 1575 and 1605.

In 1542, Renesse Castle and Oostmalle were destroyed during a war. The whole region suffered a lot during the Eighty Years War. This was a long conflict between the Protestant north and the Spanish-controlled south of the Low Countries.

In the 1580s, only 23 families survived in Westmalle. They had to hide at Westmalle Castle for four years because of the Spanish troops. In the 1600s, the region faced more attacks. In 1626, a chapel was built in Salphen for people from Oostmalle who fled the plague. By the end of the 1600s, Westmalle was almost completely burned down during the Franco-Dutch War.

In the early 1700s, French troops occupied Malle during the War of the Spanish Succession. After the French Revolutionary Wars, the area was taken over by France in 1792. Soon after, an illness called dysentery spread in Malle.

Modern Times

After Napoleon I of France was defeated in 1814, soldiers called Cossacks occupied Malle and took things from the village.

Things got better for the region after Belgium became a kingdom in 1830. In 1885, Oostmalle became a hub for the local tram network, which operated until 1962. Malle did not suffer much damage during World War I and World War II.

On June 25, 1967, a strong tornado hit Oostmalle. It destroyed the church and 135 houses.

On January 1, 1977, Oostmalle and Westmalle joined together again. First, they were called Westmalle, but since June 30, 1979, they have been known by their original name, Malle.

Fun Things to See in Malle

Malle has many interesting places to visit. These include the Trappist Abbey of Westmalle and its brewery, where special beer is made. You can also see Renesse Castle, the Scherpenberg mill, and Westmalle Castle, which is very old. The Castle of Blommerschot is another historic site.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was built in 1837. In 1930, a Lourdes cave was added to the chapel. In 1934, a Stations of the Cross was added to remember King Albert I of Belgium.

Malle has three churches: the Church of Saint Lawrence in Oostmalle, and the Churches of Saint Paul and Saint Martin in Westmalle. The most important local festival is "Salphenkermis." It is held in the small area of Salphen to honor Saint Anthony.

You can also explore the beautiful forests of Herenbos, Molenbos (Drieboomkesberg), Bruulbergen, and Schrabbenbos.

Partner Towns

Malle is connected to other towns around the world. These are called twin towns or partner towns:

•  France: Saint-Savin
•  Germany: Heusenstamm
•  Poland: Zakrzówek, Lublin Voivodeship
•  United Kingdom: Hartley Wintney

Economy of Malle

Past Economy

Malle is in the Campine region. This area used to have large open lands called heaths and marshlands. Over time, much of this land was farmed.

Until the 1700s, Oostmalle was known for making black pottery. They made small stoves called "Lollepotten" that were used to heat rooms in winter.

Modern Economy

Today, Malle is an important economic center for the region. Several companies are located here, such as ETAP Lighting, ETAP Yachting, Ecover, and Meubelfabrieken Karel Mintjens.

Famous People from Malle

• May Claerhout, a sculptor
• Viscount Leonard Pierre Joseph du Bus de Gisignies (1780–1849)
• Maria Rosseels (1916–2005), a journalist and writer

Population Changes

After the Merger

Images for kids

• 

  Villa Wildzang in Westmalle

See also

In Spanish: Malle (Bélgica) para niños