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Hamont-Achel

Hamont-Achel
Municipality
Hamont, kerk foto3 2009-08-31 17.43.JPG
Flag of Hamont-Achel
Flag
Coat of arms of Hamont-Achel
Coat of arms
Hamont-Achel is located in Belgium
Hamont-Achel
Hamont-Achel
Location in Belgium
Coordinates: 51°15′N 05°33′E / 51.250°N 5.550°E / 51.250; 5.550Coordinates: 51°15′N 05°33′E / 51.250°N 5.550°E / 51.250; 5.550
Country Belgium
Community Flemish Community
Region Flemish Region
Province Limburg
Arrondissement Maaseik
Government
 • Mayor Theo Schuurmans (CD&V)
 • Governing party/ies CD&V
Area
 • Total 43.66 km2 (16.86 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2016)
 • Total 14,356
 • Density 330/km2 (850/sq mi)
Postal codes 3930
Area codes 011
Website www.hamont-achel.be

Hamont-Achel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦaːmɔnt ˈɑxəl]; Limburgish: Haëmet-Achel) is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. It was founded in 1977 by a fusion of the city Hamont and the village Achel. On January 1, 2006, Hamont-Achel had a total population of 13,770. The total area is 43.66 km² which gives a population density of 315 inhabitants per km². The municipality houses the Trappist Abbey of Achel, part of which is Brouwerij de Achelse Kluis, one of the 11 Trappist breweries.

The professional cyclist Jelle Vanendert lives in Hamont-Achel.

On 18 November 1918, the municipality was the site of one of the worst train explosions in history, when two German munitions trains caught fire and exploded. Not only were the trains destroyed, but three German ambulance trains were also wiped out, along with most of the town. More than 1,000 individuals were killed.



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