Halfmijl
Encyclopedia
Halfmijl is a hamlet
in the west of the municipality
of Veldhoven
in the province of North Brabant
, the Netherlands
.
The hamlet is located two kilometers east of the village Vessem
and consists of eight houses, most of which are farms.
Literature does not give an explanation for the name Halfmijl. The hamlet has an isolated location, so the name might be related to the distance from Halfmijl to the nearest settlement.
, Halfmijl was located in the middle of a large moorland
, called the Groote Aard. Due to the isolated location and the presence of tumuli
, people felt that the hamlet's surroundings were haunted.
Old tales about Halfmijl mention dwarves, witches
and will-o'-the-wisp
s.
South of Halfmijl was a pond
owned by the Postel Abbey
, called the Postelsche Weijer. This pond was used as a fishing pond and donated to the abbey in 1342, by the inhabitants of the villages Oerle
, Knegsel
, Vessem
and Wintelre
.
Although the pond has disappeared, a lowland
can still be observed near the road Weijerseweg.
Halfmijl has always been a small hamlet. The hamlet consisted of two houses in the year 1688.
Four houses were counted in the year 1889.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the moorland known as the Groote Aard was cultivated. This is now an agricultural area near the roads Grote Aard and Weijerseweg.
To the north a forest named Halve Mijl was developed for the production of wood.
In this forest is the tumuli reservation area Toterfout-Halfmijl located, containing sixteen restored tumuli from the Bronze Age (1600 - 1000 BC).
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
in the west of the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Veldhoven
Veldhoven
Veldhoven is a municipality and a town on the Gender stream in the southern Netherlands, located just south-west of Eindhoven.- Population centres :...
in the province of North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The hamlet is located two kilometers east of the village Vessem
Vessem
Vessem is a small town in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Eersel, North Brabant. Cultural attractions include the Jacobusmolen windmill and several galleries....
and consists of eight houses, most of which are farms.
Etymology
The name Halve mijl or Halver Miler was first recorded in the year 1368, as the lastname of a person who originated from this hamlet.Literature does not give an explanation for the name Halfmijl. The hamlet has an isolated location, so the name might be related to the distance from Halfmijl to the nearest settlement.
History
In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, Halfmijl was located in the middle of a large moorland
Moorland
Moorland or moor is a type of habitat, in the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, found in upland areas, characterised by low-growing vegetation on acidic soils and heavy fog...
, called the Groote Aard. Due to the isolated location and the presence of tumuli
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
, people felt that the hamlet's surroundings were haunted.
Old tales about Halfmijl mention dwarves, witches
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
and will-o'-the-wisp
Will-o'-the-wisp
A will-o'-the-wisp or ignis fatuus , also called a "will-o'-wisp", "jack-o'-lantern" , "hinkypunk", "corpse candle", "ghost-light", "spook-light", "fairy light", "friar's lantern", "hobby lantern", "ghost orb", or simply "wisp", is a ghostly light or lights sometimes seen at night or twilight over...
s.
South of Halfmijl was a pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
owned by the Postel Abbey
Postel Abbey
Postel Abbey is a Premonstratensian abbey in the Belgian municipality of Mol in the province of Antwerp.-History:In 1138 Premonstratensian canons from Floreffe Abbey founded the monastery at Postel as a dependent priory. In 1613 Postel became independent of Floreffe and in 1618 was raised to the...
, called the Postelsche Weijer. This pond was used as a fishing pond and donated to the abbey in 1342, by the inhabitants of the villages Oerle
Oerle
Oerle is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Veldhoven, about 7 km west of Eindhoven.Oerle was a separate municipality until 1921, when it became part of Veldhoven....
, Knegsel
Knegsel
Knegsel is a village in the municipality of Eersel in the province of North Brabant, the Netherlands. Knegsel is part of the Acht Zaligheden , like Eersel, Duizel, Steensel, Wintelre, Netersel, Hulsel en Reusel....
, Vessem
Vessem
Vessem is a small town in the southern Netherlands. It is located in the municipality of Eersel, North Brabant. Cultural attractions include the Jacobusmolen windmill and several galleries....
and Wintelre
Wintelre
Wintelre is a village in the municipality of Eersel in the province of North Brabant, the Netherlands. Wintelre is part of the Acht Zaligheden , like Eersel, Duizel, Steensel, Knegsel, Netersel, Hulsel en Reusel....
.
Although the pond has disappeared, a lowland
Lowland
In physical geography, a lowland is any broad expanse of land with a general low level. The term is thus applied to the landward portion of the upward slope from oceanic depths to continental highlands, to a region of depression in the interior of a mountainous region, to a plain of denudation, or...
can still be observed near the road Weijerseweg.
Halfmijl has always been a small hamlet. The hamlet consisted of two houses in the year 1688.
Four houses were counted in the year 1889.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the moorland known as the Groote Aard was cultivated. This is now an agricultural area near the roads Grote Aard and Weijerseweg.
To the north a forest named Halve Mijl was developed for the production of wood.
In this forest is the tumuli reservation area Toterfout-Halfmijl located, containing sixteen restored tumuli from the Bronze Age (1600 - 1000 BC).