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Westerlo facts for kids

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For the town in Albany County, see Westerlo, New York.
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Westerlo
Municipality
Town Hall of Westerlo
Town Hall of Westerlo
Flag of Westerlo
Flag
 Coat of arms of Westerlo
Coat of arms
Westerlo is located in Belgium
Westerlo
Westerlo
Location in Belgium
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province Antwerp
Arrondissement Turnhout
Area
 • Total 55.13 km2 (21.29 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
2260
Area codes 014 - 015 - 016
Website www.westerlo.be

Westerlo is a town in Belgium. It is located in the Antwerp province of Belgium. Westerlo is known for its beautiful old buildings and peaceful countryside.

The town of Westerlo is actually made up of seven smaller towns. These are Westerlo centrum, Oevel, Tongerlo, Heultje, Voortkapel, Oosterwijk, and Zoerle-Parwijs. In 2021, about 25,288 people lived in Westerlo. The total area of the municipality is about 55 square kilometers.

Discovering Westerlo's History and Landmarks

Westerlo has some amazing places to visit that tell stories from a long time ago. These include an old castle and a famous abbey.

The Castle of Westerlo: A Royal History

The Castle of Westerlo has been owned by the same family, the House of Merode, since the late 1400s. For hundreds of years, it was their most important country home.

In the early 1900s, Countess Jeanne de Merode built a new castle nearby. This new building was made in a style called neogothic, which looks like old medieval castles. Since the 1970s, this newer castle has been used as the town hall of Westerlo.

Tongerlo Abbey: Art and History

Tongerlo Abbey is another important place in Westerlo. It is home to a very old and beautiful copy of The Last Supper by the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci.

The abbey was also once known for making its own special beer, called Tongerlo Abbey beer. However, this beer is no longer made at the abbey itself.

Images for kids

  • Westerlo kasteel gravin Jeanne

    Westerlo, town hall

  • Westerlo, kerk foto2 2009-08-29 18.39

    Westerlo, church

  • Tongerlo, kerk foto2 2009-08-30 09.56

    Tongerlo, church

  • Oevel, kerk foto2 2009-08-30 10.12

    Oevel, church

  • Westerlo Hof van Overwijs met linde 05

    Hof van Overwijs

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