Zonhoven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Zonhoven
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Former town hall of Zonhoven
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 Zonhoven
Location in Belgium
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| Country | Belgium | ||
| Community | Flemish Community | ||
| Region | Flemish Region | ||
| Province | Limburg | ||
| Arrondissement | Hasselt | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 39.34 km2 (15.19 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 |
3520
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| Area codes | 011 - 089 | ||
| Website | www.zonhoven.be | ||
Zonhoven is a town in the middle of the Belgian province of Limburg. It is located north of Hasselt and shares borders with other towns like Houthalen-Helechteren and Genk. Zonhoven is a busy town near Hasselt.
In 2019, Zonhoven had about 21,237 people living there. The town covers an area of 39.34 square kilometers. This means there are about 506 people living in each square kilometer.
Scientists have found old tools and signs of people living here from as far back as 11,000 BCE. This shows that people have lived in Zonhoven for a very long time. From the Middle Ages, Zonhoven was part of a region called the Land of Vogelsanck. When factories and industries came in the 1800s and 1900s, more people moved to Zonhoven. The number of people living here tripled between 1930 and 1980. Mining for iron ore was a very important job in Zonhoven back then.
The town of Zonhoven includes smaller areas called Halveweg, Termolen, and Terdonk.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Zonhoven
The name 'Zonhoven' means 'wet, low-lying land near or along the Son stream'. It's a bit of a puzzle how the name came to be!
How the Name Zonhoven Came About
The name 'Zonhoven' changed over time. People used to call it 'Sonuwe'. Later, they started saying 'Zonhoven' because it sounded similar. They thought 'son-' sounded like 'zon-' (which means 'sun' in Dutch) and '-uwe' sounded like '-hoven'.
To really understand the name, you need to hear how local people say it: /sōnəvə/. This sounds more like the old name.
The Real Meaning of 'Zon-'
The first part of the name, 'zon-', actually comes from 'Son'. This was the old name for a stream called the Zonderikbeek. This stream flows through Zonhoven and helps shape the land. People in Zonhoven today often call it the Roosterbeek.
Many people think 'zon-' means 'sun', but that's not right! Because of this misunderstanding, some local businesses, schools, and sports teams use 'zon-' or 'sun-' in their names. They even put a sun or a sundial in their logos. For example, there's a school called De Zonnewijzer (The Sundial) and a baseball team called Sunville Tigers. You can also see the sun on Zonhoven's coat of arms and flag.
The Meaning of '-hoven'
The second part of the name, '-hoven', comes from '-ouwe'. This word means 'land that floods' or 'alluvial land'. It refers to the valley where the Zonderikbeek stream flows.
Some people used to think '-hoven' meant 'hof', which means 'farm' or 'estate'. They thought Zonhoven might mean 'the farm of the Zon family'. But this idea is no longer believed to be true.
A Look Back: The History of Zonhoven
Zonhoven has a long and interesting history, going back thousands of years.
Early Times and Roman Rule
People have lived in the Zonhoven area since ancient times. There is proof of human activity from the Roman period. It's thought that a Germanic tribe called the Tungri lived here when the Romans were in charge.
The Middle Ages and Beyond
During the Middle Ages, Zonhoven was part of the County of Loon. This was a state within the Holy Roman Empire. The village slowly grew around its main church. Most people worked in farming. In the 1300s, Zonhoven became part of the Duchy of Brabant.
The area saw many changes and conflicts, like the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648). This war affected many towns in Belgium, including Zonhoven.
The Treaty of Zonhoven
An important event happened in Zonhoven on November 18, 1833. The Treaty of Zonhoven was signed in a house called De Franse Kroon. This agreement was made between representatives from the Netherlands and Belgium. It set up special rules for how both countries could use the Meuse river.
Industrial Growth and Modern Times
In the 1800s, Zonhoven started to become more industrial. This changed the town from mostly farming to having more factories. The population grew as industries like coal mining and making textiles (cloth) started up. When the railway arrived in the late 1800s, it helped the town grow even more and made it easier to travel.
In the 1900s, Zonhoven, like other towns in Europe, faced challenges from both World Wars. After these wars, the town worked to rebuild and recover its economy.
Today, Zonhoven is a modern town. It has a mix of old buildings that show its history and new developments. The town continues to grow, keeping its heritage while adapting to today's needs.
Who Lives in Zonhoven? Demographics
As of January 1, 2019, Zonhoven had 21,237 people living there. This makes Zonhoven the thirteenth largest town in the province of Limburg. It is also the 140th largest town in all of Belgium.
Zonhoven has fewer people than some of its neighboring towns. Among the four main parts of Zonhoven, the town center has the most people. Termolen is the second most populated area.
Sports in Zonhoven
Zonhoven is a great place for sports! It has many sports clubs and facilities.
Football Clubs
The town has four amateur football clubs that play in local leagues:
- Flandria Termolen
- FC Melosport Zonhoven
- KFC Halveweg Zonhoven
- Zonhoven VV
Zonhoven VV even played in the Third Division for three seasons in the 1970s. Other amateur teams also play here, like Tuinwijk VV and FC Wanhoop. Zonhoven is also well-known for its women's football teams. DV Zonhoven played at a national level for a long time. They later joined with DV Lanaken to form DVL Zonhoven in 2012.
Sports Facilities
You can find many places to play sports in Zonhoven.
- Basvelden Sports Center: This is the biggest outdoor sports center. It has:
- Seven football fields
- Eight tennis courts and an indoor tennis hall
- Several beach volleyball courts
- Two baseball fields
- A stable with an indoor riding area for horses
- A skate and BMX park
- Two basketball courts
- An athletics track
- A petanque court
- A 2,700-meter-long Finnish track (a running track with soft ground)
- Halveweg Sports Center: This outdoor center also has football and tennis fields for sports clubs.
- Den Dijk Events Hall: This is the largest indoor sports facility, located in the town center. Volleyball clubs Topsport Davozon (women) and VC Helios (men) play their home games here.
- Other Sports Halls: There is also a sports hall in Terdonk and one at the Windekind primary school. The gymnastics club Olympia uses all the sports halls in Zonhoven.
Learning in Zonhoven: Education
Zonhoven has several schools for children of different ages.
Primary Schools
The town has six primary schools. Each of the four main areas of Zonhoven has a kindergarten and a primary school:
- 'De Horizon' in Terdonk
- 'De Lettermolen' in Termolen
- 'De St@rtbaan' in Halveweg
- 'De Zonnewijzer' in the center
There are also two other primary schools in the center: 'Kosmos' and Freinet school 'De Toverfluit'. Both have kindergarten and primary school classes. The kindergarten 'De Kleurdoos' is also in the center of Zonhoven.
Secondary Schools
For older students, Zonhoven has two secondary schools:
- The Vrije Middenschool (for the first year of secondary school)
- The Sint-Jan Berchmansinstituut (for the second and third years)
These schools work closely together and are located close to each other in the center. They are part of the Sint-Quintinus School Community. About 1,000 students attend these schools.
Famous People from Zonhoven
Many talented people were born or grew up in Zonhoven!
- Lieve Baeten (1954–2001), a writer and illustrator of children's books
- Bieke Broux (1985), a scientist who researches Multiple Sclerosis
- Anke Buckinx (born 1980 in Maasmechelen), a VJ and radio personality
- Koen Buyse (1977), the lead singer of the band Zornik
- Rik Ceulemans (born 1972 in Hasselt), an athlete
- Patrick Claesen (born 1965 in Hasselt), also known as Pat Krimson, a DJ and producer, and frontman of 2 Fabiola
- Luc Indestege (1901–1974), a writer
- Kikx, a former boyband
- Ingrid Lieten (born 1964 in Hasselt), a former Flemish government minister
- Luc Nilis (1967), a former soccer player
- Roel Paulissen (born 1976 in Hasselt), a mountain biking champion
- Marleen Renders (born 1968 in Diest), a marathon runner
- Charlotte Timmers (1988), an actress
- Chris Thys (1954), an actress
- Leah Thys (1945), an actress
- Jos Vandeloo (1925–2015), a writer
- Marilou Vanden Poel-Welkenhuysen (1941), a former mayor of Zonhoven
- Margot Vanderstraeten (born 1967 in Hasselt), a writer
- Tim Vanhamel (1977), the lead singer of the band Millionaire
- Francesca Vanthielen (born 1972 in Eeklo), an actress and host
- Wout Wijsmans (born 1977 in Hasselt), a volleyball player
Products from Zonhoven
- Zonderik - A type of Belgian beer
- Konings (distillery) - A company that makes drinks
Images for kids
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House of the forester
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18th century chapel in Zonhoven
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Leah Thys
See also
In Spanish: Zonhoven para niños
