Schoten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Schoten
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 Schoten
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | Antwerp | ||
| Arrondissement | Antwerp | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 29.55 km2 (11.41 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 |
2900
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| Area codes | 03 | ||
| Website | www.schoten.be | ||
Schoten is a town in Antwerp Province, Belgium. It is a single municipality, meaning the town of Schoten is the only part of this area. As of 2020, about 34,311 people live here. The total area is about 29.55 square kilometers, making it a place with many people living close together. Schoten is near the city of Antwerp and borders other towns like Brasschaat and Schilde.
Contents
Discover Schoten's Past
The name Schoten might come from the Dutch word schot. This word refers to wooden walls used long ago to mark property lines. The area became Christian around the late 600s, thanks to Abbot Ursmarus. His abbey, Lobbes Abbey, owned land in Schoten.
In the 1100s, powerful lords from Breda and later Bergen-op-Zoom ruled Schoten. The Villers Abbey also played a role in the town's religious life.
From Castles to Green Spaces
By the early 1500s, rich people from nearby Antwerp started building large homes in Schoten. These homes, often called castles, were used as second homes. Even with these new buildings, Schoten kept its quiet, country feel for a long time.
Later, factories began to appear, especially near the Albert Canal. But much of Schoten's land stayed green. People from Antwerp continued to build big villas, like Koningshof and Schotenhof, in these green areas. Today, about 30% of Schoten is still covered in forests. This is amazing, as it's only 10 kilometers from the busy center of Antwerp!
Explore Schoten's Top Sights
Schoten has many interesting places to visit.
- Schoten Castle: This castle is surrounded by water and started as a farm in the 1200s. Now, it's a cultural center for the town.
- Town Square: The main square features a beautiful city hall built in the Gothic Revival style. There's also a fountain dedicated to the famous folk hero Till Eulenspiegel.
- Historic Buildings: The Villers castle also dates back to the 1200s. The St-Cordula church, built in the Gothic style, is from the 1400s.
- Nature Reserves: Schoten is home to several lovely nature spots and forests. These include the Peerdsbos, the Vordensteyn area, 't Asbroek, Wijtschot, and the town's own park.
- Schotenhof: This area in the northeast of Schoten was developed in the early 1900s. At that time, many castles in wooded towns around Antwerp were divided into smaller plots. This allowed people to build houses and vacation cottages.
Events and Sports in Schoten
Schoten hosts exciting events and is a great place for sports.
- World Festival of Folklore: Every summer, Schoten holds a big folk dance festival. It started in 1959 and brings together dancers from all over the world.
- Scheldeprijs Cycling Race: This important annual bike race happens in April. It begins in Antwerp and finishes right here in Schoten!
- Local Football Club: If you love soccer, Schoten has its own team, the KFC Schoten SK.
Important Infrastructure
Schoten has a tall lattice tower, 170 meters high, located at 51°17'33"N 4°32'24"E. This tower is very important for broadcasting FM radio and TV signals to the Antwerp area.
Schoten's Economy
Schoten is famous for being the place where the first fast-food restaurant for the Belgian chain Quick opened in 1971.
Famous People from Schoten
Many talented people have come from Schoten:
- Bob Mendes: A writer known for thrilling detective stories (born 1928).
- Michel A. J. Georges: A biologist and professor at the University of Liège (born 1959).
- Marie-Rose Morel: A politician (born 1972, died 2011).
- Véronique De Kock: Crowned Miss Belgium in 1995 (born 1977).
- Geert Steurs: A professional road bicycle racer (born 1981).
- Thor Salden: Also known as Thor!, a singer (born 1997).
- Harrie Hendrickx: A former mayor of Schoten.
Schoten's Global Connections
Schoten has special friendships with other towns around the world. These are called "twin towns" or "sister cities."
Twin Towns – Sister Cities
Schoten is twinned with:
Tarnów, Poland
Voorschoten, Netherlands
See also
In Spanish: Schoten (Bélgica) para niños
