Tilburg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tilburg
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City and municipality
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The Heuvel, a central square being overlooked by the Heuvelse kerk
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 Tilburg
Location in Netherlands
Tilburg
Location in Europe
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| Country |  Netherlands |
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| Province |  North Brabant |
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| Government | |||||
| • Body | Municipal council | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Municipality | 119.18 km2 (46.02 sq mi) | ||||
| • Land | 117.29 km2 (45.29 sq mi) | ||||
| • Water | 1.89 km2 (0.73 sq mi) | ||||
| Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) | ||||
| Population
(municipality, May 2014; urban and metro, May 2014)
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| • Municipality | 210,289 | ||||
| • Density | 1,793/km2 (4,640/sq mi) | ||||
| • Urban | 233,339 | ||||
| • Metro | 300,249 | ||||
| • Metro region | 553,706 | ||||
| • Brabant metropolitan area | 1,944,588 | ||||
| Demonym(s) | Tilburger | ||||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||||
| Postcode |
5000–5049, 5056, 5070–5071, 5074
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| Area code | 013 | ||||
Tilburg is a lively city and municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands. It's located in the province of North Brabant. With over 222,000 people living there (as of July 2021), Tilburg is the second-largest city in North Brabant and the seventh-largest in the entire Netherlands.
Tilburg is home to several important schools, including Tilburg University, Avans University of Applied Sciences, and Fontys University of Applied Sciences. The city has three railway stations: Tilburg, Tilburg Universiteit, and Tilburg Reeshof. A large area around the main station, called the "Spoorzone," used to be a train maintenance yard. Now, it's being turned into a cool new part of the city!
Contents
Tilburg's Past
Not much is known about how Tilburg first started. The name Tilliburg was first seen in old papers from the year 709 AD. For a long time, Tilburg was more of a region than a single town. People lived in small groups, like "Eastern Tilburg," which is now called Oisterwijk. This area had a small castle, but it fell apart over time.
In the 14th century, Tilburg became a "manor," which was like a large estate. It was called "The Manor of Tilburg and Goirle." Important lords owned these rights and collected money from the villagers.
In the 15th century, one of these lords, Jan van Haestrecht, built Tilburg Castle. This castle was later taken down in 1858 to build a factory. Today, you can still see where the castle stood, and its name is part of the city's symbols. In 1809, Tilburg officially became a city. It had about 9,000 people then. In 2009, Tilburg celebrated 200 years as a city!
Tilburg: The Wool City
Tilburg grew up around special triangular areas called "herd places." These were shared fields where farmers let their sheep graze. You can still see this shape in many parts of Tilburg today.
Farmers in these areas were not rich. Instead of selling their wool, they started to weave it themselves. Soon, many homes had a loom for weaving. By the 17th century, there were about 300 looms! Smart business people, called "drapers," gave the weavers materials. This is how the wool industry in Tilburg began to grow very fast. By 1881, Tilburg had 145 wool factories! Even with factories, people still wove at home until the early 1900s. Tilburg's wool products were famous far and wide.
After World War II, Tilburg was still known for its wool. But in the 1960s, the wool industry started to decline. By the 1980s, many wool factories had closed. Today, Tilburg has many different types of businesses. The main focus is now on transport and logistics, with other industries close behind.
City Changes and Growth
When the wool industry slowed down in the 1960s, Tilburg started to change. Many old buildings were replaced with new ones to modernize the city. For example, the Koningswei area was rebuilt as Koningsplein. The old city hall, a beautiful historic building, was also replaced by a new, modern complex. The old railway station was also updated to make way for new elevated train tracks, which helped reduce traffic.
In the 1980s, many old factory sites were turned into new housing areas. In the 1990s, Tilburg's skyline began to look more modern. Three tall buildings were built: the Interpolis headquarters, the Westpoint Tower, and StadsHeer. The Westpoint Tower is 143.1 meters tall and was once the tallest residential building in the Netherlands!
King William II's Connection
King William II (1792–1849) really liked Tilburg. He once said he felt "free and happy" there. The King helped Tilburg by giving money for sheep farming and building new farms. He also built a cavalry barracks, which is now a historic building for the City Archives.
King William II wanted his own home in Tilburg, so he ordered a palace to be built as his country residence. It was finished just before he passed away in 1849. Today, this palace is part of Tilburg City Hall. The local football team, Willem II Tilburg, is named after the king!
Parts of Tilburg
Tilburg is divided into several districts, each with its own unique feel.
Tilburg Centrum
Tilburg Centrum is the city's downtown area. It's where you'll find most of the shops, hotels, restaurants, and cafes. In 2008, the Pieter Vreedeplein square was updated, adding more shopping options. The main Tilburg railway station is also located here.
Oud-Noord
Oud-Noord is north of the railway tracks. It's home to the modern art museum De Pont. A large area along the railway, called the Spoorzone, is being redeveloped. New buildings for Fontys University of Applied Sciences and Tilburg's new central library will be here.
Oud-Zuid
Oud-Zuid is south, west, and east of downtown. This district has Tilburg's tallest buildings, like the Westpoint Tower and the StadsHeer. Important places like the 013 music venue and the main library are also in Oud-Zuid.
Noord
Tilburg-Noord is north of the Wilhelmina Canal. It was built between 1966 and 1974 and has many apartment buildings and green spaces. The streets here are often named after famous musicians. The northern part of this district still has farms and forests.
Oost
Tilburg-Oost is mostly an industrial area. There are some homes, but it's mainly for businesses and factories.
Zuid
Tilburg-Zuid is the southernmost district, located near the A58 motorway. It's where the football club Willem II is located, along with the Ireen Wüst IJsbaan ice-skating rink. The main campus of Fontys University of Applied Sciences and a large public park, Leijpark, are also here.
West
Tilburg-West was mostly built after World War II. It has many schools, including Tilburg University and Avans Hogeschool. The Westermarkt is a large shopping center outside the city center. This district is connected by the Tilburg Universiteit railway station and is surrounded by forests like Wandelbos and Oude Warande.
Reeshof
The Reeshof is the newest and largest district in Tilburg. The first houses were built in 1980, and it's still growing today. It has its own train station, Tilburg Reeshof railway station. The Donge river runs through the district, creating a green area called the Dongevallei, where you can even see Highland cattle grazing!
Nearby Villages
The villages of Berkel-Enschot, Biezenmortel, and Udenhout are also part of the Tilburg municipality.
People of Tilburg
As of 2021, Tilburg has a population of 222,601 people. The city council expects the population to reach 217,000 by 2025. About 23.3% of the people in Tilburg have a foreign background, meaning they or at least one of their parents were born outside the Netherlands. This makes Tilburg a diverse city with people from many different countries.
| 2020 | Numbers | % |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch natives | 156,496 | 71.2 |
| Western migration background | 26,889 | 12.2 |
| Non-Western migration background | 36,404 | 16.5 |
| Turkey | 8,236 | 3.74 |
| Morocco | 6,223 | 2.83 |
| Netherlands Antilles and Aruba | 5,017 | 2.28 |
| Indonesia | 4,611 | 2.09 |
| Suriname | 3,457 | 1.57 |
| Total | 219,789 | 100% |
| Country/territory | Population |
|---|---|
 Netherlands |
158,270 (70.8%) |
 Turkey |
8,106 (3.7%) |
 Morocco |
6,100 (2.8%) |
 Indonesia |
5,077 (2.1%) |
| Dutch Caribbean |
4,333 (2.3%) |
 Suriname |
3,315 (1.6%) |
 Somalia |
1,159 (0.8%) |
| Others | 20,811 (15.9%) |
Religions in Tilburg
In 2003, the main religions in Tilburg were:
- Roman Catholic (60.7%)
- Atheism (21.7%) - people who do not believe in a god
- Dutch Reformed (7.8%)
- Islam (4.8%)
- Reformed (4.4%)
Tilburg's Weather
Tilburg has an oceanic climate, which means it has mild winters and cool summers, similar to most of the Netherlands. Thunderstorms happen more often in this part of the Netherlands, up to 31 days a year.
| Climate data for Gilze-Rijen, 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.2 (59.4) |
18.2 (64.8) |
24.7 (76.5) |
29.1 (84.4) |
33.2 (91.8) |
34.7 (94.5) |
36.8 (98.2) |
35.8 (96.4) |
33.1 (91.6) |
27.2 (81.0) |
19.7 (67.5) |
15.9 (60.6) |
36.8 (98.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 5.8 (42.4) |
6.6 (43.9) |
10.4 (50.7) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.4 (65.1) |
20.9 (69.6) |
23.2 (73.8) |
23.0 (73.4) |
19.4 (66.9) |
14.9 (58.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
6.2 (43.2) |
14.4 (57.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.1 (37.6) |
3.4 (38.1) |
6.4 (43.5) |
9.3 (48.7) |
13.3 (55.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
18.1 (64.6) |
17.6 (63.7) |
14.5 (58.1) |
10.8 (51.4) |
6.6 (43.9) |
3.6 (38.5) |
10.2 (50.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) |
−0.2 (31.6) |
2.1 (35.8) |
3.8 (38.8) |
7.6 (45.7) |
10.3 (50.5) |
12.7 (54.9) |
12.2 (54.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
3.3 (37.9) |
0.8 (33.4) |
5.8 (42.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.3 (−2.7) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
−14.2 (6.4) |
−7.3 (18.9) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
1.5 (34.7) |
3.9 (39.0) |
3.9 (39.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−10.8 (12.6) |
−17.0 (1.4) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 70.0 (2.76) |
57.2 (2.25) |
64.1 (2.52) |
46.0 (1.81) |
61.2 (2.41) |
65.8 (2.59) |
75.6 (2.98) |
66.0 (2.60) |
72.4 (2.85) |
75.0 (2.95) |
76.1 (3.00) |
75.8 (2.98) |
805.2 (31.7) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 17 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 182 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 cm) | 6 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 25 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 88 | 84 | 81 | 75 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 82 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 63.1 | 84.5 | 119.1 | 171.7 | 203.8 | 195.5 | 205.9 | 190.2 | 142.0 | 113.4 | 64.2 | 50.1 | 1,603.5 |
| Source: KNMI | |||||||||||||
Tilburg's Economy
For many centuries, Tilburg's economy was all about the wool industry. But after the 1960s, the city worked hard to bring in different types of businesses. Today, companies like the chemical company IFF and the Japanese company Fujifilm have factories here. Insurance companies like Interpolis and CZ also have their main offices in Tilburg.
Since 2013, the electric car company Tesla has had its main European facility in Tilburg for putting cars together and distributing them. This is located in the Vossenberg industrial area.
Tilburg is also a big center for transportation and distribution. This is because it's located right in the middle of the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) and on a major transport route between Antwerp/Rotterdam and the Ruhr area in Germany. This makes it a great place for logistics businesses.
Learning in Tilburg
Tilburg University
Tilburg University is a very important school in Tilburg, attracting students from all over the world. It has about 13,000 students, and about 8% of them are international students. The university offers programs taught in both Dutch and English.
The university is well-known for its research and teaching, especially in economics. Its business school, TiasNimbas Business School, was even ranked among the top in the world for its Executive MBA program!
Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts
Tilburg is also home to the Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts (called FHK in Dutch). This school is part of Fontys University of Applied Sciences. It brings together different art schools that were already in Tilburg, like the Brabants Conservatorium (a music school) and the Academie voor Beeldende Vorming (a visual arts academy).
The Fontys School of Arts offers many different programs in music, visual arts, dance, theatre, and performing arts. It's located in a building called 'Kunstkluster' in the city center, right next to the Schouwburg (theater).
Fun and Culture
Tilburg is a city that loves festivals and art! It's even a special "pilot city" for a program that promotes different cultures.
Local Drinks
Schrobbelèr is a special local drink from Tilburg. It's a sweet liqueur with a lower alcohol content than many similar drinks. It's often served cold in a tall, thin glass. The drink was created in 1973 by Jan Wassing, who wanted a drink that was easier on his stomach. The name comes from the "Schrobbelaar" job in the old textile industry, which was a low-paying job.
Another local drink is Peerke's Nat, which is stronger than Schrobbelèr. It was introduced when Peter Donders (a local hero) was honored.
The Koningshoeven Brewery in Tilburg makes trappist beer, which is a special type of beer brewed by monks. It started in 1884 at Koningshoeven Abbey.
Art in the City
Tilburg has a lot of public art that you can see around the city. KORT (Art in Open Space Tilburg) helps support new, modern art and provides information about older artworks. For example, there's a turning house on a roundabout and the statue of King Willem II on the Heuvel square.
Festivals and Music
Tilburg is known for hosting many festivals, like Incubate (for music and art), Festival Mundial (world culture), and Roadburn Festival (for heavy music). The 013 is a popular music venue, and Paradox is a club for experimental jazz. Students from the Fontys pop academy often perform at local venues.
Museums to Explore
Tilburg has some great museums:
- De Pont: This museum shows modern art from famous artists like Ai Weiwei and Anish Kapoor. It opened in 1992 in an old wool factory, which is a nod to Tilburg's history.
- Textile Museum: This museum shows the history of textile making in Tilburg. It's also a place where people can design and create new textiles. It opened in 1958.
- Natuurmuseum Brabant (Brabant Museum of Nature): This museum is all about natural history. It has many stuffed animals, plants, rocks, and fossils. It moved to its current location near the railway station in 1985.
Tilburg City Museum
The Tilburg City Museum doesn't have one main building. Instead, it takes care of the city's historical items and creates exhibitions in different places.
- Vincent's Drawing Room: Here, you can see a room made to look like the one where Vincent van Gogh lived and studied in Tilburg. There's also a modern drawing room with computers for drawing.
- Peerke Donders Pavilion: This museum honors Petrus Donders, a local missionary known for his charity work.
The museum also manages the "Memory of Tilburg," which has more than 4400 stories about the city's past.
Parks and Forests
Tilburg has many parks and forests where people can relax and play. The Leijpark and Reeshofpark are the biggest parks. Leijpark is famous for hosting Festival Mundial. Reeshofpark was built in the late 1990s.
Tilburg has more forest area compared to many other large Dutch cities. Some of the forests in the municipality include the Wandelbos, the Oude Warande, and the Kaaistoep. There's also a national park nearby called Loonse en Drunense Duinen, which has cool sand dunes!
Sports in Tilburg
The local football (soccer) team is Willem II, named after King William II.
The Tilburg Ten Miles is a popular annual running race held in the city.
Many students also enjoy sports like rowing and hockey. Tilburg has three field hockey clubs that play in top national leagues.
Tilburg has an ice skating rink called the Ireen Wüst IJsbaan, which includes a 400-meter speed skating rink and an ice hockey field. The local ice hockey team, Tilburg Trappers, used to be the best in the Netherlands before moving to a German league.
Getting Around Tilburg
Tilburg has three train stations: Tilburg (Central), Tilburg Universiteit, and Tilburg Reeshof. The Tilburg Reeshof station was built to serve the newer Reeshof district. Only Intercity trains stop at the main Tilburg station. A fourth station is planned for Berkel-Enschot, a village becoming more connected to Tilburg.
City and local buses in Tilburg are run by Arriva. Tilburg also has a bus service that goes to the Belgian city of Turnhout.
Tilburg has a great network of bicycle paths called Sternet-Routes. The first path was built in 1975 between the city center and the university. Many new paths have been built since the mid-1990s, often with smooth asphalt. New tunnels have also been built under the railway for cyclists.
Tilburg is connected by one main motorway, the A58 / E312, which goes to Breda and Eindhoven. An outer ring road around the city was finished in 2012. Other important roads connect Tilburg to Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch.
Sister Cities
Tilburg is connected with these cities around the world:
Changzhou, China
Lublin, Poland
Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Minamiashigara, Japan
Same, Tanzania
Famous People from Tilburg
Arts and Entertainment
- Gerard van Spaendonck (1746–1822) & Cornelis van Spaendonck (1756–1839), Dutch painters.
- Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890), a famous painter who studied in Tilburg.
- Guus Meeuwis (born 1972), a popular Dutch singer-songwriter.
- Floor Jansen (born 1981), a Dutch singer in the band Nightwish.
Public Service and Science
- Bl. Peerke Donders (1807–1887), a Roman Catholic missionary who helped people with leprosy in Suriname.
- Franciscus Donders (1818–1889), a Dutch eye doctor.
- Marc van Roosmalen (born 1947), a Dutch-Brazilian scientist who studies monkeys.
Sports Stars
- Jan Pijnenburg (1906–1979), an Olympic cyclist.
- Anita Staps (born 1961), a judo world champion.
- Bas Rutten (born 1965), a Dutch-American mixed martial artist and actor.
- Jackie Groenen (born 1994), a Dutch football player and former judoka.
Gallery
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Tilburg, view at Heuvelstraat
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Tilburg, Saint Denis Church, known as the: Heikese Kerk
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Tilburg, statue of Petrus Donders
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Tilburg textile museum
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City Hall of Tilburg, called: Paleis-Raadhuis
See also
In Spanish: Tilburg para niños
