Grobbendonk () 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,

( nl, Antwerpen). The municipality comprises the towns of

Bouwel Bouwel is a ''deelgemeente'' in the Belgian province of Antwerp; it is attached to the municipality of Grobbendonk. The village was first mentioned in 994 or 997 as Odlobolo. Bouwel used to be owned by the Lords of Grobbendonk until 1487, when i ...

and Grobbendonk proper. In 2021, Grobbendonk had a total population of 11,249. The total area is 28.36 km². The official

flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...

of Grobbendonk was adopted in 1989. In terms of

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...

, the flag is quartered, I and IV argent, three hills vert, a bird sable (specifically a

raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned t ...

), II and III gules three

fleur-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

argent.

Lord of Grobbendonk

The house of Ursel is still

lord of Grobbendonk Lord of Grobbendonk is a feudal Flemish title originating from Grobbendonk. This title belongs today to the Belgian nobility. History The origin of this important hereditary title goes back to the 13th century. The lordship was in possession o ...

, owner of the

Heerlijkheid A ''heerlijkheid'' (a Dutch word; pl. ''heerlijkheden''; also called ''heerschap''; Latin: ''Dominium'') was a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in the Dutch-speaking Low Countries before 1800. ...

. The heerlijkheid was in 1545 property of

Erasmus II Schetz Erasmus II Schetz sometimes Scets died 1550 was a Flemish nobleman. Lord of Grobbendonk He was born as son of Conrad I Schetz who married in 1485 to Maria Crans di Roscara, daughter of Mathieu Roscara. He lived in Maastricht, and came to Antwer ...

, the first Baron was his grandson Antonie II Schetz, Baron of Grobbendonck. The next generations were created Count of Grobbendonk, amongst these descendant

duke of Ursel The House of Ursel is the name of an important old Belgian noble family of German origin. The Head of the House is styled the Duke of Ursel, while other members are styled as Count/Countess d'Ursel. History The Ursel family roots are ...

who was hereditary Count of Grobbendonk.

Famous inhabitants

Rik Van Looy Henri "Rik" Van Looy (born 20 December 1933 in Grobbendonk) is a Belgian former professional cycle sport, cyclist of the post-World War II, war period, nicknamed the ''King of the Classics'' or ''Emperor of Herentals'' (after the small Belgian ...

, cyclist, twice World Cycling Champion *

Herman Van Springel Herman Vanspringel (14 August 1943 – 25 August 2022), also spelled Herman Van Springel, was a Belgian road racing cyclist, from Grobbendonk, in the Flemish Campine or Kempen region. He achieved podium finishes in all three of the grand tours ...

, cyclist, finished second in the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...

Gallery

File:Gobbendonk Bouwel Dorp - 236938 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Assumption of Mary Church in Bouwel File:'t Wit Huys ter Miereyck.jpg, Villa 't Wit Huys File:A Bouwel, Molen van Bouwel, standerdmolen 04W.JPG, Windmill Molen van Bouwel File:Het interfluvium van Nete en Aa te Grobbendonk - 372432 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Landscape near Grobbendonk

References

External links

*
Official website
- Only available in

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 ...

{{Authority control Municipalities of Antwerp Province Populated places in Antwerp Province