Valkenswaard () 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 ...
and a town in the southern
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
, in the
Metropoolregio Eindhoven
The ''Metropoolregio Eindhoven'' (MRE; en, Eindhoven Metropolitan Region, italics=no), until 1 January 2014 the ''Samenwerkingsverband Regio Eindhoven'' (SRE; en, Cooperative union for the Region of Eindhoven, italics=no), is a regional governme ...
of the province of
North Brabant
North Brabant ( nl, Noord-Brabant ; Brabantian: ; ), also unofficially called Brabant, is a province in the south of the Netherlands. It borders the provinces of South Holland and Gelderland to the north, Limburg to the east, Zeeland to the w ...
. The municipality had a population of in and spans an area of of which is water.
The name Valkenswaard stems from its history of
falconers, who caught wild
falcon
Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene.
Adult falcons ...
s there; ''valk'' is
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 ...
for "falcon". It lay on a route where falcons migrated south each year. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, Valkenswaardian falconers were active at many European courts, in which falconing was a beloved pastime. Valkenswaard's falcon-catching area has now been built over and falcons are no longer caught there.
In the 19th and 20th century, a number of large
cigar factories were founded in Valkenswaard, the two most renowned of which being
Willem II and Hofnar.
A
Second World War cemetery containing 220 British soldiers was created near Valkenswaard in October 1944. It is now maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations m ...
.
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 ...
).
The
Eurocircuit Valkenswaard is a motorsport racetrack that has hosted the
European Rallycross Championship and the
FIM Motocross World Championship.
Population centres
*
Borkel en Schaft
Borkel en Schaft is a former municipality in the Netherlands, consisting of the villages of Borkel and Schaft. It was a separate municipality until 1934. The area is now part of the municipality of Valkenswaard.
The spoken language is Kempenlands ...
*
Dommelen
Dommelen is a village in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Valkenswaard, North Brabant. Dommelen derives its name from the little brook Dommel that runs through it. Having its clear water close at hand, Dommelen is most ...
*Valkenswaard
Topography
''Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Valkenswaard, June 2015''
Partner municipalities
Notable people born in Valkenswaard
*
Henk van den Breemen
Hendrik Gijsbert Bernhard "Henk" van den Breemen (23 March 1941 – 20 January 2024) was a Dutch military officer.
Biography
Van den Breemen started his military career as a Midshipsman for the Marines in 1960. From June 1987 till June 1998 ...
(born 1941) a retired Dutch military officer
*
Pieter van Geel (born 1951) a retired Dutch politician
*
Linda Williams (born 1955) a Dutch singer, participated in the
1981 Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest 1981 was the 26th edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in Dublin, Ireland, following the country's victory at the with the song "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan. Organised by the Europea ...
*
Ine Gevers
Ine Gevers (born 1960 in Valkenswaard) is a Dutch curator of contemporary art, writer and activist. Gevers is known for large themed exhibitions in which she (often with others) explores the relationships between technology, power and identity. S ...
(born 1960) a Dutch curator of contemporary art, writer and activist
*
Jeroen Mettes (1978-2006) a Dutch poet, essayist and blogger
*
Dominique van Hulst (born 1981), singer, known by her stage name ''Do''
[ IMDb Database]
retrieved 20 November 2019
Sport
*
Jan Tops
Johannes Augustinus Petrus "Jan" Tops (born 5 April 1961) is an equestrian from the Netherlands, who won the gold medal in the team jumping event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain riding Top Gun. He did so alongside Pie ...
(born 1961) an equestrian, gold medallist at the
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...
*
Jens van Son (born 1987) a Dutch professional footballer with over 250 club caps
*
Lidewij Welten (born 1990) a Dutch field hockey player
*
Daniëlle van de Donk (born 1991) a Dutch professional footballer
Gallery
File:Notariskantoor Valkenswaard 01.jpg, Notariskantoor Valkenswaard
File:Pintenwipper standbeeld Martinusplein Dommelen.jpg, Pintenwipper standbeeld Martinusplein Dommelen
File:Winnaar 2008 - Buurtschap Hazestraat - Flying pirates on music.jpg, Winnaar 2008 - Buurtschap Hazestraat - Flying pirates on music
File:Valkenswaard Zuil van de Eendracht Erich Reischke.jpg, Valkenswaard Zuil van de Eendracht Erich Reischke
References
External links
*
Official website
Municipalities of North Brabant
Populated places in North Brabant
{{NorthBrabant-geo-stub