Lommel

Lommel is a municipality and a city in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Kempen city has about 34,000 inhabitants and is part of the electoral district and the judicial district Lommel Neerpelt.

Lommel
Flag
Coat of arms
Lommel
Location in Belgium
Location of Lommel in Limburg
Coordinates: 51°14′N 05°18′E
CountryBelgium
CommunityFlemish Community
RegionFlemish Region
ProvinceLimburg
ArrondissementMaaseik
Government
  MayorBob Nijs
  Governing party/iesCD&V, NV-A
Area
  Total102.37 km2 (39.53 sq mi)
Population
 (2018-01-01)[1]
  Total34,044
  Density330/km2 (860/sq mi)
Postal codes
3920
Area codes011
Websitewww.lommel.be

Besides residential town of Lommel also has a number of nature reserves, such as the nature reserve De Watering, the Lommel Sahara, and numerous forests and heathlands. Lommel is the third shopping city in Belgian Limburg with a commercial and shopping center De Singel. Importantly, the silver sand that is mined here for the benefit of the glass industry. Some sand mining quarries are transformed into nature reserves and recreational areas, including Lommel Sahara.

The city of Lommel is the watershed of the basins of the Scheldt, and Meuse, and within these basins Nete Dommel respectively.

Language

The dialect of Lommel – the Lommel – is part of the East Brabant, and not to the West Limburg dialects, reflecting the particular history of the place.

Etymology

The name comes from Lommel Loemelo. Loem means moist, swampy and Lo is forest or woodland.

Demographic development

All historical data relating to the current municipality, including towns such as arose after the merger of January 1, 1977.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1806    
1816    
1830    
18462,486    
1856    
18663,009    
1876    
YearPop.±% p.a.
18803,042    
18903,252+0.67%
19004,431+3.14%
19107,022+4.71%
19207,811+1.07%
19309,666+2.15%
194713,487+1.98%
YearPop.±% p.a.
196117,923+2.05%
197021,984+2.30%
198125,412+1.33%
199027,427+0.85%
200030,433+1.05%
201032,917+0.79%
201533,852+0.56%

Politics

Structure

The city of Lommel is located in the electoral district Neerpelt (which is identical to the county district Neerpelt) and the electoral district Hasselt Tongeren-Maaseik (same as the constituency Limburg).

LommelSupranationalNationalCommunityRegionProvinceArrondissementCounty districtCantonMunicipality
AdministrationLevel  European Union Belgium Flanders LimburgMaaseikLimburgLommel
Executive European commissionFederal GovernmentFlemish GovernmentProvincial ExecutiveMayor
Elected body European ParliamentChamber of RepresentativesFlemish ParliamentProvincial CouncilMunicipal Council
Electoral area Dutch-speaking electoral collegeLimburgLimburgHasselt-Tongeren-MaaseikMaaseikNeerpelt NeerpeltLommel
Elections EuropeFederalRegionalProvincialMunicipal

List of mayors of Lommel

  • 1808 – 1813: Joannes Aerts, Catholic
  • 1813 – 1847: William Karel Koek Court, Catholic
  • 1847 – 1857: Jan Daels, Catholic
  • 1857 – 1861: Jan Van Leemput, Catholic
  • 1861 – 1863: Henry Alen, Catholic
  • 1863 – 1872: Peter Slegers, Catholic
  • 1872 – 1879: Peter Stevens, Catholic
  • 1879 – 1885: Jan Alen, Catholic
  • 1885 – 1890: Jan Vanden Boer, Catholic
  • 1891 – 1904: Peter Senders, Catholic
  • 1904 – 1921: François Van Ham, Catholic
  • 1921 – 1923: John Bouly, Catholic
  • 1924 – 1927: Peter Joosten, Catholic
  • 1927 – 1941: Joseph Tournier, liberal Catholics
  • 1941 – 1944: Peter Luykx, Flemish nationalist
  • 1944 – 1945: Joseph Tournier, liberal Catholics
  • 1945 – 1958: Henri Van Reempts, Catholic
  • 1959 – 1979: René Verhoeven, Catholic
  • 1979 – 1988: Staff Matthijs, Catholic
  • 1989 – 2006: Louis Vanvelthoven, socialist
  • 2007 – 2018: Peter Vanvelthoven, socialist
  • 2019–present: Bob Nijs, Catholic

Results municipal elections since 1976

Partij10-10-1976[2]10-10-19829-10-19889-10-19948-10-20008-10-2006[3]14-10-2012[4]
Stemmen / Zetels%27%29%29%29%31%31%31
CVP1/CD&V249,1811438,0311333,2211126,791925,2419-19,6827
CD&V+N-VA-----28,559-
VU1/VU&ID29,721210,96139,0812-3,7320--
N-VA------17,206
PVV1/VLD2/VLD-VIVANT3/Open Vld49,56126,551111,561313,182312,692410,90339,2942
SP31,55937,571239,511346,211647,7517--
sp.a-spirit-----42,4415-
Burgemeester------40,3315
AGALEV1/Groen2--3,210---4,3420
PVDA-4,5503,4404,110---
Vlaams Blok1/Vlaams Belang2----7,17119,77223,9820
LGB-2,340-----
BOOS---7,861---
HOOP---1,850---
LEL----3,420--
AKTIEF-----8,3325,191
Totaal stemmen14873167101830619495205982045221465
Opkomst %97,0795,995,3295,7193,70
Blanco en ongeldig %3,684,844,234,413,714,22,47
seats formed coalition 'bold' printed

Sport events

Since 2017 the European Open a Snooker ranking tournament of the World Snooker Tour took place in Lommel.

Notable people from Lommel

See also

  • Lommel Proving Grounds – Lommel Proving Grounds
  • Lommel German war cemetery – Located along N764, on the road from Lommel to Leopoldsdorp is the largest German military cemetery in Western Europe outside Germany itself. Established after World War II, the 16 ha cemetery holds 39,102 burials, mainly from World War II.

References

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