Neerpelt (, literally ''Lower Pelt'') is a town in

Pelt Fur is a thick growth of hair that covers the skin of mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an insulating blanket t ...

and a former

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

Limburg Limburg or Limbourg may refer to: Regions * Limburg (Belgium), a province since 1839 in the Flanders region of Belgium * Limburg (Netherlands), a province since 1839 in the south of the Netherlands * Diocese of Limburg, Roman Catholic Diocese in ...

. In 2018, the municipality had a total population of 17,174. The total area is 42.78 km². Effective 1 January 2019, Neerpelt and

Overpelt Overpelt (, literally ''Upper Pelt'') is a town in the municipality of Pelt and a former municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. In 2018, the municipality of Overpelt had a total population of 15,478. The municipality consisted ...

were

merged Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are business transactions in which the ownership of companies, other business organizations, or their operating units are transferred to or consolidated with another company or business organization. As an aspect ...

into the new municipality of

Culture

Provinciaal Domein Dommelhof Provincial Domain Dommelhof is an institution of the province Limburg (Belgium) in Belgium for culture, performing arts, and sports. Dommelhof was opened in 1967 in the municipality Neerpelt. The institution was the first cultural center in Flan ...

is the

cultural center A cultural center or cultural centre is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run. Asia * Ce ...

of Neerpelt. This institute houses several smaller organisations: * Musica: Impulse Center for music, and manager of het Klankenbos (the sound forest) on the Dommelhof site * Zebracinema: arthouse cinema in Belgian Limburg * Circus Center: Flemish anchor point for circus art * Jazzcase: Northern Limburg jazz platform The Klankenbos is the biggest

sound art Sound art is an artistic activity in which sound is utilized as a primary medium or material. Like many genres of contemporary art, sound art may be interdisciplinary in nature, or be used in hybrid forms. According to Brandon LaBelle, sound art ...

collection in

public space A public space is a place that is open and accessible to the general public. Roads (including the pavement), public squares, parks, and beaches are typically considered public space. To a limited extent, government buildings which are open to ...

in Europe. In the forest there are 15

sound installation Sound art is an artistic activity in which sound is utilized as a primary medium or material. Like many genres of contemporary art, sound art may be interdisciplinary in nature, or be used in hybrid forms. According to Brandon LaBelle, sound art ...

pieces by artists such as

Pierre Berthet Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...

Paul Panhuysen Paul Panhuysen (21 August 1934 – 29 January 2015) was a Dutch composer, visual and sound artist. He founded and directed Het Apollohuis, an art space that functioned during the 80's and 90's having artists doing sound installations, sound scul ...

, Geert Jan Hobbijn (

Staalplaat Staalplaat is an independent record label that is located in Amsterdam with a separate store in Berlin. Founded in 1982, the company's mission was to create a sound forum for sound artists, who write and perform new and experimental music. Staalpl ...

Soundsystem),

Hans van Koolwijk Hans may refer to: __NOTOC__ People * Hans (name), a masculine given name * Hans Raj Hans, Indian singer and politician ** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans ** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi ...

, and others.

Famous inhabitants

Famous people who were born or lived in Neerpelt include: * Stijn Coninx, director of Academy Award nominated film "

Daens Daens might refer to: * Adolf Daens, Belgian Flemish priest and politician * Pieter Daens (novel), a novel by Louis Paul Boon *Daens (film) ''Daens'' is a 1992 Belgian period drama film directed by Stijn Coninx, after a novel by Louis Paul Bo ...

" *

Ken De Dycker Ken De Dycker (born 6 June 1984) is a Belgian former professional motocross racer. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 2004 to 2018. De Dycker represented Belgium at the Motocross des Nations four times and was a member of the w ...

, motocross racer *

Eric Geboers Eric Geboers (5 August 1962 – 6 May 2018) was a Belgian professional motocross racer and racing driver. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1980 to 1990, winning five world championships in eleven years. Geboers is notable fo ...

, motocross world champion * Bart Goor, football (soccer) player, played 65 times for the Belgian national football team *

Wim Mertens Wim Mertens (; born 14 May 1953) is a Flemish Belgian composer, countertenor vocalist, pianist, guitarist, and musicologist. Life and work Mertens was born in Neerpelt, Belgium. He studied social and political science at the University of Leu ...

, composer, musician, and musicologist (b. 1953) * , singer-songwriter with the bands

Monza Monza (, ; lmo, label=Lombard language, Lombard, Monça, locally ; lat, Modoetia) is a city and ''comune'' on the River Lambro, a tributary of the Po River, Po in the Lombardy region of Italy, about north-northeast of Milan. It is the capit ...

and Noordkaap *

Belle Perez Maribel Pérez (born 29 January 1976), best known by her stage name Belle Perez, is a Belgian-Spanish musician and songwriter. Born in Neerpelt to Spanish parents as María Isabelle Pérez Cerezo, the Flemish singer was discovered for her musica ...

, singer *

Raf Simons Raf Jan Simons (; born 12 January 1968) is a Belgian fashion designer. Beginning in furniture design, Simons launched his own menswear label in 1995. He was creative director at Jil Sander (2005–2012), Christian Dior (2012–2015), and Calvin K ...

, fashion designer *

Jelle Vanendert Jelle Vanendert (born 19 February 1985) is a Belgian former professional road racing cyclist, who last rode for UCI ProTeam . He competed in a total of ten Grand Tours during his career. His younger brother Dennis Vanendert also competed profess ...

, professional cyclist who currently rides for Lotto-Belisol * Joost Zweegers, singer-songwriter with the band

Novastar Novastar is a Belgian rock band led by Dutch-born singer-songwriter and guitarist/pianist Joost Zweegers. They are known for their emotional ballads, and the high pitch of Zweegers's voice. Zweegers has also released solo material under the n ...

* Hans Vanaken, football player

References

External links

* * Pelt Former municipalities of Limburg (Belgium) Populated places in Limburg (Belgium) {{LimburgBE-geo-stub

Culture

Famous inhabitants

See also

References

External links