Tildonk
Encyclopedia
Tildonk is a village located in the Belgian
province of Flemish Brabant
and, since 1977, is part of the municipality
of Haacht
, together with Wespelaar
, Wakkerzeel and Kelfs. It has a total area of 7.31 km².
settlement at about the same location. The oldest mention of Tildonk occurred in 1107 in the family name of Reinerus de Thieldunck.
The name Tildonk is the joining of 2 medieval words: til (forest) and donk (elevation). During the 12th century the knights van Tildonk, pledged to the Duke of Brabant
, lived in two mottes
: Oudenborg and Nieuwenborg (where the current Kasteeltje is located). Tildonk was elevated to the title of count
y in 1699 as part of the fiefdom of Charles L'Archier. Later it came into the hands of the family de Lalaing. Count Maximilian de Lalaing was the most prominent de Lalaing lord of Tildonk.
Since 1750, Tildonk is traversed by the Leuven
-Rupel
canal and, since 1837, by the Mechelen
-Leuven railroad line.
In 1821, the priest Joannes Cornelius Martinus Lambertz started the Ursulines
convent that later became the "mother convent" of numerous new institutions spread over 4 continents. The convent was renowned for its international school. The stylish art nouveau
hall for parties was used as a setting in various films.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
province of Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant
Flemish Brabant is a province of Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. It borders on the Belgian provinces of Antwerp, Limburg, Liège, Walloon Brabant, Hainaut and East Flanders. Flemish Brabant also completely surrounds the Brussels-Capital Region. Its capital is Leuven...
and, since 1977, is part 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 Haacht
Haacht
Haacht is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the towns of Haacht proper, Kelfs, Tildonk, Wakkerzeel and Wespelaar.On January 1, 2006 Haacht had a total population of 13,608...
, together with Wespelaar
Wespelaar
Wespelaar is a borough of the municipality of Haacht, located between Kampenhout - Tildonk and Haacht centre in Belgium.Official Homepage:...
, Wakkerzeel and Kelfs. It has a total area of 7.31 km².
History
Traces of civilization have been found from the period of around 3000 BCE between the hamlet Hambos and adjacent Kelfs. Later there was a GallicGaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
settlement at about the same location. The oldest mention of Tildonk occurred in 1107 in the family name of Reinerus de Thieldunck.
The name Tildonk is the joining of 2 medieval words: til (forest) and donk (elevation). During the 12th century the knights van Tildonk, pledged to the Duke of Brabant
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
, lived in two mottes
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
: Oudenborg and Nieuwenborg (where the current Kasteeltje is located). Tildonk was elevated to the title of count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
y in 1699 as part of the fiefdom of Charles L'Archier. Later it came into the hands of the family de Lalaing. Count Maximilian de Lalaing was the most prominent de Lalaing lord of Tildonk.
Since 1750, Tildonk is traversed by the Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
-Rupel
Rupel
The Rupel is a tidal river in northern Belgium, right tributary of the Scheldt. It is about 12 km long. It flows through the Belgian province Antwerp. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Dijle and Nete, in Rumst. It flows into the Scheldt at Rupelmonde. Towns along the Rupel are...
canal and, since 1837, by the Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
-Leuven railroad line.
In 1821, the priest Joannes Cornelius Martinus Lambertz started the Ursulines
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
convent that later became the "mother convent" of numerous new institutions spread over 4 continents. The convent was renowned for its international school. The stylish art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
hall for parties was used as a setting in various films.
Protected cultural heritage
- The village centre (convent, church, cemetery, rectory)
- The lock and lock house
- The farm of de Lalaing (Kasteeltje)
- The Our Lady of Comfort Chapel (Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Troostkapel)