"Turnhout, my former hometown..." Turnhout by Ronald_T

Turnhout Travel Guide: 111 reviews and 160 photos

Castle of the Dukes of Braband... - Turnhout

Nostalgia...

After all those years as VT member, I never found time to make a page about my birth town. Now I live in Mexico, I was looking many times to the pictures I had from my former hometown. I think it is nostalgia, but not homesick. That was the reason for me to make this page.
Only, the things I show you here is not even the half from what I wanted to show you. This is because I deleted a lot of pictures by accident on my pc. Well, next year I am going to visit my family and will shoot lots of more pictures. More tips will be added in the future...

Turnhout is in the north-east of the Province of Antwerp, and has a population of 40,000. Both in legal and administrative terms, it is the Capital of the Kempen and the arrondissement, or district.

Turnhout was founded around the Castle of the Dukes of Brabant, and was made a free town in around 1212. In the course of history, the town has known good times and bad. Together with the surrounding area, it was involved on a number of occasions in the battle against oppression which was so often the fate of the people in the Kempen. In the Late Middle Ages, Turnhout was a well-known weaving and textile trade centre. In the early 19th century, these trades were superseded by the paper-processing industry, principally established by Philippus Jacobus Brepols.

Nowadays, Turnhout is a bustling and working community. In addition to extensive public services, there is a varied range of industries. The printing industry is a trend-setter in Europe. Other industries include food companies, light engineering, international transport, and a light bulb factory.

From the cultural and educational viewpoint too, Turnhout is a centre for the whole region. Many visitors and students carry out research in the rich Scientific Library and the old archives. Students and schoolchildren are a very important factor in daily life in Turnhout. Over 16,000 children attend the approximately 50 educational establishments.

Map of Turnhout...

Here you find a map of Turnhout. The most important streets on in it.
Click to enlarge please...

Last visit to Turnhout: Sep 2002
Intro Updated Jul 11, 2003
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Reviews (69)

Theobaldus kapel... Things to Do (31)

After visiting the Paterspand you can still walk further until you reach the fork of the Elisabethlei and Stw. op... more travel advice

Paterspand... Things to Do (31)

Discover the valuable remains of the monastic life of the Franciscan monks. The monastery was built in neo-gothic style... more travel advice

Paterspand... Things to Do (31)

Walking further into the Paterstraat you will see on your right, the Paterschurch... more travel advice

City Park... Restaurants (4)

Years ago, this restaurant was a common pub and snack bar and was a very nice part of the city park. I remember very... more travel advice

Shopping (3)
See All Combined: Nose around and drink a...
Sports & Outdoors (6)
See All Archery...
Local Customs (6)
See All City Park Festival...

Off The Beaten Path (15)
See All City Park...
Nightlife (1)
Guinness...
Hotels (3)
See All Beautiful rooms...

Travelogues (1)

Written Jul 29, 2003

6 photos

Music at the Fri-days..

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Comments (16)

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kenHuocj Feb 4, 2012 at 5:41 AM

Good nostalgic memories, and Happy Birthday, Celebrations should last more than a day ;-)))
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Dobbeleir Jun 10, 2008 at 1:09 PM

Hi ,I went to het "Heilig Graf" from 1947 to 1954 . Seeing the pictures was a pleasure to my eyes. I lived in Turnhout for 18 years. Hoerah for Turnhout ,it's a great city .I was married in the old "stadhuis" in 1955.+in de Maria Middelares kerk.
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rochelleyasine Nov 24, 2007 at 8:55 AM

This is our second time staying at the Ter Driezen and it was wonderful. We stayed off the courtyard. I would highly recommend to anyone traveling to Turnhout.
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shrimp56 Aug 1, 2003 at 9:17 AM

I'm glad your nostalgia gave us this page! I love the little train in the City Park :)
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pollon Jul 25, 2003 at 2:13 AM

your nostalgia had a positive side: you have built this GREAT page!!!
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sandravdp Jul 16, 2003 at 8:33 AM

Ik ben nog nooit in Turnhout geweest, maar aan de foto's en beschrijvingen te zien, is het de moeite waard! De Fri-day concerten in het travellogue klinken ook erg leuk!
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Krystynn Jul 15, 2003 at 10:40 AM

So detailed. I'm only half-through reading this page. Will definitely come back again. Sorry, gotta rush off for now... Well done page on your hometown.
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JosM Jul 14, 2003 at 2:07 PM

I was in Turnhout before, be now I see the things I've missed. Must visit again!
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Umfufu Jul 13, 2003 at 11:52 AM

Unbelieveble great page,...good info and makes you wanna go there.. not only for the shopping ha ha.. and i agree with Myriam_c, but only if you come aswell.
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rachel_sun Jul 12, 2003 at 5:57 PM

wonderful page Ron.Looks a beautiful place.I imagine you must miss it alittle?