Schoten

infobox Belgium Municipality
name=Schoten
picture=
picture-



map-

arms=Schoten wapen.jpg

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region=BE-REG-FLE
community=BE-NL
province=BE-PROV-AN
arrondissement=Antwerp
nis=11040
pyramid-date=
0-19=
18-64=
65=
foreigners=
foreigners-date=
mayor=Harrie Hendrickx (CD&V)
majority= CD&V, VLD, sp.a, N-VA
postal-codes=2900
telephone-area=03
web= [http://www.schoten.be/ www.schoten.be]
lat_deg=51
lat_min=15
lon_deg=04
lon_min=30|

Schoten is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Schoten proper. On January 1 2006 Schoten had a total population of 33,160. The total area is 29.55 km² which gives a population density of 1,122 inhabitants per km². Schoten abuts the Antwerp districts Merksem to the west and Deurne to the south west. Neighboring municipalities include Brasschaat to the north, Brecht to the north east, Schilde to the east, and Wijnegem to the south.

History

Early Middle Ages

The history and usage of the name Schoten may have come from the name given to the wooden dividing walls ("schot" in Dutch) that were driven in the ground to separate private property. The Christianization of the area dates from the end of the 7th century, under the influence of Abbot Ursmarus, of Lobbes Abbey, which owned property here.

In the 12th century, the territory was under the political authority of the lords of Breda, then of the lords of Bergen-op-Zoom. Religiously, it was administered by the Villers Abbey.

16th century until today

Already by the beginning of the 16th century, well-off burghers and merchants from neighboring Antwerp built castles in Schoten as secondary residences. The local community succeeded, however, in maintaining its rural Campine character until well into the 19th century. Industry first developed on the border with Merksem, later along the Albert Canal. Much of the rest of the town’s territory was kept green and was again used by neighboring Antwerp residents for building extensive villas such as "Koningshof" and "Schotenhof". Today about 30% of Schoten’s territory still consists of forested areas, a great achievement given its location only 10 km away from the center of Antwerp.

ights

*The water-encircled Schoten castle started as a farm in the 13th century, and is now converted into a local cultural centre.
*The main square is lined with a Gothic Revival city hall and adorned with a Till Eulenspiegel fountain.
*The Villers castle also dates from the 13th century, while the Gothic-style church of St-Cordula dates from the 15th century.
*Schoten also has a number of nature reservations and wooded areas.

Events and Sports

*The World Festival of Folklore Schoten, a folk dance festivity founded in 1959, takes place annually in the summer.
*The Grote Scheldeprijs, an annual cycling race taking place in April, starts in Antwerp and finishes in Schoten.
*The local football club is the KFC Schoten SK.

Economy

*Schoten was the place where the Belgian fast-food restaurant Quick established its first outlet in 1971.

Notable citizens

*Bob Mendes, writer of thrillers and detective stories (b. 1928)
*Michel A. J. Georges, biologist and professor at the University of Liège (b.1959)
*Marijke Hofkens, television actress (b. 1963)
*Marie-Rose Morel, politician (b. 1972)
*Véronique De Kock, Miss Belgium 1995 (b. 1977)
*Geert Steurs, professional road bicycle racer (b. 1981)
*Thor Salden, a.k.a. Thor!, singer (b. 1997)

Twin cities

*POL: Tarnów
*NLD: Voorschoten

External links

* [http://www.schoten.be Official website] , in Dutch
* [http://www.festivalschoten.be Official festival website]