Boom, Belgium

Municipality in Flemish Community, Belgium

Boom (/boʊm/, BOHM; Dutch pronunciation: [boːm] ^ⓘ) is a Belgian town, located in both the arrondissement and province of Antwerp. In 2021, Boom had a total population of 18,799. The total area is 7.37 km² (2.85 sq mi).^[2] Residents are known as "Boomenaren".^[3][4]

Since 2005, Boom has hosted the annual electronic dance music event Tomorrowland.^[5]

History

Our Lady of Boom, ca 1910

Recorded history of this community started in the late 1300s. The population boom in Boom occurred some time during the 19th century. In Boom, people venerate a statue of the lady of Boom.

Geography

Boom is located between three big cities (Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent), and is situated along the Rupel river.

Climate

Boom has an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfb).

Economy

Because of the presence of clay around Boom, the region is well known for and has many clay pits and brick factories.

Schools

Elementary Schools

• Hoeksteen
• Reuzenboom
• OLVI De kade
• 'T krekeltje
• *BSBO Groenlaar
• Villa Kakelbont

High Schools

• PTS
• OLVI Boom
• Atheneum Boom

Notable people

• Egidius Aerts (1822–1853), flautist and composer
• Glen De Boeck (1971), football player and coach.
• Peter Dens (1690–1775), Catholic theologian.
• Herbert Flack (1913–1995), actor.
• Romelu Lukaku (1993), football player.
• Bobbejaan Schoepen (1925), singer-songwriter, guitarist and art whistler. He was also an actor, fantasist and founder of the Bobbejaanland amusement park in Belgium.
• Kevin Seeldraeyers (1986), cyclist.
• Jean-François van de Velde (1779–1838), 20th bishop of Ghent.
• Roland Van Campenhout (1944), musician.
• Jozef Van Lerius (1823–1876), painter.
• Frans Verschoren (1874–1951), writer.
• Bjorn Vleminckx (1986), football player.
• Charles Augustin Wauters (1808–1869), painter.

Events

• Tomorrowland: EDM World-famous and largest Dance Music festival in the world, that almost 2 million people have attended since its 2005 launch. Next Tomorrowland is scheduled to be held in July 2024.^[5]
• Feria Andaluza: Spanish festival in De Schorre.^[7]

Sports

• K. Rupel Boom F.C.: Football club, currently playing in the Belgian Third Division.^[8]
• Kangeroes Boom: Basketball club, currently playing in the second division.
• Braxgata: Hockey club, currently playing in the first division. Hockey club of the year by the European Hockey Federation (EHF) in 2009.
• Fudji Yama Boom-Niel-Schelle: Judo club, founded in 1958
• Cyclo-cross Boom, an annual day of cyclocross races

Movies

The movie La Kermesse héroïque (Carnival in Flanders) directed by Jacques Feyder in 1935 takes place in the town of Boom.^[9][10]

References

1. "Bevolking per gemeente op 1 januari 2020". Statbel.
2. "Bevolking per statistische sector - Sector 11005". Statistics Belgium. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2007-10-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
4. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2007-10-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
5. "Tomorrowland". www.tomorrowland.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
6. "Luchttemperatuur en neerslag Referentieperiode: 1991-2020" (PDF) (in Dutch). Royal Meteorological Institute. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
7. Yellow.Place. "Feria Andaluza - Spaans Festival Antwerpen - Antwerp, Belgium". Yellow.Place. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
8. "Seniors" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-12-07.
9. Travers, James (2002). "Review of the film La Kermesse héroïque (1935)". frenchfilms.org. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
10. "La Kermesse héroïque (Carnival in Flanders) | Reviews | guardian.co.uk Film". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2021-12-07.

External links

• Boom municipality official website. (in Dutch)