Lommel () is a municipality and city in the Belgian province of Limburg. Lying in the Kempen, it has about 34,000 inhabitants and is part of the arrondissement of Maaseik.
Besides the residential town, Lommel also has a number of nature reserves, such as the nature reserve De Watering, the Lommel Sahara, and numerous forests and heathlands. Lommel is the third shopping city in Belgian Limburg with a commercial and shopping center De Singel. Importantly, the silver sand that is mined here for the benefit of the glass industry. Some sand mining quarries are transformed into nature reserves and recreational areas, including Lommel Sahara.
The city of Lommel is in the watershed of the basins of the Scheldt, and Meuse, and within these basins Nete Dommel respectively.
Tamar, a maternity home for pregnant girls and unmarried mothers and their children run by the Congregation of Kindsheid Jesu, is located in Lommel. Despite its religious mission to help young women, Tamar was notorious for numerous scandals, including forced adoptions, unwanted sterilizations, and abuse of the women placed in its care.
Language
The dialect of Lommel is, despite its location in Limburg, part of the East Brabantian, not the Limburgish dialects, reflecting the particular history of the city.
Etymology The name comes from Loemelo. Loem means moist, swampy and Lo is forest or woodland.
Demographic development All historical data relating to the current municipality, including towns such as arose after the merger of January 1, 1977.
Politics
Structure The city of Lommel is located in the arrondissement of Maaseik and the Limburg parliamentary constituency (which coincides with the province of Limburg).
Lommel Supranational National Community Region Province Arrondissement County district Canton Municipality AdministrationLevel Maaseik LimburgLommel ExecutiveEuropean Commission Federal Government Flemish Government Provincial Executive Mayor Elected bodyEuropean ParliamentChamber of Representatives Flemish Parliament Provincial Council Municipal CouncilElectoral areaDutch-speaking electoral collegeLimburgLimburgHasselt-Tongeren-MaaseikMaaseik Neerpelt NeerpeltLommelElections Europe Federal Regional Provincial Municipal
List of mayors of Lommel
1808 – 1813: Joannes Aerts, Catholic 1813 – 1847: William Karel Koek Court, Catholic 1847 – 1857: Jan Daels, Catholic 1857 – 1861: Jan Van Leemput, Catholic 1861 – 1863: Henry Alen, Catholic 1863 – 1872: Peter Slegers, Catholic 1872 – 1879: Peter Stevens, Catholic 1879 – 1885: Jan Alen, Catholic 1885 – 1890: Jan Vanden Boer, Catholic 1891 – 1904: Peter Senders, Catholic 1904 – 1921: François Van Ham, Catholic 1921 – 1923: John Bouly, Catholic 1924 – 1927: Peter Joosten, Catholic 1927 – 1941: Joseph Tournier, liberal Catholics 1941 – 1944: Peter Luykx, Flemish nationalist 1944 – 1945: Joseph Tournier, liberal Catholics 1945 – 1958: Henri Van Reempts, Catholic 1959 – 1979: René Verhoeven, Catholic 1979 – 1988: Staff Matthijs, Catholic 1989 – 2006: Louis Vanvelthoven, socialist 2007 – 2018: Peter Vanvelthoven, socialist 2019–present: Bob Nijs, Catholic
Results municipal elections since 1976 Partij 10-10-1976 10-10-1982 9-10-1988 9-10-1994 8-10-2000 8-10-2006 14-10-2012 Stemmen / Zetels %27%29%29%29%31%31%31 CVP1/CD&V249,1811438,0311333,2211126,791925,2419- 19,6827 CD&V+N-VA- - - - - 28,559- VU1/VU&ID29,721210,96139,0812- 3,7320- - N-VA- - - - - - 17,206 PVV1/VLD2/VLD-VIVANT3/Open Vld49,56126,551111,561313,182312,692410,90339,2942 SP31,55937,571239,511346,211647,7517- - sp.a-spirit- - - - - 42,4415- Burgemeester- - - - - - 40,3315 AGALEV1/Groen2- - 3,210- - - 4,3420 PVDA- 4,5503,4404,110- - - Vlaams Blok1/Vlaams Belang2- - - - 7,17119,77223,9820 LGB- 2,340- - - - - BOOS- - - 7,861- - - HOOP- - - 1,850- - - LEL- - - - 3,420- - AKTIEF- - - - - 8,3325,191 14873 167101830619495205982045221465Opkomst % 97,0795,995,3295,71 93,70Blanco en ongeldig %3,68 4,844,234,413,714,22,47 seats formed coalition 'bold' printed
Sporting events Since 2017 the European Open a Snooker ranking tournament of the World Snooker Tour took place in Lommel.
Lommel is home to the Belgian Motocross Grand Prix, part of the Motocross World Championship. The track at Lommel is among the most famous in the motocross world and is known for its deep and unforgiving sand surface. Notable motocross racers such as Jeffrey Herlings and Ryan Villopoto have said that Lommel is the most physically demanding motocross track to ride in the world, and many top European motocross riders live in or around the city to hone their skills at the track.
Notable people Kevin Hulsmans, road bicycle racer Peter Luykx, federal representative Peter Maes, former footballer, coach of Sporting Lokeren Roy Meeus (born 1989), professional footballer Wim Mennes, footballer Pieter Mertens, road bicycle racer Steve Ramon, motocross world champion Kathleen Smet, triathlete Dirk Swartenbroekx, DJ Buscemi Johan Vansummeren, road bicycle racer Marcel Vanthilt, musician, TV presenter Louis Vanvelthoven, honorary-mayor, former chairman of the Flemish Parliament Peter Vanvelthoven, mayor, former Belgian Minister for Employment and Informatisation Steven Van Broeckhoven, windsurfer, two-time champion on the European Freestyle Pro Tour Stefano Marzo, footballer Zizou Bergs, Professional Tennis Player
See also Lommel Proving Grounds – Lommel Proving Grounds Lommel German war cemetery – Located along N764, on the road from Lommel to Leopoldsburg is the largest German military cemetery in Western Europe outside Germany itself. Established after World War II, the 16 ha cemetery holds 39,102 burials, mainly from World War II. RC Murphy's Lommel – Rugby club
References
External links
Official website Website tourism Lommel