Valkenswaard () is a

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

and a town in the southern

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, in the Metropoolregio Eindhoven of the province of

North Brabant North Brabant ( nl, Noord-Brabant ; Brabantian: ; ), also unofficially called Brabant, is a province in the south of the Netherlands. It borders the provinces of South Holland and Gelderland to the north, Limburg to the east, Zeeland to the w ...

. The municipality had a population of in and spans an area of of which is water. The name Valkenswaard stems from its history of falconers, who caught wild

falcon Falcons () are birds of prey in the genus ''Falco'', which includes about 40 species. Falcons are widely distributed on all continents of the world except Antarctica, though closely related raptors did occur there in the Eocene. Adult falcons ...

s there; ''valk'' is

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

for "falcon". It lay on a route where falcons migrated south each year. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, Valkenswaardian falconers were active at many European courts, in which falconing was a beloved pastime. Valkenswaard's falcon-catching area has now been built over and falcons are no longer caught there. In the 19th and 20th century, a number of large cigar factories were founded in Valkenswaard, the two most renowned of which being Willem II and Hofnar. A Second World War cemetery containing 220 British soldiers was created near Valkenswaard in October 1944. It is now maintained by the

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations m ...

. The spoken language is Kempenlands (an

East Brabantian East Brabantian ( nl, Oost Noord-Brabants or Oost Brabants) is one of the main divisions of the Brabantian dialect group recognized by the ''Woordenboek van de Brabantse dialecten''. East Brabantian dialects are mainly spoken in the eastern part o ...

dialect, which is very similar to colloquial

). The Eurocircuit Valkenswaard is a motorsport racetrack that has hosted the European Rallycross Championship and the FIM Motocross World Championship.

Population centres

* Borkel en Schaft * Dommelen *Valkenswaard

Topography

''Dutch topographic map of the municipality of Valkenswaard, June 2015''

Partner municipalities

Notable people born in Valkenswaard

Henk van den Breemen Hendrik Gijsbert Bernhard "Henk" van den Breemen (23 March 1941 – 20 January 2024) was a Dutch military officer. Biography Van den Breemen started his military career as a Midshipsman for the Marines in 1960. From June 1987 till June 1998 ...

(born 1941) a retired Dutch military officer * Pieter van Geel (born 1951) a retired Dutch politician * Linda Williams (born 1955) a Dutch singer, participated in the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest *

Ine Gevers Ine Gevers (born 1960 in Valkenswaard) is a Dutch curator of contemporary art, writer and activist. Gevers is known for large themed exhibitions in which she (often with others) explores the relationships between technology, power and identity. S ...

(born 1960) a Dutch curator of contemporary art, writer and activist * Jeroen Mettes (1978-2006) a Dutch poet, essayist and blogger * Dominique van Hulst (born 1981), singer, known by her stage name ''Do'' IMDb Database
retrieved 20 November 2019

Sport

* Jan Tops (born 1961) an equestrian, gold medallist at the

1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1992, ca, Jocs Olímpics d'estiu de 1992), officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XXV Olimpiada, ca, Jocs de la XXV Olimpíada) and commonly known as ...

* Jens van Son (born 1987) a Dutch professional footballer with over 250 club caps * Lidewij Welten (born 1990) a Dutch field hockey player * Daniëlle van de Donk (born 1991) a Dutch professional footballer

Gallery

File:Notariskantoor Valkenswaard 01.jpg, Notariskantoor Valkenswaard File:Pintenwipper standbeeld Martinusplein Dommelen.jpg, Pintenwipper standbeeld Martinusplein Dommelen File:Winnaar 2008 - Buurtschap Hazestraat - Flying pirates on music.jpg, Winnaar 2008 - Buurtschap Hazestraat - Flying pirates on music File:Valkenswaard Zuil van de Eendracht Erich Reischke.jpg, Valkenswaard Zuil van de Eendracht Erich Reischke

References

External links

*
Official website
Municipalities of North Brabant Populated places in North Brabant {{NorthBrabant-geo-stub