Turnhout Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Turnhout

Grote Markt

Flag	Coat of arms

Turnhout

Location in Belgium

Country

Flemish Community

Arrondissement

Turnhout

Area

• Total

56.06 km² (21.64 sq mi)

Population

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• Total

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Postal codes

2300

Area codes

014

Website

www.turnhout.be

Turnhout is a city in Belgium. It is located in the Flemish part of the country. Turnhout is part of the Antwerp province. In 2021, about 45,874 people lived there. The city is famous for making playing cards. It is home to Cartamundi, the world's biggest playing card maker.

Turnhout is also seen as the main city of the Kempen area. It is a hub for business and culture. The city has over 40 schools. It also has two hospitals, a theater, a cinema, and a large cultural center. Turnhout is about 42 kilometers (26 miles) from Antwerp. The city's football club is K.V. Turnhout.

History of Turnhout
Places to See in Turnhout
Sports in Turnhout
Gallery
Famous People from Turnhout
Sister Cities
See also

History of Turnhout

Turnhout started a long time ago. It grew where two important trade routes met. A hunting castle belonging to the Dukes of Brabant protected the area. This castle might have been there since 1110. The city's coat of arms still shows this hunting past.

Around 1212, Turnhout became a "free city." This meant it had special rights. In 1338, the city got permission to hold a market every Saturday. This tradition still happens today. The city could also hold a yearly fair. This allowed people from nearby villages to sell their goods in Turnhout. By 1466, Turnhout was described as a place with nice houses and paved roads. It had five churches.

The Castle of the Dukes of Brabant in Turnhout.

By the 1500s, Turnhout was a rich trading center. But the end of that century brought many problems. There were wars, fires, and diseases. Many people had to leave Turnhout. This made the area poor. Turnhout's history has many ups and downs. Armies often fought in the city and nearby areas. Two big battles are named after Turnhout. One happened in 1597 and another in 1789.

In 1830, Belgium became an independent country. Turnhout was just south of the new border with the Netherlands. A time of peace followed, from 1831 to 1914. During this time, a canal was dug in 1846. A railroad was also built in 1855.

In earlier times, Turnhout was known for making bedding and trading linen. In the early 1800s, paper-based industries took over. Pieter Corbeels and Philippus Jacobus Brepols helped start this industry. Turnhout still has many paper and printing companies today. Companies like Brepols, Group Joos, and Cartamundi are located here. Cartamundi is the world leader in making playing cards. Also, the Belgian Centre for the Graphics Industry is in Turnhout. Soudal, a top company for sealants, also has its main office in Turnhout.

Places to See in Turnhout

Turnhout has many interesting buildings and places to visit.

The 12th-century castle of the Dukes of Brabant is a must-see.
The Gothic church of St. Peter is also very old and beautiful.
The beguinage (begijnhof) dates back to the 13th century. It was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. This means it's a very special place in the world.
You can also see the 14th-century Gothic chapel of Theobald.
The Taxandria museum is in a grand Renaissance mansion.
A special place is the Museum of the Playing Card. It is in an old factory building. It has a beautifully restored steam engine.
The Turnova tower, built in 2019, is the tallest building in Turnhout. It is considered the city's first skyscraper.

Sports in Turnhout

Turnhout has several sports clubs:

KFC Turnhout is a football (soccer) club.
White Caps Turnhout is an ice hockey club.
RC Turnhout is a rugby club.

Gallery

Turnhout, church: Sint Pieterskerk
Turnhout, town hall
Turnhout, train station
Turnhout, chapel
Turnhout, water tower

Famous People from Turnhout

Many interesting people have come from Turnhout.

Filip Daems

Loena Hendrickx

Paul Janssen

Philippus Jacobus Brepols (1778–1845), who helped start the paper industry in Turnhout.
Filip Daems (born 1978), a famous football player.
Paul Geerts (born 1937), a comics artist known for the Spike and Suzy comics.
Loena Hendrickx (born 1999), a talented figure skater.
Paul Janssen (1926–2003), a pharmacologist who started Janssen Pharmaceutica, a big medicine company.
Flor Joosen (born 1952), a businessman known for his caviar business.
Chika Unigwe (born 1974), a well-known writer.
Hans Van Alphen (born 1982), a decathlete who placed 4th in the 2012 London Olympics.