Hechtel-Eksel

Hechtel-Eksel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2018, it had a total population of 12,290. The total area is 76.70 km² which gives a population density of 150 inhabitants per km².

Hechtel-Eksel
Municipality
Flag
Coat of arms
Hechtel-Eksel
Location in Belgium
Location of Hechtel-Eksel in Limburg
Coordinates: 51°07′N 05°22′E
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceLimburg
ArrondissementMaaseik
Government
 • MayorJan Daelemans (HE)
 • Governing party/iesHE and CD&V
Area
 • Total76.70 km2 (29.61 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
 • Total12,290
 • Density160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Postal codes
3940-3941
Area codes011
Websitewww.hechtel-eksel.be

The municipality was created in January 1977 as a merger of the two former municipalities Hechtel and Eksel.

Events

Hechtel was home to the "KBC Night of Athletics", a yearly international athletics meeting.

Another yearly event is the International Airshow at Sanicole Airport, taking place in September.


Battle of Hechtel

For seven days during World War II, from September 6 until September 12, 1944 the town of Hechtel became the front line between German and British troops in what is known as the battle of Hechtel. During the fights 92 British soldiers, 36 civilians and an unknown number of German soldiers (probably between 150-200) got killed, the civilians mostly executed by German troops. The town centre became heavily destroyed.

A German Jagdpanther tank, knocked out during the battle of Hechtel by can be seen at the Imperial War Museum Duxford. The battle is commemorated every year on the 2nd Sunday of September.

Hechtel was the site of the death of the famous Anglican priest Hugh Lister, who served as a combatant officer in the Welsh Guards.

References
  1. "Wettelijke Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2018". Statbel. Retrieved 9 March 2019.

2 “Hugh Lister (1901–44): Priest, Labor Leader, Combatant Officer.” Anglican and Episcopal History 70 (2001): 353–74.


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