Grobbendonk () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having municipal corporation, corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality ...

located in the Belgian province of Antwerp ( nl, Antwerpen). The municipality comprises the towns of Bouwel and Grobbendonk proper. In 2021, Grobbendonk had a total population of 11,249. The total area is 28.36 km². The official

flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design emp ...

of Grobbendonk was adopted in 1989. In terms of

heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known bran ...

, the flag is quartered, I and IV argent, three hills vert, a bird sable (specifically a

raven A raven is any of several larger-bodied bird species of the genus ''Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between "crows" and "ravens", common names which are assigned ...

), II and III gules three

fleur-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in th ...

argent.

Lord of Grobbendonk

The house of Ursel is still lord of Grobbendonk, owner of the

Heerlijkheid A ''heerlijkheid'' (a Dutch word; pl. ''heerlijkheden''; also called ''heerschap''; Latin: ''Dominium'') was a landed estate that served as the lowest administrative and judicial unit in rural areas in the Dutch-speaking Low Countries before 1800 ...

. The heerlijkheid was in 1545 property of Erasmus II Schetz, the first Baron was his grandson Antonie II Schetz, Baron of Grobbendonck. The next generations were created Count of Grobbendonk, amongst these descendant duke of Ursel who was hereditary Count of Grobbendonk.

Famous inhabitants

Rik Van Looy Henri "Rik" Van Looy (born 20 December 1933 in Grobbendonk) is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period, nicknamed the ''King of the Classics'' or ''Emperor of Herentals'' (after the small Belgian city where he lived). He wa ...

, cyclist, twice World Cycling Champion * Herman Van Springel, cyclist, finished second in the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consist ...

Gallery

File:Gobbendonk Bouwel Dorp - 236938 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Assumption of Mary Church in Bouwel File:'t Wit Huys ter Miereyck.jpg, Villa 't Wit Huys File:A Bouwel, Molen van Bouwel, standerdmolen 04W.JPG, Windmill Molen van Bouwel File:Het interfluvium van Nete en Aa te Grobbendonk - 372432 - onroerenderfgoed.jpg, Landscape near Grobbendonk

References

External links

*
Official website
- Only available in Dutch {{Authority control Municipalities of Antwerp Province Populated places in Antwerp Province