Nijlen

Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Flag

Coat of arms

Location of Nijlen

Nijlen

Location in Belgium

Location of Nijlen in the province of Antwerp

Coordinates: 51°10′N 04°39′E / 51.167°N 4.650°E / 51.167; 4.650Country

BelgiumCommunityFlemish CommunityRegionFlemish RegionProvinceAntwerpArrondissementMechelenGovernment

• MayorPaul Verbeeck (CD&V) • Governing party/iesCD&V, N&U , Groen, Open-VLDArea

• Total39.2 km² (15.1 sq mi)Population

(2020-01-01)^[1]

• Total22,936 • Density590/km² (1,500/sq mi)Postal codes

2560

NIS code

12026

Area codes03, 014Websitewww.nijlen.be

Nijlen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈnɛi̯lə(n)]) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Bevel [nl], Kessel and Nijlen proper. In 2021, Nijlen had a total population of 22,985.^[2] The total area is 39.09 km².

History

In 1770, a hoard of golden coins dating from Julius Caesar to Titus Flavius Domitianus was discovered. Nijlen was first mentioned in 1146 as having possessions of Tongerlo Abbey. The village was damaged during the Reformation and nearly depopulated. In the 18th century, there was a population increase which accelerated after the railway station on the line from Antwerp to Herentals opened in 1853. Around 1875, diamond industry started in Nijlen which became the second most importance centre for diamonds after Antwerp in Belgium.^[3]

Notable inhabitants

Libera Carlier (b. Nijlen, 19 January 1926 – 25 April 2007)
Jozef Van Hove (b. Berchem, 16 November 1919 - 2 May 2014)

Gallery

Railway station Nijlen
Water tower
Boerinnengilde Chapel in Bevel
Houses in Nijlen

References

^ "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
^ "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 12026". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
^ "Nijlen". Agentschap Onroerend Erfgoed (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 May 2022.