Kempenland

Kempenland

also called  Kempen , French  La Campine , historically  Taxandria 

      plateau region of northeastern Belgium occupying most of Antwerp province and northern Limburg province. It is a rather dry, infertile region of sandy soil and gravel, with pine woods interspersed among meadows of thin grass and heather. Poor drainage, especially in the lower, western part, has produced marshes where reeds and alder trees shelter abundant waterfowl. Although market towns and abbeys on the plateau date from the Middle Ages, settlement there was moderate until the 19th century, when, under population pressure from neighbouring regions, much wasteland was drained and cultivated. Wilderness remains, however, in large parks and designated walking districts.

      Coal was discovered in eastern Kempenland, around Genk, in the late 19th century. Exploitation began after World War I, and the coalfield—part of a larger field that extends eastward to Aachen, Ger.—superseded the older south Belgian field as the country's chief coal-producing area. Chemical plants and other coal-based industries followed, encouraged by the construction in 1939 of the Albert (Albert Canal) ship canal across the region from Antwerp to the Meuse River. Major Kempenland towns include Turnhout, Herentals, Geel, Mol, and Genk. The region is evoked in the novels and poems of Marie Gevers (1883–1975).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Kempenland — Kempenland, s. Campine …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Kempenland — Kẹmpenland,   niederländisch Kempen [ kɛmpə], französisch Campine [kã pin], Landschaft in Nordbelgien und im Süden der Niederlande, rd. 1,2 Mio. Einwohner; ursprüngliches Heideland, seit dem 19. Jahrhundert durch Kanäle erschlossen, teilweise… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Kempenland — De Kempen ist der Name für die flache Sand und Heidelandschaft in den belgischen Provinzen Antwerpen und Limburg und im Süden der niederländischen Provinz Nordbrabant. Das Gebiet erstreckt sich von der Stadt Lier, 20 km östlich von Antwerpen,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Belgium — /bel jeuhm/, n. a kingdom in W Europe, bordering the North Sea, N of France. 10,203,683; 11,779 sq. mi. (30,508 sq. km). Cap.: Brussels. French, Belgique /bel zheek /; Flemish, België /bel khee euh/. * * * Belgium Introduction Belgium Background …   Universalium

  • Armand Preud'homme — Armand Rozaire Joseph Preud homme, né à Peer le 21 février 1904 et décédé à Brasschaat le 7 février 1986, est un compositeur et organiste flamand et citoyen d honneur des communes de Peer, Geel, Kampenhout, Kasterlee et Zichem. Sommaire 1… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Belgien — Königreich Belgien * * * Bẹl|gi|en; s: Staat in Westeuropa. * * * Bẹlgi|en,     Kurzinformation:   Fläche: 30 528 km2   Einwohner: (2000) 10,24 Mio.   Hauptstadt: Brüssel   Amtssprachen: Französisch, Niederländisch, Deutsch   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Campine — For the breed of chicken, see Campine (chicken). The natural regions of Belgium. Campine continues into the Netherlands, not shown here.   Campine …   Wikipedia

  • Flanders — /flan deuhrz/, n. a medieval country in W Europe, extending along the North Sea from the Strait of Dover to the Scheldt River: the corresponding modern regions include the provinces of East Flanders and West Flanders in W Belgium, and the… …   Universalium

  • Gevers, Marie — ▪ Belgian writer original name  Maria Theresia Carolina Fanny Gevers  born Dec. 30, 1883, Edegem, Belg. died March 9, 1975, Edegem       Belgian novelist and poet whose works, almost without exception, evoke Kempenland, a rural area in which she… …   Universalium

  • Meierij — The Meierij van s Hertogenbosch (Bailiwick of Bois le Duc) was one of the four parts of the former duchy of Brabant, the others being the areas of Leuven, Brussels and Antwerp. It got its name from the Bailiff of s Hertogenbosch, who ruled the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”