Arendonk () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

located in the

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct languag ...

province of

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

. The municipality comprises only the town of Arendonk proper. In 2021, Arendonk had a total population of 13,207. The total area is 55.38 km². The spoken language is Kempenlands (an

East Brabantian East Brabantian ( nl, Oost Noord-Brabants or Oost Brabants) is one of the main divisions of the Brabantian dialect group recognized by the ''Woordenboek van de Brabantse dialecten''. East Brabantian dialects are mainly spoken in the eastern part o ...

dialect, which is very similar to colloquial

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

Nickname

The nickname for a person living in Arendonk is "Telowerelè'er" meaning dish-licker. A statue personating the nickname is located in proximity of the Toremansmolen windmill, another attraction. The mill is still operational and can be visited regularly. The mayor of this city is called Kristof Hendrickx.

Famous inhabitants

Rik Van Steenbergen Rik Van Steenbergen (9 September 1924 – 15 May 2003) was a Belgian racing cyclist, considered to be one of the best among the great number of successful Belgian cyclists. Early life Van Steenbergen was born in Arendonk into a poor fami ...

, thrice World Cycling Champion *

René Mertens René Mertens (3 March 1922 – 9 April 2014) was a Belgian racing cyclist. He rode in the 1948 Tour de France The 1948 Tour de France was the 35th edition of the Tour de France, taking place from 30 June to 25 July 1948. It consisted of ...

, cyclist in the 1948 Tour de France *

Karel Meulemans Karel Meulemans (b. Retie, Belgium, 3 February 1934) is a Belgian pigeon fancier. Biography Early life In 1946 moved Karel's parents, who were farmers, a farm on 3.5 hectares of land in Arendonk, (Belgium), where Karel Meulemans, to this day l ...

, one of the best pigeonfanciers worldwide *

Janssen Brothers Pigeon racing is the sport of releasing specially trained homing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance. The time it takes the animal to cover the specified distance is measured and the bird's rate of trave ...

of Schoolstraat, Arendonk - The most famous pigeon fanciers in the World. * There is a possibility that the flemish painter

Jan van Eyck Jan van Eyck ( , ; – July 9, 1441) was a painter active in Bruges who was one of the early innovators of what became known as Early Netherlandish painting, and one of the most significant representatives of Early Northern Renaissance art. Ac ...

is originally from Arendonk.https://www.lannoo.be/sites/default/files/books/issuu/9789401445887.pdf

Image gallery

Image:Arendonk Centrum Kerk OLV LR.jpg, OLV Church Arendonk Image:RikVanSteenbergenTorso.jpg, Rik Van Steenbergen Image:Telowerelèer molen LR.jpg , Telowerelè'er and Toremansmolen Image:Academie LR.jpg , Arendonk's Academy of art located in a former cigar factory of "Karel I sigaren"

Climate

References

External links

Official website
- Available only in