Zonhoven

Last updated • 7 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Zonhoven
Municipality
Oud gemeentehuis zonhoven.jpg
Former town hall of Zonhoven
Zonhoven vlag.svg
Flag
Zonhoven wapen.svg
Coat of arms
Location of Zonhoven
Zonhoven
Belgium location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Zonhoven
Location in Belgium
Location of Zonhoven in Limburg
Zonhoven Limburg Belgium Map.svg
Coordinates: 50°59′N5°21′E / 50.983°N 5.350°E / 50.983; 5.350
CountryFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province Limburg
Arrondissement Hasselt
Government
 • MayorJohny De Raeve (Open Vld)
 • Governing party/ies Open Vld
Area
 • Total39.67 km2 (15.32 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01) [1]
 • Total21,214
 • Density530/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Postal codes
3520
NIS code
71066
Area codes 011 - 089
Website www.zonhoven.be

Zonhoven (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzɔnɦoːvə(n)] ; Limburgish : Zoneve) is a municipality located in the middle of the Belgian province of Limburg located north of Hasselt and also borders Houthalen-Helechteren, Genk and Heusden-Zolder. It’s an urbanized municipality, in the edge area of Hasselt. The municipality belongs to the On January 1, 2019, Zonhoven had a total population of 21,237. [2] The total area is 39.34 km2 which gives a population density of 506 inhabitants per km2.

Contents

Archaeological findings from the period 11,000 BCE to 5,000 BCE, including the only fixed prehistoric polishing stone in Flanders, [3] indicate early inhabitation of the territory. From the Middle Ages to the early modern period, Zonhoven and its neighboring villages belonged to the Land of Vogelsanck. Since the arrival of industry in the 19th and 20th centuries, the municipality has experienced a significant population increase: between 1930 and 1980, the population tripled. Iron ore mining, in particular, played a prominent role in the economy of Zonhoven.

The municipality includes the hamlets Halveweg, Termolen, and Terdonk.

Toponymy

The place name 'Zonhoven' means 'water-rich, low-lying (marsh) land close to or along the watercourse the Son' [4] The current name came about partly through folk etymology. At a certain point in history, language users were no longer aware of the original meaning of the old name Sonuwe. They then freely interpreted the name based on its word form (son- sounds like zon- and -uwe sounds somewhat like -hoven), resulting in Zonhoven. To understand the place name, one must listen to the local pronunciation /sōnəvə/ rather than looking at the written form Zonhoven. [5] [6]

The word element 'zon-' refers to the Son. This is an old name for the Zonderikbeek, a stream that flows through Zonhoven and partially shapes the landscape of the municipality, but which is known to Zonhoven residents as the Roosterbeek. Contrary to common belief, the first part of the place name Zonhoven does not refer to the sun as a star. As a result of this misunderstanding, several businesses, schools, and sports clubs have incorporated the prefixes 'zon-' or 'sun-' into their names and depicted the sun or a sundial in their logos. Examples include the primary school De Zonnewijzer, the beer Zonderik, café 't Zonnehof, and the baseball club Sunville Tigers. The sun is also incorporated into the coat of arms and flag of Zonhoven. The element '-hoven' traces back to '-ouwe', which means 'alluvial land'. It refers to the valley of the Zonderikbeek. In the past, it was suspected that '-hoven' referred to 'hof', meaning 'estate' or 'farm'. Consequently, 'the farm of the Zon family' was a possible explanation for the name Zonhoven, [7] but this explanation has since been rejected

History

Zonhoven is a municipality located in the province of Limburg, Belgium. Its history can be traced back to ancient times, with evidence of human activity in the area dating back to the Roman period. The region was likely inhabited by the Tungri, a Germanic tribe that settled in the area during Roman rule. During the Middle Ages, Zonhoven was part of the County of Loon, a feudal state within the Holy Roman Empire. The village gradually developed around a central church and became a predominantly agricultural community. In the 14th century, Zonhoven fell under the control of the Duchy of Brabant. The region experienced its share of historical events, including the turbulence of the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648), which had a significant impact on the Low Countries. Like many other Belgian towns, Zonhoven witnessed conflicts and changes in rulership during this period. On November 18, 1833, the Treaty of Zonhoven was signed in the house named De Franse Kroon between representatives of the Netherlands and Belgium to establish special regulations over the use of the river Meuse by the signatories. The 19th century brought industrialization to Zonhoven, transforming its predominantly agrarian economy. The village expanded, and its population grew as industries such as coal mining and textile production took root in the area. The advent of the railway in the late 19th century further facilitated economic development and connectivity.In the 20th century, Zonhoven, like many European towns, faced the challenges posed by both World Wars. The aftermath of these conflicts saw periods of reconstruction and economic recovery. Today, Zonhoven stands as a modern municipality with a mix of historical charm and contemporary amenities. Its rich history is evident in its architecture, with some buildings dating back centuries, coexisting with more recent developments. The town continues to evolve, embracing its heritage while adapting to the demands of the present day.

Demography

As of January 1, 2019, Zonhoven had a population of 21,237 residents. [8] This makes Zonhoven the thirteenth municipality in the province of Limburg and the 140th municipality in Belgium. The municipality has fewer inhabitants than its neighboring municipalities. Among the four hamlets comprising Zonhoven, the center has the highest population, followed by Termolen. [9]

Sport

The municipality has four amateur football clubs, all playing in provincial divisions: Flandria Termolen, FC Melosport Zonhoven, KFC Halveweg Zonhoven, and Zonhoven VV. The latter played three seasons in the Third Division in the 1970s. In addition to these four clubs affiliated with the KBVB, other amateur teams also play in Zonhoven, including Tuinwijk VV, Weerstand Zonhoven, and FC Wanhoop. Zonhoven is particularly known in the football world for its women's football teams. DV Zonhoven played at the national level for a long time in the Second Division until they merged with DV Lanaken in 2012 to form DVL Zonhoven. [10]

In Zonhoven, various sports facilities can be found. The largest is the open-air sports center Basvelden, which houses football club Zonhoven VV, equestrian club Zonnehoef, Zonhoven Athletics Club, tennis club TC Basveld, and baseball and softball club Sunville Tigers. The latter club is active at the highest level in Belgium. Basvelden comprises seven football fields, eight tennis courts with a tennis hall, several beach volleyball courts, two baseball fields, a stable with a covered riding arena, a skate and BMX park, two basketball courts, an athletics track, a petanque court, and a 2,700-meter-long Finnish track. In Halveweg, there is also an open-air sports center with football and tennis fields available for sports clubs. The largest indoor sports facility in Zonhoven is the events hall Den Dijk in the village center. Volleyball clubs Topsport Davozon (women) and VC Helios (men) play their home games there. The latter team played in Liga B for a long time. In addition to this events hall, there are also a sports hall in Terdonk and a sports hall at Windekind primary school in the center. Gymnastics club Olympia is active in all sports halls in the municipality.

Education

The municipality has six primary schools. Each of the four parishes is equipped with kindergarten and primary education: 'De Horizon' in Terdonk, 'De Lettermolen' in Termolen, 'De St@rtbaan' in Halveweg, and 'De Zonnewijzer' in the center. In addition, primary school 'Kosmos' and Freinet school 'De Toverfluit' represent community education with each having a kindergarten and primary school. They are also located in the center. Also located in the center of Zonhoven is the kindergarten 'De Kleurdoos.' In Zonhoven, secondary education is available at two schools: the Vrije Middenschool (first grade) and the Sint-Jan Berchmansinstituut (second and third grade). The schools work closely together as sister schools. They are located in the center within walking distance of each other and belong to the Scholengemeenschap Sint-Quintinus. Approximately 1,000 students are educated there.

Notable persons born/raised in Zonhoven

Products of Zonhoven

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limburg (Belgium)</span> Province of Belgium

Limburg, also known as Belgian Limburg, is a province in Belgium. It is the easternmost of the five Dutch-speaking provinces that together form the Region of Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern-day Belgium. As of January 2024, Limburg had a population of 0.9 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beersel</span> Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Beersel is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in the Flemish region of Belgium, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south-west of the centre of Brussels. The municipality comprises the towns of Alsemberg, Beersel proper, Dworp, Huizingen and Lot. On 1 January 2023, Beersel had a total population of 26.473. The total area is 30.01 km2 (11.59 sq mi), which gives a population density of 856/km2 (2,220/sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hasselt</span> Capital of Limburg province, Belgium

Hasselt is the capital and largest city of the province of Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genk</span> City and municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Genk is a city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. The municipality only comprises the town of Genk itself. It is one of the most important industrial towns in Flanders, located on the Albert Canal, between Antwerp and Liège.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sint-Truiden</span> City and municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Sint-Truiden is a city and municipality located in the province of Limburg, Flemish Region, Belgium, and has over 41,500 inhabitants, which makes it one of the largest cities in Limburg. The municipality includes the former communes of Aalst, Brustem, Duras, Engelmanshoven, Gelinden, Gorsem, Groot-Gelmen, Halmaal, Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden, Melveren, Metsteren, Ordingen, Runkelen, Velm, Wilderen, and Zepperen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alken, Belgium</span> Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Alken is a municipality located in Belgian province of Limburg. The community lies just south of the provincial capital of Hasselt, in the Hesbaye region. Alken has about 11,300 residents, which gives the village a larger population than the nearby small cities of Borgloon and Herk-de-Stad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lanaken</span> Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Lanaken is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2007, the municipality of Lanaken had a total population of 24,724. Its area is 59.00 km2 which gives a population density of 415 inhabitants per km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Louvière</span> City and municipality in Hainaut Province, Belgium

La Louvière is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houffalize</span> City and municipality in French Community, Belgium

Houffalize is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durbuy</span> Municipality in French Community, Belgium

Durbuy is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neufchâteau, Luxembourg Province</span> City and municipality in French Community, Belgium

Neufchâteau is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sittard</span> City in Limburg, Netherlands

Sittard is a city in the Netherlands, situated in the southernmost province of Limburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limburgish</span> South/Eastern branch of Low Franconian spoken in and around Limburg

Limburgish refers to a group of South Low Franconian varieties spoken in Belgium and the Netherlands, characterized by their distance to, and limited participation in the formation of, Standard Dutch. In the Dutch province of Limburg, all dialects have been given regional language status, including those comprising ″Limburgish″ as used in this article.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campine</span> Natural region of NE Belgium and SE Netherlands

The Campine or Kempen is a natural region situated chiefly in north-eastern Belgium and parts of the south-eastern Netherlands which once consisted mainly of extensive moors, tracts of sandy heath, and wetlands. It encompasses a large northern and eastern portion of Antwerp Province and adjacent parts of Limburg in Belgium, as well as portions of the Dutch province of North Brabant and Dutch Limburg around Weert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrondissement of Maaseik</span> Arrondissement of Belgium in Flanders

The Arrondissement of Maaseik is one of the three administrative arrondissements in the Province of Limburg, Belgium. It is not a judicial arrondissement. The municipalities of Bocholt, Bree, Kinrooi, Meeuwen-Gruitrode, Dilsen-Stokkem and Maaseik, are part of the Judicial Arrondissement of Tongeren, while the rest of its municipalities are part of the Judicial Arrondissement of Hasselt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arrondissement of Hasselt</span> Arrondissement in Flanders, Belgium

The Arrondissement of Hasselt is one of the three administrative arrondissements in the Province of Limburg, Belgium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maastricht railway station</span> Railway station in the Netherlands

Maastricht railway station is located in Maastricht in Limburg, Netherlands. It is the main railway station in Limburg's capital city. It is the southern terminus of the Alkmaar–Maastricht intercity service by NS. Additionally, Arriva and the Belgian NMBS serve the station with local trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiewit</span> Village in Flemish Community, Belgium

Kiewit is a Belgian parish and village within the northernmost extension of the Flemish municipality of Hasselt. It also borders on the municipality of Zonhoven to the north and Genk to the east, with Kuringen, another part of Hasselt, to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vogelsanck Castle</span>

Vogelsanck Castle is a moated castle in Zolder in the municipality of Heusden-Zolder, province of Limburg, Belgium.

Smeets is a brand of Hasselt jenever. In the past it was also the name of a distillery in the Belgian town of Hasselt. This distillery was founded in 1923 by Gerard Smeets (1894-1966). Nowadays, Smeets' jenever is produced by La Martiniquaise Benelux.

References

  1. ↑ "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ↑ https://www.ibz.rrn.fgov.be/fileadmin/user_upload/nl/bev/statistieken/stat-1-1_n.pdf
  3. ↑ https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/aanduidingsobjecten?ander_nummer=OL001175
  4. ↑ J. Mertens and J. Molemans , Toponymie van Zonhoven. Historisch-naamkundige studie, Zonhoven,published by the city council, 1982, 208 en 279-282
  5. ↑ P. Daniëls in “Het Daghet in den Oosten” 1885-1986, 1, 4-6.
  6. ↑ J. Molemans, "De nederzettingsnamen in het land van Vogelzang" in Naamkunde 1982, afl. 1-2, 17-45.
  7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123829/http://www.rotary-houthalen.be/ned/zonhoven.html
  8. ↑ https://www.ibz.rrn.fgov.be/fileadmin/user_upload/nl/bev/statistieken/stat-1-1_n.pdf
  9. ↑ https://www.zonhoven.be/producten/detail/307/zonhoven-in-cijfers
  10. ↑ https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20130528_00601600
  11. ↑ "zonderik.be" (in Dutch). zonderik.be. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.