Tildonk

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Saint John the Baptist church

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.

[edit] History

Traces of civilization have been found from the period of around 3000 BC between the hamlet Hambos and adjacent Kelfs. Later there was a Gallic settlement at about the same location. The oldest mention of Tildonk occurred in 1107 in the name of Reinerus de Thieldunck.

The name Tildonk is the joining of 2 medieval words: til (forest) and donk (elevation). The knights van Tildonk, confidants of the Duke of Brabant, lived during the 12th century in 2 mottes: Oudenborg en Nieuwenborg (where the current Kasteeltje is located). Tildonk was elevated to the title of county in 1699 in honor of Charles L'Archier. Afterwards, it came into the hands of the family de Lalaing. Count Maximiliaan de Lalaing was the most prominent lord of Tildonk.

In 1967, the municipality of Tildonk took over the escutcheon of the noble family de Lalaing: an oval escutcheon of gules with 10 united diamonds of silver, placed 3, 3, 3 and 1, the escutcheon held by two golden griffins looking backwards, topped with a crown of 3 fleurons separated by 3 groups of 3 pearls.

Since 1750, Tildonk is travered 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.

Tildonk owns 2 stadsreus (city giants) since 1930: Jan and Babs from Tildonk.

In 1976, Tildonk was declared a "flower village".