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 Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

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

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, Imperial, royal and noble ranks, rank and genealo ...

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

raven A raven is any of several large-bodied passerine bird species in the genus '' Corvus''. These species do not form a single taxonomic group within the genus. There is no consistent distinction between crows and ravens; the two names are assigne ...

), 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 common heraldic charge in the (stylized) shape of a lily (in French, and mean and respectively). Most notably, the ''fleur-de-lis'' ...

argent.

Lord of Grobbendonk

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

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

. 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, 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 cycle sport, bicycle race held primarily in France. It is the oldest and most prestigious of the three Grand Tour (cycling), Grand Tours, which include the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a ...

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